1946 Texas Conference football season

Sports season

1946 Texas Conference football season

Sport| Football
Number of teams| 5
Co-champions| Abilene Christian, Southwestern (TX)
Football seasons

← 1945

1947 →

1946 Texas Conference football standings

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

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Team | W |  | L |  | T |  |  | W |  | L |  | T
Abilene Christian \+  | 3  | - | 0  | - | 1 |  |  | 8  | - | 1  | - | 1
Southwestern (TX) \+  | 3  | - | 0  | - | 1 |  |  | 5  | - | 4  | - | 1
McMurry | 2  | - | 2  | - | 0 |  |  | 4  | - | 4  | - | 1
Howard Payne | 1  | - | 3  | - | 0 |  |  | 2  | - | 5  | - | 2
Austin | 1  | - | 3  | - | 0 |  |  | 2  | - | 6  | - | 2

* \+ - Conference co-champions

The 1946 Texas Conference football season was the season of college football played by the member schools of the Texas Conference as part of the 1946 college football season. Abilene Christian and Southwestern (TX) tied for the conference championship. None of the Texas Conference teams was ranked in the Associated Press poll or played in a bowl game.

## Conference overview

[edit]

Conf. rank  | Team  | Head coach  | Conf. record  | Overall record  | Points scored  | Points against

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1 | Abilene Christian | Tonto Coleman | 3–0–1 | 8–1–1 | 228 | 53
1 | Southwestern (TX) | Randolph M. Medley | 3–0–1 | 5–4–1 | 243 | 181
3 | McMurry | J. Vernon Hilliard | 2–4 | 4–4–1 | 82 | 138
4 | Howard Payne | Joe Bailey Cheaney | 1–3 | 2–5–2 | 85 | 125
5 | Austin | Garvice Steen | 1–3 | 2–7–1 | 54 | 207

[1]

## Teams

[edit]

### Abilene Christian

[edit]

1946 Abilene Christian Wildcats football

Texas Conference co-champion

Conference| Texas Conference
Record| 8–1–1 (3–0–1 Texas)
Head coach|

* Tonto Coleman (2nd season)

Captains|

* Gladstone McClennan
* Buster Dixon

Home stadium| Fair Park Stadium

Seasons

<- 1945

1947 ->

The 1946 Abilene Christian Wildcats football team represented Abilene Christian College now known as Abilene Christian University) as a member of the Texas Conference during the 1946 college football season. In their second non-consecutive year under head coach Tonto Coleman, and their first year after the end of World War II,[2] the Wildcats compiled an 8–1–1 record (3–0–1 against conference opponents), outscored all opponents by a total of 228 to 53, and tied with Southwestern for the Texas Conference championship.[3][4]

Date| Opponent| Site| Result| Attendance| Source

|
|
|
|
|

September 14| Southwestern Tech|

* Fair Park Stadium
* Abilene, TX

| W 28–0| 3,000| [5]
September 21| at East Texas State| Commerce, TX| W 26–7| 4,000| [6]
September 28| at Sul Ross| Alpine, TX| W 32–7| | [7]
October 4| North Texas State|

* Fair Park Stadium
* Abilene, TX

| W 6–0| | [8]
October 12| Southwestern (TX)|

* Fair Park Stadium
* Abilene, TX

| T 12–12| | [9]
October 19| at Southwest Texas State|

* Evans Field
* San Marcos, TX

| L 0–18| | [10]
October 26| McMurry|

* Fair Park Stadium
* Abilene, TX

| W 27–0| | [11]
November 9| Howard Payne|

* Fair Park Stadium
* Abilene, TX

| W 19–0| 4,000| [12]
November 16| at Austin| Sherman, TX| W 46–2| | [13]
November 23| at Texas A&I| Kingsville, TX| W 32–7| | [14]

* Homecoming

* v
* t
* e

Abilene Christian Wildcats football

Venues|

* Shotwell Stadium (1959–2016)
* Wildcat Stadium (2017–present)

Bowls & rivalries|

* Bowl games

Culture & lore|

* Willie the Wildcat (mascot)

People|

* Head coaches
* NFL draftees

Seasons|

* 1919
* 1920
* 1921
* 1922
* 1923
* 1924
* 1925
* 1926
* 1927
* 1928
* 1929
* 1930
* 1931
* 1932
* 1933
* 1934
* 1935
* 1936
* 1937
* 1938
* 1939
* 1940
* 1941
* 1942
* 1943–1945
* 1946
* 1947
* 1948
* 1949
* 1950
* 1951
* 1952
* 1953
* 1954
* 1955
* 1956
* 1957
* 1958
* 1959
* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

National championship seasons in bold

### Southwestern

[edit]

1946 Southwestern Pirates football

Texas Conference co-champion

Conference| Texas Conference
Record| 5–4–1 (3–0–1 Texas)
Head coach|

* Randolph M. Medley (8th season)

Home stadium| Snyder Field

Seasons

<- 1945

1947 ->

The 1946 Southwestern Pirates football team represented Southwestern College as a member of the Texas Conference during the 1946 college football season. In their eighth year under head coach Randolph M. Medley, Southwestern compiled an 5–4–1 record (3–0–1 against conference opponents), outscored all opponents by a total of 243 to 181, and tied with Abilene Christian for the Texas Conference championship.

Date| Opponent| Site| Result| Attendance| Source

|
|
|
|
|

September 21| at Baylor*|

* Municipal Stadium
* Waco, TX

| L 7–21| 10,000| [15]
September 28| at Oklahoma City*|

* Taft Stadium
* Oklahoma City, OK

| L 0–53| | [16]
October 5| at Rice*|

* Rice Field
* Houston, TX

| L 0–48| 16,000| [17]
October 12| at Abilene Christian|

* Fair Park Stadium
* Abilene, TX

| T 12–12| | [9]
October 19| Southeastern Oklahoma State*|

* Snyder Field
* Georgetown, TX

| W 19–6| |
October 25| Howard Payne|

* Snyder Field
* Georgetown, TX

| W 33–7| | [18]
November 2| vs. Randolph Field*| San Antonio, TX| W 77–0| | [19]
November 8| Austin|

* Snyder Field
* Georgetown, TX

| W 34–0| | [20]
November 23| vs. McMurry| Abilene, TX| W 41–0| | [21]
November 28| at Louisiana Tech*|

* Tech Stadium
* Ruston, LA

| L 20–34| | [22]

* *Non-conference game

* v
* t
* e

Southwestern Pirates football

Venues|

* Snyder Field
* Georgetown Stadium Complex

Bowls & rivalries|

* 1944 Sun Bowl
* 1945 Sun Bowl

People|

* Head coaches

Seasons|

* 1908
* 1909
* 1910
* 1911
* 1912
* 1913
* 1914
* 1915
* 1916
* 1917
* 1918
* 1919
* 1920
* 1921
* 1922
* 1923
* 1924
* 1925
* 1926
* 1927
* 1928
* 1929
* 1930
* 1931
* 1932
* 1933
* 1934
* 1935
* 1936
* 1937
* 1938
* 1939
* 1940
* 1941
* 1942
* 1943
* 1944
* 1945
* 1946
* 1947
* 1948
* 1949
* 1950
* 1951–2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

### McMurry

[edit]

1946 McMurry Indians football

Conference| Texas Conference
Record| 4–4–1 (2–4 Texas)
Head coach|

* J. Vernon Hilliard

Seasons

<- 1945

1947 ->

The 1946 McMurry Indians football team represented McMurry University as a member of the Texas Conference during the 1946 college football season. Led by head coach J. Vernon Hilliard, McMurray compiled a 4–4–1 record (2–4 against conference opponents), was outscored by a total of 138 to 82, and finished third in the Texas Conference.

Date| Opponent| Site| Result| Attendance| Source

|
|
|
|
|

September 21| Hardin–Simmons|

* Fair Park Stadium
* Abilene, TX

| L 0–31| 6,500| [23]
September 28| Eastern New Mexico| Abilene, TX| W 43–7| |
October 5| at Sul Ross| Alpine, TX| W 6–2| |
October 19| at Texas A&I| Kingsville, TX| W 13–10| | [24]
October 26| at Abilene Christian|

* Fair Park Stadium
* Abilene, TX

| L 0–27| | [11]
November 2| Austin| Abilene, TX| L 0–7| |
November 8| North Texas State|

* Fair Park Stadium
* Abilene, TX

| T 7–7| | [25]
November 16| at Howard Payne| Brownwood, TX| W 13–6| |
November 23| Southwestern (TX)| Abilene, TX| L 0–41| | [21]

[26]

* v
* t
* e

McMurry War Hawks football

Venues|

* Donaldson Field (1928–1935)
* Fair Park Stadium (1936–1937, 1946–1950, 1955)
* Wilford Moore Stadium (1937–1942, 1950–1959, 1974–present)
* Shotwell Stadium (1960–1973)

Bowls & rivalries|

* Hardin–Simmons: Crosstown Showdown
* Sul Ross: Battle of I-20

People|

* Head coaches

Seasons|

* 1923
* 1924
* 1925
* 1926
* 1927
* 1928
* 1929
* 1930
* 1931
* 1932
* 1933
* 1934
* 1935
* 1936
* 1937
* 1938
* 1939
* 1940
* 1941
* 1942
* 1943–1945
* 1946
* 1947
* 1948
* 1949
* 1950
* 1951
* 1952
* 1953
* 1954
* 1955
* 1956
* 1957
* 1958
* 1959
* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

### Howard Payne

[edit]

1946 Howard Payne Yellow Jackets football

Conference| Texas Conference
Record| 2–5–2 (1–3 Texas)
Head coach|

* Joe Bailey Cheaney (8th season)

Seasons

<- 1945

1947 ->

The 1946 Howard Payne Yellow Jackets football team represented Howard Payne University as a member of the Texas Conference during the 1946 college football season. Led by head coach Joe Bailey Cheaney, Howard Payne compiled a 2–5–2 record (1–3 against conference opponents), was outscored by a total of 125 to 85, and finished fourth in the Texas Conference.

Date| Opponent| Site| Result| Attendance| Source

|
|
|
|
|

September 21| Texas A&I| Brownwood, TX| W 27–0| 9,000| [27]
September 28| Louisiana Tech|

* Lion Stadium
* Brownwood, TX

| L 7–13| | [28]
October 5| East Texas State| Commerce, TX| T 7–7| 3,500| [29]
October 11| Southwest Texas State| Brownwood, TX| T 7–7| | [30]
October 18| Austin| Brownwood, TX| W 24–0| |
October 25| at Southwestern (TX)| Georgetown, TX| L 7–33| | [18]
November 9| at Abilene Christian|

* Fair Park Stadium
* Abilene, TX

| L 0–19| | [12]
November 16| McMurry| Brownwood, TX| L 6–13| |
November 22| at Hardin–Simmons|

* Fair Park Stadium
* Abilene, TX

| L 0–33| 4,000| [31]

[32]

* v
* t
* e

Howard Payne Yellow Jackets football

Venues|

* Gordon Wood Stadium

People|

* Head coaches

Seasons|

* 1903
* 1904
* 1905
* 1906
* 1907
* 1908
* 1909
* 1910
* 1911
* 1912
* 1913
* 1914
* 1915
* 1916
* 1917
* 1918
* 1919
* 1920
* 1921
* 1922
* 1923
* 1924
* 1925
* 1926
* 1927
* 1928
* 1929
* 1930
* 1931
* 1932
* 1933
* 1934
* 1935
* 1936
* 1937
* 1938
* 1939
* 1940
* 1941
* 1942
* 1943–1945
* 1946
* 1947
* 1948
* 1949
* 1950
* 1951
* 1952
* 1953
* 1954
* 1955
* 1956
* 1957
* 1958
* 1959
* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2021
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

### Austin

[edit]

1946 Austin Kangaroos football

Conference| Texas Conference
Record| 2–7–1 (1–3 Texas)
Head coach|

* Garvice Steen

Seasons

<- 1945

1947 ->

The 1946 Austin Kangaroos football team represented Austin College as a member of the Texas Conference during the 1946 college football season. Led by head coach Garvice Steen, Austin compiled a 2–7–1 record (1–3 against conference opponents), was outscored by a total of 207 to 54, and finished last in the Texas Conference.

Date| Opponent| Site| Result| Source

|
|
|
|

September 20| at Southeastern Oklahoma State*| Durant, OK| L 0–12|
September 28| at North Texas State*|

* Eagle Field
* Denton, TX

| L 0–14| [33]
October 3| Stephen F. Austin*| Sherman, TX| L 7–20|
October 12| at Sam Houston State*|

* Pritchett Field
* Huntville, TX

| W 19–18| [34]
October 18| at Howard Payne| Brownwood, TX| L 0–24|
October 25| East Texas State*| Sherman, TX| L 13–33|
November 2| at McMurry| Abilene, TX| W 7–0|
November 8| at Southwestern (TX)|

* Snyder Field
* Georgetown, TX

| L 0–34|
November 16| Abilene Christian| Sherman, TX| L 2–46| [13]
November 22| East Central*| Sherman, TX| T 6–6|

* *Non-conference game

## All-Texas Conference football team

[edit]

The 1946 All-Texas Conference football team was selected by the conference coaches and announced on December 6, 1946. Abilene Christian and Southwestern each placed five players on the first team. The first-team selections were:[35]

* Ends:

* Ted Barc, Southwestern
* Neal Bradshaw, McMurry

* Tackles:

* Willard Paine, Abilene Christian
* Dan Davenport, Southwestern

* Guards:

* Charles Floyd, Abilene Christian
* Max Jones, Southwestern

* Center:

* Dick Stovall, Abilene Christian

* Backs:

* Lawrence Dixon, Abilene Christian
* Joe Evans, Southwestern
* V. T. Smith, Abilene Christian
* Floren Hooefer (tie), McMurry
* Frank Means (tie), Southwestern

## References

[edit]

1. ^ W.J. Bingham, ed. (1947). The Official National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Guide including the Official Rules 1947. A.S. Barnes and Company. p. 140.
2. ^ Abilene Christian did not compete in intercollegiate football during the 1943, 1944, and 1945 seasons.
3. ^ "Abilene Christian University Wildcat Football 2021 Media Guide". Abilene, Texas: Abilene Christian University Athletics. p. 48. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
4. ^ "Abilene Christian Yearly Results". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
5. ^ Hal Sayles (September 15, 1946). "ACC Wildcats Subdue Stubborn Southwestern Bulldogs, 28-0: Early Sooner Threat Fails, 'T' Sparkles". The Abilene Texas Reporter-News. p. 14 - via Newspapers.com.
6. ^ "Cats Wallop Lions, 26-7". The Abilene Texas Reporter-News. September 22, 1946. p. 14 - via Newspapers.com.
7. ^ "ACC Cats Beat Sul Ross 32-7". The Abilene Texas Reporter-News. September 29, 1946. p. 12 - via Newspapers.com.
8. ^ "Wildcats trounce North Texas, 6–0". The Abilene Texas Reporter-News. October 5, 1946. Retrieved November 6, 2021 - via Newspapers.com.
9. ^ a b Howard Green (October 13, 1946). "Southwestern and Final Whistle Hold ACC Wildcats to 12-12 Tie: Christians Finish Game on 1-Yard Line". The Abilene Texas Reporter-News. p. 12 - via Newspapers.com.
10. ^ "Southwest Texas dumps ACC". The Abilene Reporter-News. October 20, 1946. Retrieved February 26, 2022 - via Newspapers.com.
11. ^ a b "Abilene Wildcats Beat McMurry 27-0". Denton Record-Chronicle. October 27, 1946. p. 6 - via Newspapers.com.
12. ^ a b Hal Sayles (November 10, 1946). "Abilene Christian Wallops Howard Payne Jackets, 19-0: Catss Bottle Foes' Offense". The Abilene Texas Reporter-News. p. 12 - via Newspapers.com.
13. ^ a b "Abilene Christian Routs Austin, 46-2". Sunday American-Statesman. November 17, 1946. p. 23 - via Newspapers.com.
14. ^ "ACC Wildcats Thrash Javelina Grid Herd". Waco Tribune-Herald. November 24, 1946. p. 15 - via Newspapers.com.
15. ^ Jinx Tucker (September 22, 1946). "Ragged Bruin Team Finally Manages to Beat Pirates, 21-7: Baylorites Look Sloppy in Debut Of 1946 Season; Fumbles Handicap Green and Gold With Coach Kimbrough Using Most of His Squad". Waco Tribune-Herald. pp. Sports 1, 2 - via Newspapers.com.
16. ^ "Oklahoma City Eleven Beats Arkansas Team". The Joplin Globe. Joplin Globe. Associated Press. September 29, 1946. p. 18. Retrieved December 4, 2019 - via Newspapers.com .
17. ^ "Helpless Southwestern Walloped by Rice". Sunday American-Statesman. October 6, 1946. p. 21 - via Newspapers.com.
18. ^ a b "Southwestern Pirates Defeat Howard Payne". Longview News-Journal. October 27, 1946. p. 8 - via Newspapers.com.
19. ^ "Southwestern Raps Randolph, 77 to 0". The Austin American. November 3, 1946. p. 18 - via Newspapers.com.
20. ^ "Pirates Blast Austin College". The Austin American. November 9, 1946. p. 11 - via Newspapers.com.
21. ^ a b "Southwestern Whips McMurry: 41-0 Victory Nets Texas Circuit Tie". The Austin American. November 24, 1946. p. 18 - via Newspapers.com.
22. ^ "Louisiana Tech drops Southwestern by 34–20". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. November 29, 1946. Retrieved June 24, 2021 - via Newspapers.com.
23. ^ Hal Sayles (September 22, 1946). "HSU Returns to Grid Wars With 31-0 Win Over McMurry". Abilene Reporter-News. p. 14. Retrieved April 28, 2022 - via Newspapers.com.
24. ^ "A&I Javelinas Battle McMurray Tribe in Kingsville Tonight". The Corpus Christi Caller. October 19, 1946 - via Newspapers.com.
25. ^ "Tribe holds favored North Texas to tie". The Abilene Reporter-News. November 9, 1946. Retrieved November 6, 2021 - via Newspapers.com.
26. ^ "McMurry University Football Record Book" (PDF). Abilene, Texas: McMurry University Athletics. July 30, 2022. p. 52. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
27. ^ Jake Trussell (September 27, 1946). "Howard-Payne Jackets In 27-0 Victory Over Hogs". The Corpus Christi Caller-Times. p. 29 - via Newspapers.com.
28. ^ "La. Tech stops Howard Payne". Monroe Morning World. September 29, 1946. Retrieved June 24, 2021 - via Newspapers.com.
29. ^ "East Texas and Howard Payne Tie". Abilene Reporter-News. Abilene, Texas. Associated Press. October 6, 1946. p. 12. Retrieved July 7, 2022 - via Newspapers.com .
30. ^ "Bobcats, Payne battle to tie". The Austin American. October 12, 1946. Retrieved February 26, 2022 - via Newspapers.com.
31. ^ "Hardin-Simmons Jars Yellow Jackets, 33-0: Mobley Gets 125 Yards". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. November 23, 1946. p. 9. Retrieved April 28, 2022 - via Newspapers.com.
32. ^ "Howard Payne University Football Records" (PDF). Howard Payne University. November 19, 2023. p. 10. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
33. ^ "Eagles beat Austin Kangaroos 14–0 in first home game". Denton Record-Chronicle. September 29, 1946. Retrieved November 6, 2021 - via Newspapers.com.
34. ^ "Kangaroos Beat Strong Bearkats". Longview News-Journal. October 14, 1946. p. 8 - via Newspapers.com.
35. ^ "S'Western, ACC Gridders Lead All-Texas Team". Denton Record-Chronicle. December 6, 1946. p. 7 - via Newspapers.com.

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Conf.]: Conference record
*[W]: Wins
*[L]: Losses
*[T]: Ties