The 1946 Illinois Fighting Illini football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois as a member of the Big Nine Conference during the 1946 Big Nine season. In their fifth year under head coach Ray Eliot, the Fighting Illini compiled an 8–2 record (6–1 in conference games), won the Big Nine championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 217 to 105. They were ranked No. 5 in the final AP poll and concluded the season with a 45–14 victory over No. 4 UCLA in the 1947 Rose Bowl.
Guard Alex Agase was a consensus first-team selection on the 1946 All-America college football team. Agase also received the Chicago Tribune Silver Football as the Big Nine's most valuable player. Four Illinois players received honors from the Associated Press (AP) or United Press (UP) on the 1946 All-Big Nine Conference football team: Agase (AP-1, UP-1); ends Ike Owens (UP-1) and Sam Zatkoff (UP-2); and halfback Jules Rykovich (UP-2). Center Mac Wenskunas was the team captain.
The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois.
Schedule
Game summaries
vs Pittsburgh
Illinois opened its season with a 33–7 victory over Pittsburgh at Pitt Stadium, in front of approximately 35,000 spectators. The game was much closer than the final score indicated, particularly in the first half.
Pitt, playing its first game under new head coach Wesley Fesler, jumped back from an early Illinois touchdown to tie the game 7–7 at halftime. Illinois halfback Claude “The Illinois Express” Young opened the scoring with a spectacular 46-yard touchdown run, but freshman Louis Cecconi of Donora, Pennsylvania, answered with a one-yard touchdown plunge for Pitt. The Panthers actually outgained Illinois during much of the first half, despite facing a larger and more experienced team.
The Panthers' energetic first-half effort appeared to wear them down, however. Early in the third quarter, Illinois substitute back Art Dufelmeier broke through for a 38-yard touchdown run. Illinois then recovered a Pitt fumble at the Panthers' 20-yard line, and Young scored again shortly afterward. In the fourth quarter, Illinois added two more touchdowns: Tom Steward connected with Paul Patterson on a 27-yard touchdown pass, followed by Chuck Maggioli's 75-yard punt return.
Despite the lopsided final score, the statistics showed a relatively competitive game. Illinois held only a 10–9 advantage in first downs and outgained Pitt 226–205 in total offense. Pitt's passing game was more productive, completing 6 of 19 passes for 73 yards, while Illinois completed just 2 of 9 for 33 yards. Young was largely contained by Pitt's defense aside from his two touchdown runs.
Statistics ILLPitt First downs 10 9 Plays–yards Rushes–yards 193 132 Passing yards 33 73 Passing: –– 2-9-2 6-19-4 Time of possession
Rankings
Roster PlayerPositionAlex AgaseOffensive guardPerry MossQuarterbackRuck StegerLes BingamanGuard, TackleSam ZatkoffEndJoe BuscemiBob CunzTackleDon MaechtlePlacekickerDon PittmanChuck GottfriedAl MartignagoLyle ButtonTackleLou LevantiCenterBob PrymuskiGuardTom GallagherAl MastrangeliCenterMerle SchlosserEndBernie KruegerQuarterbackDike EddlemanPunterBill FranksTackleChick MaggioliDefensive back, HalfbackPaul PattersonQuarterbackIke OwensEnd, Defensive endArt Dufelmeier (Captain)HalfbackTom StewartBob HinkleLou AgaseTight end, TackleJim ValckJack PierceBurt SchmidtDenny BassettWalt KersulisEndJohn WrennGuardHerb SiegertGuard, LinebackerBill HeissEnd
Head coach: Ray Eliot (5th year at Illinois) Line coach: Burt Ingwersen
Awards and honors Alex Agase Chicago Tribune Silver Football Consensus All-American (guard)
References