# 1946 Nevada Wolf Pack football team

The 1946 Nevada Wolf Pack football team was an American football team that represented the University of Nevada as an independent during the 1946 college football season. In their eighth season under head coach Jim Aiken, the Wolf Pack compiled a 7–2 record, outscored opponents by a total of 324 to 82, and defeated Hawaii, 26 to 7, in the 16th annual Shrine Benefit Aloha Bowl.
The team ranked first nationally in passing offense with an average of 198.1 passing yards per game, 25 yards more on average than the second-ranked team, Georgia. They also ranked third nationally in total offense with an average of 389.3 yards per game.
Nevada was ranked at No. 59 in the final Litkenhous Difference by Score System rankings for 1946.
In just eight games (not including Nevada's bowl game), quarterback Bill Mackrides also led the nation with 1,254 passing yards and 17 touchdown passes. His total of 1,254 passing yards on just 56 completions calculates to an average of 22.4 yards per completion. In the post-season Shrine Benefit at Aloha Bowl, Mackrides added another 189 passing yards and three touchdown passes, bringing his 1946 nine-game totals to 1,443 passing yards and 20 touchdown passes.
Mackrides, halfbacks Tommy Kalmanir and Bill Bass, end Horace Gillom, and tackle Ed Sharkey all went on to careers in professional football. Bob McClure was the team captain and also played two season in the National Football League (NFL). The team's assistant coaches were Jim Bailey, Jake Lawlor, and Dick Miller.
On January 15, 1947, Aiken resigned as athletic director and head coach and left the school to become head football coach at the University of Oregon. In eight years under Aiken, the Wolf Pack compiled a 38–26–4 record.

## Schedule

| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 29 | at San Francisco | Kezar StadiumSan Francisco, CA | L 14–26 | 30,000 |
| October 5 | Santa Clara | Mackay StadiumReno, NV | W 33–7 | 6,000 |
| October 12 | Arizona State | Mackay StadiumReno, NV | W 74–2 | |
| October 19 | at San Diego State | Balboa StadiumSan Diego, CA | W 26–0 | 20,000 |
| October 27 | at Saint Mary's | Kezar StadiumSan Francisco, CA | L 12–13 | 50,000 |
| November 2 | Montana State | Mackay StadiumReno, NV | W 38–14 | |
| November 9 | Santa Barbara | Mackay StadiumReno, NV | W 48–13 | |
| November 22 | vs. Loyola (CA) | Butcher Memorial FieldLas Vegas, NV | W 53–0 | 4,000 |
| December 7 | at Hawaii | Honolulu StadiumHonolulu, Territory of Hawaii (Shrine Benefit Aloha Bowl) | W 26–7 | 25,000 |
| Homecoming ||||||

## Players

The following individuals played for the 1946 Nevada team:
* James Aiken Jr.
* Bill Bass - halfback
* Tom Batey
* Scott Beasley - end
* Morley Bockman
* Max Dodge
* Jordan Eliades - quarterback
* Darwin Farnsworth
* Pat Francellini
* Horace Gillom - end
* Harold Hayes - end
* Pat Heher - guard
* Tommy Kalmanir - halfback
* Ted Kondel
* Bill Mackrides - guard
* Bob McClure - tackle and captain
* Mike Mirabelli
* Bill Morris - end
* Carl Robinson - guard
* Lloyd Rude - fullback
* Ed Sharkey - tackle
* Chuck Siferd
* John Simons - end
* Ken Sinofsky - guard
* Neil Sprague
* Jess Standish - fullback
* Gene Straka - fullback
* John Subda - guard
* Bob Sullivan - center
* Don Talcott - guard
* Dick Tilton - guard
* Dick Trachok
* Jim Welin - fullback

## After the season

The 1947 NFL Draft was held on December 16, 1946. The following Wolf Pack players were selected.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL Club |
| 3 | 19 | Bill Mackrides | Quarterback | Philadelphia Eagles |
| 25 | 229 | Tommy Kalmanir | Halfback | Pittsburgh Steelers |