# 1946 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team

The 1946 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team was an American football team that represented the University of Delaware as a member of the Mason–Dixon Conference during the 1946 college football season. In their fourth year under head coach William D. Murray, the Blue Hens compiled a perfect 10–0 record (3–0 in conference games), shut out five opponents, and outscored all opponents by a total of 358 to 45. They won the Maxon-Dixon championship, defeated Rollins in the Cigar Bowl, and were selected by the Associated Press as the small college national champion. They were also ranked at No. 82 among all college football teams in the final Litkenhous Difference by Score System rankings for 1946.
Delaware's 1946 season was part of a 32-game unbeaten streak that began on October 26, 1940, and ended on October 3, 1947. The only imperfection was a 7-7 tie with West Chester on September 27, 1941, which was followed by a 26-game winning streak.
Delaware ranked fifth nationally among small-college teams in total offense with an average of 335.1 yards per game. It ranked 14th nationally in total defense, giving up an average of 163.4 yards per game. Key players included quarterback Jim Buchanan; halfbacks Gerald "Doc" Doherty and Art Millman; fullback Paul Hart; team captain and tackles Tony Stalloni and Bob Campbell; guards Gene Carrell and Walt Marusa, ends Carroll Hauptle and Harold "Buck" Thompson; and center Jack Messick.
Buck Thompson set a Delaware record with a 98-yard rushing play against Washington. Doc Doherty had an 83-yard run against Gettysburg.
The team played the majority of its home games at Wilmington Park. The October 26 game against Drexel was the final game played at Frazer Field, and the last game played in Newark until the opening of Delaware Stadium in 1952.

## Schedule

| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 28 | Pennsylvania Military* | | Wilmington ParkWilmington, DE | W 25–0 | 10,000 |
| October 5 | Randolph–Macon | | Wilmington ParkWilmington, DE | W 53–0 | 7,000 |
| October 11 | Western Maryland | | Wilmington ParkWilmington, DE | W 44–6 | 7,500 |
| October 19 | at Gettysburg* | | Musselman StadiumGettysburg, PA | W 27–6 | 3,500 |
| October 26 | Drexel* | | Frazer FieldNewark, DE | W 52–0 | 8,000 |
| November 2 | at Franklin & Marshall* | | Sponaugle-Williamson FieldLancaster, PA | W 28–0 | 6,000 |
| November 9 | at Bucknell* | | Memorial StadiumLewisburg, PA | W 27–14 | 4,000-6,000 |
| November 16 | Washington College | | Wilmington ParkWilmington, DE | W 61–0 | 5,000 |
| November 23 | No. T–19 Muhlenberg* | No. 16 | Wilmington ParkWilmington, DE | W 20–12 | 15,000 |
| January 1, 1947 | vs. Rollins* | No. 19 | Phillips FieldTampa, FL (Cigar Bowl) | W 21-7 | 10,000 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the game |||||||

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked ( ) = First-place votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Final |
| AP | — | — | — | — | — | — | 16 | 15 (2) | 19 |

## After the season

The 1947 NFL Draft was held on December 16, 1946. The following Fightin' Blue Hens were selected.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL Club |
| 21 | 187 | Paul Hart | Back | Boston Yanks |
| 30 | 278 | Tony Stalloni | Tackle | Pittsburgh Steelers |