1946 VPI Gobblers football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1946 VPI Gobblers football Southern Conference SoCon 3–4–3 3–3–2 Jimmy Kitts 2nd William Elmer Wilson Miles Stadium Sun Bowl L 6–18 vs. Cincinnati The 1946 VPI Gobblers football team was an American football team that represented Virginia Polytechnic Institute as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1946 college football season. In their second year under head coach Jimmy Kitts, the Gobblers compiled a 3–4–3 record (3–3–2 against SoCon opponents), lost to Cincinnati in the 1947 Sun Bowl, and were outscored by a total of 149 to 102.1946 Virginia Tech Hokies Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football May 21, 2022 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/virginia-tech/1946-schedule.html During the 1946 season, VPI defeated the No. 12 NC State Wolfpack for the first win over an Associated Press (AP) Top 25 team in school history,The Hokies and the AP Ratings https://web.archive.org/web/20090320015054/http://www.hokiesports.com/football/2004MG/history.pdf 2009-03-20 (PDF) Virginia Tech Sports Information, 2004 Football Media Guide Page 42. Accessed January 22, 2016. the Washington and Lee Generals, and the Gobblers' traditional rivals, the VMI Keydets.Year-by-Year Scores and Results https://web.archive.org/web/20090320015054/http://www.hokiesports.com/football/2004MG/history.pdf 2009-03-20 (PDF) "1946", Virginia Tech Sports Information, 2004 Football Media Guide Page 37. Accessed January 22, 2016. The 1946 season also included VPI's first post-season bowl appearance, in the 1947 Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas against the Cincinnati Bearcats.http://www.hokiesports.com/football/bowls/1947Sun.html Football hokiesports.com January 1, 1947 January 22, 2016 June 3, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150603075443/http://www.hokiesports.com/football/bowls/1947Sun.html dead VPI was the third choice after Border Conference champions, Hardin–Simmons, and runner-up, Texas Tech, both declined the bowl invitation.Colston, Chris. Tales from the Virginia Tech Sidelines. Sports Publishing LLC, 2003. Page 26. VPI lost the game, 18–6. Tackle John Maskas was selected by both the AP and United Press (UP) as a first-team player on the 1946 All-Southern Conference football team.All-Southern Conference Daily Press Newport News, Virginia December 1, 1946 13 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100750275/all-southern-conference/ Newspapers.comTurner, Sacrinty Top All-Southern Choices: Justice and Cloud Complete Backfield On Honor Eleven The Lexington Herald Robert Moore December 1, 1946 14 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102254664/turner-sacrinty-top-all-southern/ Newspapers.com VPI was ranked at No. 83 in the final Litkenhous Difference by Score System rankings for 1946.Rice Rated Fifth Best, Tennessee 12th by Lit Dr. E. E. Litkenhous The Knoxville News-Sentinel December 15, 1946 B4 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123020754/rice-rated-fifth-best-tennessee-12th/ Newspapers.com Schedule 1946 AP Eastern September 28 2:30 p.m. t y North Carolina Kenan Memorial Stadium Chapel Hill, NC 14–14 26,000 Tar Heels Oppose VPI Eleven In 1946 Grid Opener Today http://newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073228/1946-09-28/ed-1/seq-1/ University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill The Daily Tar Heel September 28, 1946 1 February 21, 2022VPI Gains 14-14 Tie With Late Surge http://newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073228/1946-09-29/ed-1/seq-1/ University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill The Daily Tar Heel September 29, 1946 1 February 21, 2022 October 5 t y y Virginia Victory Stadium Roanoke, VA rivalry 21–21 20,000 VPI Comes From Behind to Tie Cavaliers, 21 to 21: Fumble on 4-Yard Line Halts Tech Victory Bid; Beard Is Backfield Star Richmond Times-Dispatch Chauncey Durden October 6, 1946 B5, B8 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102230224/vpi-comes-from-behind-to-tie-cavaliers/ Newspapers.com October 12 l y William & Mary Cary Field Williamsburg, VA 0–49 14,000–15,000 Powerful Indian Eleven Tramples Gobblers, 49–0 https://digitalarchive.wm.edu/bitstream/handle/10288/161/fh19461015.pdf?sequence=2 College of William & Mary The Flat Hat October 15, 1946 5 February 1, 2016W-M Indians Surprise VPI With 49 To 0 Win Daily Press Newport News, Virginia Lloyd Haynew Williams October 13, 1946 17 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102264524/w-m-indians-surprise-vpi-with-49-to-0/ Newspapers.com October 18 l y Maryland Byrd Stadium College Park, MD 0–6 11,500–13,000 Maryland Beats V.P.I. By 6 To 0 For First Conference Win Of Season: Losers Fail in Late Drive; Tech Goes To One-Yard Line, but Old Liners Hold The Baltimore Sun Robert Elmer October 19, 1946 11 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102270644/maryland-beats-vpi-by-6-to-0-for/ Newspapers.comGobblers Primed To Upset Favored Pack https://d.lib.ncsu.edu/collections/catalog/technician-v27n5-1946-10-25#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=3&z=3443.9602%2C746.7709%2C2394.0804%2C1509.7542 North Carolina State University The Technician October 25, 1946 4 October 14, 2016Virginia Tech Bugle https://spec.lib.vt.edu/archives/bugle/bugl1947/1947_BUGLE.pdf The Bugle 1947 1947 183 January 23, 2016 October 26 2:30 p.m. w y NC State 12 Miles Stadium Blacksburg, VA 14–6 11,500–13,000 Maryland Beats V.P.I. By 6 To 0 For First Conference Win Of Season: Losers Fail in Late Drive; Tech Goes To One-Yard Line, but Old Liners Hold The Baltimore Sun Robert Elmer October 19, 1946 11 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102270644/maryland-beats-vpi-by-6-to-0-for/ Newspapers.comGobblers Primed To Upset Favored Pack https://d.lib.ncsu.edu/collections/catalog/technician-v27n5-1946-10-25#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=3&z=3443.9602%2C746.7709%2C2394.0804%2C1509.7542 North Carolina State University The Technician October 25, 1946 4 October 14, 2016Virginia Tech Bugle https://spec.lib.vt.edu/archives/bugle/bugl1947/1947_BUGLE.pdf The Bugle 1947 1947 183 January 23, 2016 November 2 l Clemson Miles Stadium Blacksburg, VA 7–14 7,000 Clemson Defeats VPI: Scores Twice In Final Quarter to Win 14 to 7 The State Associated Press November 3, 1946 1B, 3B https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102258658/clemson-defeats-vpi-scores-twice-in/ Newspapers.comTigers Stage Late Rally; Top Virginia Tech, 14-7 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19461103&id=ur8wAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1E4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=1497,6398091&hl=en Google News Archives St. Petersburg Times November 3, 1946 34 September 15, 2016 November 9 w y Washington and Lee Municipal Stadium Lynchburg, VA 13–7 12,000 Generals Falter in Closing Minutes To Drop Decision to VPI 13-7 https://repository.wlu.edu/bitstream/handle/11021/30215/RTP_19461115.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y Washington and Lee University Ring-tum Phi November 15, 1946 3 February 1, 2016 November 16 2:30 p.m. t y Richmond City Stadium Richmond, VA 7–7 11,000 Fenlon Men Fear Husky Gobbler Line http://collegian.richmond.edu/cgi-bin/richmond?a=d&d=COL19461115.2.2&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN------- University of Richmond The Richmond Collegian November 15, 1946 1 August 15, 2016 November 28 w y VMI Victory Stadium Roanoke, VA rivalry 20–7 24,000–28,000 Virginia Tech Bugle https://spec.lib.vt.edu/archives/bugle/bugl1947/1947_BUGLE.pdf The Bugle 1947 1947 184 January 23, 2016Tech Takes V.M.I. 20 to 7; Mills Make A.P. All-State https://digitalcollections.vmi.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15821coll8/id/8997/rec/11 Virginia Military Institute The V.M.I. Cadet December 2, 1946 3 February 2, 2016 January 1, 1947 l y y Cincinnati Kidd Field El Paso, TX Sun Bowl 6–18 10,000 Cincinnati Wins, 18-6, In Sun Bowl: First Half Of Play Scoreless; Bearcats Outplay VPI In Every Department; Rush Over Two Touchdowns In Third Period -- 10,000 Fans Are Half Frozen The Cincinnati Enquirer Dick Forbes January 2, 1947 1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102094107/cincinnati-wins-18-6-in-sun-bowl/ Newspapers.com Game summaries 1947 Sun Bowl 1947 Sun Bowl VPI vs. Cincinnati VPI 0 0 0 6 Cincinnati 0 0 12 6 January 1, 1947 Kidd FieldEl Paso, Texas 10,000 Source: During VPI's preparations before its departure for El Paso, heavy snow fell on Blacksburg, Virginia, forcing the team to use snowplows and construction equipment to clear a space for the team to practice.Tech's Bowl History (PDF) Virginia Tech Sports Information Department, 2007 Virginia Tech Football Media Guide, Page 32. Accessed January 22, 2016. The Gobblers traveled to El Paso without star punter and rusher Bobby Smith, who had been injured in Virginia Tech's final regular-season game.Six Names To Tech Hall Of Fame https://web.archive.org/web/20160128183409/http://www.hokiesports.com/football/recaps/07312000aaa.html 2016-01-28 Virginia Tech Sports Information Department, Hokiesports.com, July 31, 2000. Accessed January 22, 2016. The game was played in extremely cold and icy conditions, still the worst in Sun Bowl history.http://www.sunbowl.org/the_sun_bowl_game/recap/13 Referenced January 22, 2016. Three inches of snow fell on top of a layer of frozen rain the day before the game, and at kickoff the teams took the field under cloudy skies and in below-freezing temperatures. Despite the inclement weather, 15,000-seat Kidd Field was approximately half full, and bowl officials estimated the crowd at around 10,000 people. Weather conditions allowed both teams' defenses to dominate in the first half. VPI had the best chance to score of either team in the first half when it drove to a first down inside the Cincinnati two-yard line late in the first quarter. On four straight running plays, however, the Bearcats' defense held, and VPI was denied a scoring opportunity. In the second half, however, Cincinnati's offense managed to begin moving the ball effectively. On Cincinnati's first play of the second half, halfback Roger Stephens broke through the VPI defensive line for 26 yards, taking the ball inside VPI territory. Cincinnati's drive would overcome two 15-yard penalties and one five-yard penalty en route to a touchdown just a few plays later. On its next possession, Cincinnati's All-American Roger Stephens again broke off another long run, this time for 19 yards, setting up another Bearcats' touchdown. VPI countered with a long drive that reached the Cincinnati 23-yard line before an errant pass was intercepted by the Bearcats in the end zone. VPI managed a defensive stop, however, and marched down the field for a touchdown to climb within six points. Cincinnati sealed its victory, however, when Bearcats' halfback Harold Johnson intercepted a VPI pass late in the fourth quarter, returning it all the way to the VPI 25-yard line. That return set up a Cincinnati touchdown and put the Bearcats up by the game's final score, 18–6. Roster The following players were members of the 1946 football team according to the roster published in the 1947 edition of The Bugle, the Virginia Tech yearbook.Virginia Tech Bugle https://spec.lib.vt.edu/archives/bugle/bugl1947/1947_BUGLE.pdf The Bugle 1947 1947 180 January 23, 2016 VPI 1946 roster Jim Adams Frank H. Ballard William "Billy" Shelby Barbour Ralph Coe Beard Raymond Rucker Beasley Floyd Samuel Bowles Maynard Leon David Bruce Thomas Craig Burns Coy Lenard Chambers Pete "Chip" Collum Jack Cooke Stuart Covington Billy Patrick DeNardo Frank DeNardo Richard T. DeShazo Charles Mugler Forbes Nelson T. Fuller John E. "Jack" Gallagher John Eugene Gerngross Robert Hess Joseph William Hoffmann Jr. Oren Edward Hopkins Jack Ross Ittner Cary Kenyon Johnson Robert Edward Johnson Ted James Johnson Robert Stewart Kilbourne John Harry Kroehling Carl Leonard John James Maskas Allen McClaugherty Augustus Paul Mengulas Ross Moore Orr Horace Lee Pearce Erving Hascall Rand Frank Ransome Fred Ovid Shanks Bobby Smith Peter Smith Warren William Squires Robert "Bob" Taylor Franklin Ray Taylor David Lacy Thomas Jack Thomas W. Harry Walton Robert Franklin Webb Wegman William Elmer Wilson (Capt.) Gerhard Charles Zekert Paul Ethan "Zig" Zender References VPI Category:Virginia Tech Hokies football seasons VPI Gobblers football