1946 Oklahoma Sooners football team

rdf:langString 1946 Oklahoma Sooners football team

rdf:langString Jim Tyree

rdf:langString Big Six co-champion

rdf:langString Gator Bowl champion

rdf:langString football

rdf:langString Oklahoma Sooners

rdf:langString W 34–13 vs. NC State

rdf:langString NR

rdf:langString Big 6

rdf:langString The 1946 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma as a member of the Big Six Conference during the 1946 college football season. Led by Jim Tatum in his first and only season as head coach, the Sooners compiled an overall record of 8–3 with a mark of 4–1 in conference play, sharing the Big 6 title with Kansas. Oklahoma was invited to the Gator Bowl, where they defeated NC State. With the aid of first-year backfield coach Bud Wilkinson, who became the team's head coach the following year, Tatum installed the new split-T offense. The team ranked second nationally in total defense, giving up an average of only 141.7 yards per game. They also led the country in rushing defense, giving up an average of only 58.0 rushing yards per game. On offense, the Sooners ranked sixth nationally in rushing with an average of 235.4 yards per game and registered the highest single-game offensive total in games involving major teams with 664 yards against Oklahoma A&M. Oklahoma back Joe Golding ranked fourth nationally with 902 rushing yards on 126 carries, an average of 7.16 yards per carry. Golding had played for Oklahoma in 1941 but missed four years while serving as an infantryman in the European theatre of World War II, receiving the Combat Infantry badge, the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart. In an October 19, 1946 game against Kansas State, Golding broke or tied modern Oklahoma records with an 81-yard touchdown run, an average of 23.4 yards per carry, 164 net rushing yards, and three rushing touchdowns. Nine Oklahoma players received honors from the Associated Press (AP) or United Press (UP) on the 1946 All-Big Six Conference football team: Golding at back (AP-1, UP-1); tackle Wade Walker (AP-1, UP-1); guard Plato Andros (AP-1, UP-1); center John Rapacz (AP-1, UP-1); back Jack Mitchell (AP-2, UP-2); tackle Homer Paine (AP-2, UP-2); guard Buddy Burris (AP-2, UP-2); end Jim Tyree (AP-2, UP-3); and back Eddy Davis (UP-3).