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 7âÂÂ2 record, 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 38âÂÂ26âÂÂ4 record.
The following individuals played for the 1946 Nevada team:
The 1947 NFL draft was held on December 16, 1946. The following Wolf Pack players were selected.