1946 Muhlenberg Mules football team

1946 Muhlenberg Mules football
ConferenceIndependent
Record9–1
Head coach
Home stadiumMulenberg Field
Seasons
← 1945
1947 →
1946 Eastern non-major college football independents records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Thiel   –   7 – 0 – 0
Muhlenberg   –   9 – 1 – 0
Geneva   –   7 – 1 – 0
Dickinson   –   6 – 1 – 0
Alfred   –   5 – 1 – 0
Buffalo   –   7 – 2 – 0
Washington & Jefferson   –   6 – 2 – 0
Boston University   –   5 – 2 – 1
St. Lawrence   –   5 – 2 – 0
American International   –   4 – 2 – 1
Trinity (CT)   –   4 – 2 – 0
Swarthmore   –   5 – 3 – 0
Cortland State   –   4 – 3 – 0
Hofstra   –   4 – 3 – 0
Springfield   –   4 – 4 – 0
New York A&T   –   3 – 3 – 0
Northeastern   –   3 – 3 – 0
Scranton   –   4 – 5 – 1
Gettysburg   –   4 – 5 – 0
Drexel   –   3 – 4 – 0
Franklin & Marshall   –   3 – 4 – 0
Coast Guard   –   3 – 5 – 0
Lehigh   –   2 – 6 – 0
Tufts   –   1 – 6 – 0
CCNY   –   1 – 7 – 0
Carnegie Tech   –   0 – 6 – 0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1946 Muhlenberg Mules football team was an American football team that represented Muhlenberg College during the 1946 college football season. In its first season under head coach Ben Schwartzwalder, Muhlenberg compiled a 9–1 record, defeated St. Bonaventure in the Tobacco Bowl, and outscored opponents by a total of 307 to 99. The team's only loss was to Delaware by a 20–12 score.[1] The team played its home games at Muhlenberg Field in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Muhlenberg ranked first nationally among small college programs with an average of 425.9 yards of total offense per game.[2] The team also ranked fifth nationally in total defense, giving up an average of only 115.4 yards per game.[2]

Muhlenberg fullback Jack Crider was the leading scorer among all college football players in the East with 90 points on 15 touchdowns in nine games.[3] He also ranked fifth nationally.[4]

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 28at Lafayette
W 32–208,000 [5]
October 5Albright
W 39–0
October 12at Bucknell
W 6–0
October 19Swarthmore
W 52–13
October 26Franklin & Marshall
  • Muhlenberg Field
  • Allentown, PA
W 40–7
November 2at Lehigh
W 40–710,000 [6]
November 9at GettysburgGettysburg, PAW 13–7
November 16Moravian
  • Muhlenberg Field
  • Allentown, PA
W 47–0
November 23at DelawareWilmington, DEL 12–20 15,000 [7]
December 14vs. St. Bonaventure
W 26–253,000[8]

Rankings

See also: 1946 NCAA football rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked т = Tied with team above or below
Week
Poll12345678Final
AP——————19т——

After the season

Main article: 1947 NFL draft

The 1947 NFL Draft was held on December 16, 1946. The following Mules were selected.[9]

Round Pick Player Position NFL Club
18 161 Hal Bell Back Philadelphia Eagles
27 254 George Bibighaus End New York Giants

References

  1. ^ "1946 - Muhlenberg (PA)". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on September 15, 2015. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  2. ^ a b W.J. Bingham, ed. (1947). The Official National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Guide including the Official Rules 1947. A.S. Barnes and Company. p. 87.
  3. ^ "Jack Crider Tops Eastern Scorers". Harrisburgh Telegraph. December 2, 1946. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ W.J. Bingham, ed. (1947). The Official National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Guide including the Official Rules 1947. A.S. Barnes and Company. p. 89.
  5. ^ Lewis, Allen (September 29, 1946). "Muhlenberg's Late Surge Upsets Lafayette, 32-20". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pa. p. S1 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Mules Crush Lehigh, 40-7, for Their Sixth Straight Win". Sunday Call-Chronicle. Allentown, Pa. November 3, 1946. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Morrow, Art (November 24, 1946). "Delaware Trips Muhlenberg, 20-12; 15,000 See Blue Hen's Unbeaten Run Hit 30". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pa. p. S1 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Muhlenberg Tips Bonnies 26-25: Mules Score First In Winning Inaugural Tobacco Bowl Tilt". The Courier-Journal. December 15, 1946. p. IV-1 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "1947 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 29, 2020.