1945 College Football All-America Team
Encyclopedia
The 1945 College Football All-America team is composed of college football players who were selected as All-Americans by various organizations and writers that chose College Football All-America Team
s for the 1945 college football season
. The organizations that chose the teams included: the United Press; the Associated Press
; the Football Writers Association of America
; Collier's Weekly
selected by Grantland Rice
; and the New York Sun
.
Bold = Consensus All-American
voting.
College Football All-America Team
The College Football All-America Team is an honor given annually to the best American college football players at their respective positions. The original usage of the term All-America seems to have been to the 1889 College Football All-America Team selected by Casper Whitney and published in This...
s for the 1945 college football season
1945 college football season
The 1945 college football season finished with the United States Military Academy, more popularly known as “Army”, being the unanimous choice for the nation’s number one team by the 116 voters in the Associated Press writers’ poll...
. The organizations that chose the teams included: the United Press; the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
; the Football Writers Association of America
Football Writers Association of America
The Football Writers Association of America is one of the organizations whose College Football All-America Team is recognized by the NCAA...
; Collier's Weekly
Collier's Weekly
Collier's Weekly was an American magazine founded by Peter Fenelon Collier and published from 1888 to 1957. With the passage of decades, the title was shortened to Collier's....
selected by Grantland Rice
Grantland Rice
Grantland Rice was an early 20th century American sportswriter known for his elegant prose. His writing was published in newspapers around the country and broadcast on the radio.-Biography:...
; and the New York Sun
New York Sun
The New York Sun was a weekday daily newspaper published in New York City from 2002 to 2008. When it debuted on April 16, 2002, adopting the name, motto, and masthead of an otherwise unrelated earlier New York paper, The Sun , it became the first general-interest broadsheet newspaper to be started...
.
Ends
- Dick DudenDick DudenHenry Richard Duden, Jr. is a former American football end in the National Football League for the New York Giants. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001 after a stellar college football career at the United States Naval Academy....
, Navy (College Football Hall of Fame) (AP-1; UP-1; FWAA-1; SN; COL-1; CP-1; INS-2; YANK; NYS; OF-1; WC-1; CNS-1; NL) - Hub BechtolHub BechtolHubert "Hub" Edwin Bechtol was a college football player for the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Texas Longhorns. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1991.-External links:*...
, Texas (College Football Hall of Fame) (AP-1; FWAA-2; COL-1; CP-2; LOOK; CNS-1) - Bob RavensbergBob RavensbergRobert Alexander "Bob" Ravensberg was an American football player. Ravensberg was born in Bellevue, Kentucky, where his family operated a diner. He was a two-time Kentucky high school pole vault champion who set a state record in the event...
, Indiana (UP-2; FWAA-1; SN; CP-1; INS-2; LOOK; CNS-2) - Max MorrisMax MorrisGlen Max Morris was a professional American football and basketball player. He was a consensus All-American in both sports for Northwestern University and later played professional football for the Chicago Rockets and Brooklyn Dodgers of the All-America Football Conference...
, Northwestern (AP-2; UP-2; FWAA-2; CP-2; INS-1; YANK; WC-1) - Hank FoldbergHank FoldbergHenry Christian "Hank" Foldberg, Sr. was an American college and professional football player who became a college football coach. Foldberg played college football for Texas A&M University and the U.S. Military Academy, and thereafter, he played professionally for the Chicago Hornets and Brooklyn...
, Army (AP-2; UP-1; CP-3; INS-1; NEA-1; NYS; OF-1; CNS-2) - Henry Walker, Virginia (AP-3)
- Neill ArmstrongNeill ArmstrongNeill Ford Armstrong is a former American football player and coach whose career spanned more than 40 years at both the collegiate and professional levels....
, Oklahoma A&M (AP-3) - Paul Walker, Yale (CP-3; NL)
- Richard Pitzer, Army (NEA-1)
Tackles
- Tex CoulterTex CoulterDeWitt E. "Tex" Coulter was an American football offensive lineman in the National Football League for the New York Giants and in the Canadian Football League for the Montreal Alouettes. Coulter attended the United States Military Academy.-External links:*, El Paso Times, October 11, 2007...
, Army (AP-1; UP-1; FWAA-1; SN; COL-1; CP-1; INS-1; NEA-1; NYS; OF-1; WC-1; CNS-1; NL) - George SavitskyGeorge SavitskyGeorge Michael Savitsky is a former American football offensive tackle in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football at the University of Pennsylvania and was drafted in the fifth round of the 1947 NFL Draft. Savitsky was inducted into the College...
, Penn (College Football Hall of Fame) (AP-3; UP-1; FWAA-1; SN; COL-1; CP-1; INS-2; LOOK; WC-1; CNS-1) - Albert Nemetz, Army (AP-1; UP-2; FWAA-2; INS-2; NEA-1; YANK; NYS; CNS-2)
- Tom HughesTom HughesThomas Eyre Forrest Hughes AO QC is a former Australian politician and a prominent barrister practicing at Blackstone Chambers in Sydney. He was a Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives from 1963 to 1972, representing first the seat of Parkes and then the seat of Berowra...
, Purdue (UP-2; FWAA-2; CP-2; LOOK; OF-1; CNS-2; NL) - Thomas DeanThomas DeanThomas Arthur Dean was an English cricketer. Dean was a right-handed batsman who bowled leg break googly.Dean made his first-class debut for Hampshire in the 1939 County Championship against Somerset. In the 1939 season, Dean took his first five wicket haul against Yorkshire, with figures of 5/58...
, Southern Methodist Univ. (AP-2; YANK) - Mike Castronis, Georgia (INS-1)
- Jim KekerisJim Kekeris-Career:Kekeris was drafted in the third round of the 1947 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions and would play that season with the Philadelphia Eagles. The following season he played with the Green Bay Packers....
, Missouri (AP-2; CP-2) - Clarence EsserClarence EsserClarence Joseph Esser was a professional American football end in the National Football League for the Chicago Cardinals in 1947. He played at the collegiate level at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.-References:...
, Wisconsin (AP-3) - Buster McClure, Nevada (CP-3)
- Monte Moncrief, Texas A&M (CP-3)
Guards
- Warren AmlingWarren AmlingDr. Warren Eugene Amling was an American football and basketball player, playing for the Ohio State Buckeyes from 1944 to 1946. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1984....
, Ohio State (College Football Hall of Fame) (AP-1; UP-1; FWAA-1; SN; COL-1; CP-1; INS-1; LOOK; NYS; OF-1; WC-1; CNS-1; NL) - John Green, Army (College Football Hall of Fame) (AP-1; UP-1; FWAA-1; SN; COL-1; NYS; OF-1; WC-1; CNS-1)
- Al SparlisAl SparlisAlbert Alexander "Gunga" Sparlis is a former professional American football guard who was an All-American at UCLA. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983....
, UCLA (College Football Hall of Fame) (AP-3; CP-1; INS-2; LOOK; CNS-2) - John MastrangeloJohn MastrangeloFor John Mastrangelo, the musician, see Johnny MaestroJohn Battista Mastrangelo was a professional football player in the National Football League. He made his NFL debut in 1947 with the Pittsburgh Steelers...
, Notre Dame (AP-2; UP-2; FWAA-2; CP-2; INS-1; YANK; CNS-2) - James Carrington, Navy (UP-2; FWAA-2; INS-2)
- Joseph Dickinson, Penn (AP-2; CP-2)
- Jim Lecture, Northwestern (AP-3; CP-3)
- John Green, Army (CP-3; NEA-1; YANK)
- Arthur Gerometta, Army (NEA-1)
- Hills, Georgia Tech (NL)
Centers
- Vaughn ManchaVaughn ManchaVaughn Mancha was a professional American football player who played professionally for the Boston Yanks. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1990. He was named to the All-SEC team during his career at the University of Alabama, where he played from 1944 through 1947...
, Alabama (College Football Hall of Fame) (AP-1; UP-1; FWAA-1; SN; COL-1; CP-1; INS-1; YANK; NYS; OF-1; CNS-1) - Dick ScottDick Scott (American football)Dick Scott was an American football player. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1987....
, Navy (College Football Hall of Fame) (AP-2; UP-2; FWAA-2; CP-2; INS-2; LOOK; WC-1; CNS-2; NL) - Ralph Jenkins, Clemson (AP-3)
- Harold WattsHarold WattsHarold M. Watts was a former American football player. He played at the center position for the University of Michigan from 1943 to 1946. He was chosen as the Most Valuable Player on the 1945 Michigan Wolverines football team and received the award in absentia after being transferred off the...
, Michigan (CP-3) - Herschel Fuson, Army (NEA-1)
Quarterbacks
- Harry GilmerHarry GilmerHarry Vincent Gilmer, Jr. is a former American football halfback and quarterback in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins and Detroit Lions. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993.-Early life:...
, Alabama (College Football Hall of Fame) (AP-2; UP-2; FWAA-2; SN; COL-1; CP-2; INS-2; LOOK; NYS; OF-1 [qb]; CNS-1; NL) - Frank DancewiczFrank DancewiczFrancis Joseph "Boley" Dancewicz was an American football quarterback who played professionally in the National Football League...
, Notre Dame (AP-2; UP-2; FWAA-2; CP-1; CNS-2) - Arnold TuckerArnold TuckerArnold Tucker is a retired United States Air Force Officer who graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY in 1947....
, Army (College Football Hall of Fame) (CP-3; INS-2; NEA-1) - Gene Rossides, Columbia (CP-3)
Halfbacks
- Glenn Davis, Army (College Football Hall of Fame) (AP-1; UP-1; FWAA-1; SN; COL-1; CP-1; INS-1; NEA-1; YANK; LOOK; NYS; OF-1; WC-1; CNS-1; NL)
- Herman WedemeyerHerman WedemeyerHerman John Wedemeyer was an American actor, football player, and politician. He is best known for portraying 'Sergeant/Detective "Duke" Lukela' on the crime drama Hawaii Five-O ....
, St. Mary's (Calif.) (College Football Hall of Fame) (AP-1; UP-1; FWAA-1; SN; COL-1; CP-1; INS-1; LOOK; OF-1; WC-1; CNS-1; NL) - Bob FenimoreBob FenimoreRobert Dale Fenimore known as the Blonde Bomber was a halfback for the Oklahoma A&M football team from 1943 to 1946. He was the first two-time All America selection from Oklahoma A&M and finished third in the Heisman voting in 1945, but still led the nation in rushing with 142 carries for 1,048...
, Oklahoma State (College Football Hall of Fame) (AP-1; UP-1; FWAA-1; SN; CP-2; INS-1; WC-1; CNS-2) - Jake LeichtJake LeichtJacob Leicht was an American football halfback and defensive back in the All-America Football Conference for the Baltimore Colts. He played college football at the University of Oregon and was drafted in the tenth round of the 1946 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins.-External links:...
, Oregon (YANK; NYS) - George TaliaferroGeorge TaliaferroGeorge Taliaferro is a former professional American football player. He was the first African American drafted by a National Football League team....
, Indiana (AP-3; CP-3; INS-2; CNS-2) - Clyde ScottClyde ScottClyde Scott is a retired American athlete who competed professionally in the National Football League and earned an Olympic medal in the 110 meter hurdles....
, Navy (College Football Hall of Fame) (AP-3; UP-2) - Stan KozlowskiStan KozlowskiStanley J. Kozlowski was an American football fullback in the All-America Football Conference for the Miami Seahawks. He played college football at the University of Notre Dame and the College of the Holy Cross and was drafted in the third round of the 1946 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins...
, Holy Cross (AP-3; CP-2) - Robert Evans, Penn (AP-3)
- Thomas McWilliam, Army (NEA-1)
Fullbacks
- Doc BlanchardDoc BlanchardFelix Anthony "Doc" Blanchard is best known as the college football player who became the first ever junior to win the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award and was the first ever football player to win the James E. Sullivan Award, all in 1945. He played football for the United States Military Academy at...
, Army (College Football Hall of Fame) (AP-1; UP-1; FWAA-1; SN; COL-1; CP-1; INS-1; NEA-1; YANK; LOOK; NYS; OF-1; WC-1; CNS-1; NL) - Pete PihosPete PihosPeter Louis Pihos was a professional American football player in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles. He was a high school junior when his mother moved the family to Chicago. His father was a murder victim, and when a suspect was acquitted, Pete decided to become a lawyer...
, Indiana (College and Pro Football Hall of Fame) (AP-2; UP-2; FWAA-2; CP-2; YANK; CNS-2) - Ollie ClineOllie ClineOliver M. "Ollie" Cline was a college and professional American football player in the 1940s and '50s. He was nicknamed the Blond Bomber.-College career:...
, Ohio State (AP-2; FWAA-2) - Walt SchlinkmanWalt SchlinkmanWalter Gaye Schlinkman is a former fullback in the NFL who played 46 games for the Green Bay Packers. In 1945, the Green Bay Packers used the 11th pick in the 1st round of the 1945 NFL Draft to sign Schlinkman out of Texas Technological College . Schlinkman went on to play for four seasons with...
, Texas Tech (INS-2) - Ed Cody, Purdue (CP-3)
Key
- AP = Associated PressAssociated PressThe Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
- UP = United Press
- FWAA = Football Writers Association of America
- SN = Sporting News, selected by a poll of 163 sports writers and sportscasters
- COL = Collier's WeeklyCollier's WeeklyCollier's Weekly was an American magazine founded by Peter Fenelon Collier and published from 1888 to 1957. With the passage of decades, the title was shortened to Collier's....
as selected by Grantland RiceGrantland RiceGrantland Rice was an early 20th century American sportswriter known for his elegant prose. His writing was published in newspapers around the country and broadcast on the radio.-Biography:... - CP = Central Press AssociationCentral Press AssociationThe Central Press Association was an American newspaper syndication company based in Cleveland, Ohio. It was in business from 1910 to 1971. At its peak, the Central Press supplied features, columns, and photographs to more than 400 newspapers and 12 million daily readers.-History:Virgil Venice...
, selected for the 15th straight year with the aid of the captains of the leading college teams - INS = International News Service, "selected on the basis of ballots and information gathered from International News Service sports writers and football authorities all over the nation"
- NEA = Newspaper Editors Association. In a departure from normal practice, the NEA named the starters from the Army football team, which had won 17 straight games, as its All-American team for 1945I
- YANK = Yank Magazine, based on a poll of 25 of the country's most widely known college football coaches
- LOOK = Look magazine
- NYS = New York Sun
- OF = Oscar Fraley, United Press sports writer
- WC = Walter CampWalter CampWalter Chauncey Camp was an American football player, coach, and sports writer known as the "Father of American Football". With John Heisman, Amos Alonzo Stagg, Pop Warner, Fielding H. Yost, and George Halas, Camp was one of the most accomplished persons in the early history of American football...
Football Foundation - CNS = Consensus All-American team picked based on assigning points to players selected as All-Americans by Oscar Fraley, Christy Walsh, United Press, Look, New York Sun, New York News, International News, Associated Press, Sporting News, and Collies-Rice
- NL = Navy Log
Bold = Consensus All-American
- 1 - First Team Selection
- 2 - Second Team Selection
- 3 - Third Team Selection
Heisman Trophy voting
The chart below reflects the point total in the 1945 Heisman TrophyHeisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
voting.
| Rank | Name | Position | School | Heisman points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Doc Blanchard Doc Blanchard Felix Anthony "Doc" Blanchard is best known as the college football player who became the first ever junior to win the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award and was the first ever football player to win the James E. Sullivan Award, all in 1945. He played football for the United States Military Academy at... |
Fullback Fullback (American football) A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback... |
Army | 860 |
| 2 | Glenn Davis | Halfback Halfback (American football) A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive... |
Army | 638 |
| 3 | Bob Fenimore Bob Fenimore Robert Dale Fenimore known as the Blonde Bomber was a halfback for the Oklahoma A&M football team from 1943 to 1946. He was the first two-time All America selection from Oklahoma A&M and finished third in the Heisman voting in 1945, but still led the nation in rushing with 142 carries for 1,048... |
Halfback Halfback (American football) A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive... |
Oklahoma A&M | 187 |
| 4 | Herman Wedemeyer Herman Wedemeyer Herman John Wedemeyer was an American actor, football player, and politician. He is best known for portraying 'Sergeant/Detective "Duke" Lukela' on the crime drama Hawaii Five-O .... |
Halfback Halfback (American football) A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive... |
St. Mary's | 152 |
| 5 | Harry Gilmer Harry Gilmer Harry Vincent Gilmer, Jr. is a former American football halfback and quarterback in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins and Detroit Lions. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993.-Early life:... |
Quarterback Quarterback Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line... |
Alabama | 132 |