The 1946 San Francisco Dons football team represented the University of San Francisco (USF) in the American college football season of 1946. The Dons competed as an independent, meaning they were not affiliated with any formal collegiate athletic conference during that year.
Institution and nickname
- University: University of San Francisco, a private Jesuit university located in San Francisco, California.
- Team nickname: Dons, a moniker historically used for USF athletic teams.
Season context
The 1946 season was the first full post‑World War II campaign for the program, as many college football teams had suspended or reduced activity during the war years. Like many institutions, USF was in the process of re‑establishing its athletic roster and schedule after the return of servicemen to campus.
Home venue
During this era, the Dons typically played their home games at Kezar Stadium, a municipal facility in San Francisco that hosted numerous college and professional football contests.
Coaching and personnel
Specific details regarding the head coach, assistant coaches, team captains, and player roster for the 1946 season are not readily available in the consulted encyclopedic sources.
Performance record
Comprehensive statistics such as the overall win‑loss record, game scores, and conference standings (the team was independent) for the 1946 season are not documented in the accessible reference material. Consequently, precise performance metrics cannot be provided.
Legacy
While the 1946 season itself does not feature prominently in historical summaries of USF football, the program would later achieve national attention in the late 1940s and early 1950s, most notably with its unbeaten 1951 season and the 1949 team that posted a 8–0 record. The 1946 team contributed to the rebuilding and continuity of the football program during the immediate post‑war period.
Note: Detailed game‑by‑game results, coaching staff names, and player statistics for the 1946 San Francisco Dons football team are not available in current encyclopedic references; therefore, this entry is limited to verified contextual information.
