The 1944 Southeastern Conference football season was the twelfth season of college football played by the member schools of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and was a part of the 1944 college football season. Georgia Tech compiled an 8–3 overall record, with a conference record of 4–0, and was SEC champion.
Quick Facts Sport, Duration ...
1944 Southeastern Conference football season |
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Sport | Football |
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Duration | September 23, 1944 – January 1, 1945 (1944-09-23 – 1945-01-01) |
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Number of teams | 12 |
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Champion | Georgia Tech |
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1945 → |
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More information Conf, Overall ...
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More information Conf. rank, Team ...
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Key
AP final = Rankings from AP sports writers. See 1944 NCAA football rankings
PPG = Average of points scored per game[1]
PAG = Average of points allowed per game[1]
More information Index to colors and formatting ...
Index to colors and formatting |
SEC member won |
SEC member lost |
SEC member tie |
SEC teams in bold |
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Week Zero
More information Date, Visiting team ...
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Week One
More information Date, Visiting team ...
Date | Visiting team | Home team | Site | Result | Attendance | Ref. |
September 29 |
Howard (AL) |
Auburn |
Cramton Bowl • Montgomery AL |
W 32–0 | 10,000 | [4] |
September 29 |
Wake Forest |
Georgia |
Sanford Stadium • Athens, GA |
L 7–14 | 8,500 | [5] |
September 30 |
Clemson |
Georgia Tech |
Grant Field • Atlanta, GA (rivalry) |
W 51–0 | 15,000 | [6] |
September 30 |
Jackson Field |
Mississippi State |
Scott Field • Starkville, MS |
W 41–0 | 2,500 | [7] |
September 30 |
Kentucky |
Tennessee |
Shields–Watkins Field • Knoxville, TN (rivalry) |
TEN 26–13 | 15,000 | [8] |
September 30 |
Ole Miss |
Florida |
Fairfield Stadium • Jacksonville, FL |
OM 26–26 | 10,000 | [9] |
September 30 |
Alabama |
LSU |
Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA (rivalry) |
T 27–27 | 32,000 | [10] |
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Week Two
More information Date, Visiting team ...
Date | Visiting team | Home team | Site | Result | Attendance | Ref. |
October 6 |
Presbyterian |
Georgia |
Sanford Stadium • Athens, GA |
W 67–0 | | [11] |
October 7 |
North Carolina |
Georgia Tech |
Grant Field • Atlanta, GA |
W 28–0 | 15,000 | [12] |
October 7 |
Howard (AL) |
Alabama |
Legion Field • Birmingham, AL |
W 63–7 | 5,000 | [13] |
October 7 |
Millsaps |
Mississippi State |
Scott Field • Starkville, MS |
W 56–0 | | [14] |
October 7 |
Jacksonville NAS |
Florida |
Florida Field • Gainesville, FL |
W 27–20 | 4,500 | [15] |
October 7 |
Fourth Infantry |
Auburn |
Auburn Stadium • Auburn, AL |
W 7–0 | 5,000 | [16] |
October 7 |
Sewanee V-12 |
Vanderbilt |
Hardee Field • Sewanee, TN (rivalry) |
T 0–0 | | [17] |
October 7 |
LSU |
Rice |
Rice Field • Houston, TX |
L 13–14 | 10,000 | [18] |
October 7 |
Tulane |
Notre Dame |
Notre Dame Stadium • Notre Dame, IN |
L 0–26 | 45,000 | [19] |
October 7 |
Michigan State |
Kentucky |
McLean Stadium • Lexington, KY |
L 0–2 | 10,000 | [20] |
October 7 |
Tennessee |
Ole Miss |
Crump Stadium • Memphis, TN |
TEN 20–7 | 15,000 | [21] |
|
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Week Three
More information Date, Visiting team ...
Date | Visiting team | Home team | Site | Result | Attendance | Ref. |
October 13 |
Kentucky |
Georgia |
Sanford Stadium • Athens, GA |
UGA 13–12 | 9,000 | [22] |
October 14 |
Millsaps |
Alabama |
Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL |
W 55–0 | | [23] |
October 14 |
Arkansas A&M |
Mississippi State |
Scott Field • Starkville, MS |
W 49–20 | | [24] |
October 14 |
Rice |
Tulane |
Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA |
W 21–0 | 28,000 | [25] |
October 14 |
Texas A&M |
LSU |
Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA (rivalry) |
L 0–7 | 25,000 | [26] |
October 14 |
Auburn |
No. 10 Georgia Tech |
Grant Field • Atlanta, GA (rivalry) |
GT 27–7 | 20,000 | [27] |
October 14 |
Florida |
No. 15 Tennessee |
Shields–Watkins Field • Knoxville, TN (rivalry) |
TEN 40–0 | 8,000 | [28] |
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. |
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Week Four
More information Date, Visiting team ...
Date | Visiting team | Home team | Site | Result | Attendance | Ref. |
October 20 |
Daniel Field |
Georgia |
Sanford Stadium • Athens, GA |
W 53–6 | 3,000 | [29] |
October 20 |
VMI |
Kentucky |
McLean Stadium • Lexington, KY |
W 26–2 | 8,000 | [30] |
October 21 |
No. 9 Navy |
No. 8 Georgia Tech |
Grant Field • Atlanta, GA |
W GT 17–15 | 35,000 | [31] |
October 21 |
No. 13 Tulsa |
Ole Miss |
Crump Stadium • Memphis, TN |
L 0–47 | 8,000 | [32] |
October 21 |
Florida |
No. 15 Tennessee |
Shields–Watkins Field • Knoxville, TN (rivalry) |
TEN 40–0 | 8,000 | [28] |
October 21 |
Mississippi State |
LSU |
Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA (rivalry) |
MSS 6–13 | 25,000 | [33] |
October 21 |
Auburn |
Tulane |
Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA (rivalry) |
TUL 16–13 | 30,000 | [34] |
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. |
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Week Five
More information Date, Visiting team ...
Date | Visiting team | Home team | Site | Result | Attendance | Ref. |
October 27 |
Georgia Pre-Flight |
No. 5 Georgia Tech |
Grant Field • Atlanta, GA |
W 13–7 | 15,000 | [35] |
October 27 |
Kentucky |
Alabama |
Cramton Bowl • Montgomery, AL |
ALA 41–0 | 16,000 | [36] |
October 28 |
SMU |
Tulane |
Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA |
W 27–7 | 22,000 | [37] |
October 28 |
Maryland |
Florida |
Florida Field • Gainesville, FL |
W 14–6 | 7,000 | [38] |
October 28 |
Tennessee Tech |
Vanderbilt |
Dudley Field • Nashville, TN |
W 19–7 | 5,000 | [39] |
October 28 |
Arkansas |
Ole Miss |
Crump Stadium • Memphis, TN (rivalry) |
W 18–26 | 10,000 | [40] |
October 28 |
Clemson |
No. 19 Tennessee |
Shields–Watkins Field • Knoxville, TN |
W 26–7 | 11,000 | [41] |
October 28 |
LSU |
Georgia |
Grant Field • Atlanta, GA |
LSU 15–7 | | [42] |
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. |
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Week Six
More information Date, Visiting team ...
Date | Visiting team | Home team | Site | Result | Attendance | Ref. |
November 3 |
Florida |
Miami (FL) |
Burdine Stadium • Miami, FL (rivalry) |
W 13–0 | 16,415 | [43] |
November 4 |
Presbyterian |
Auburn |
Auburn Stadium • Auburn, AL |
W 57–0 | 7,000 | [44] |
November 4 |
Vanderbilt |
Tennessee Tech |
Overhill Field • Cookeville, TN |
W 20–9 | | [45] |
November 4 |
No. 5 Georgia Tech |
Duke |
Duke Stadium • Durham, NC |
L 13–19 | 30,000 | [46] |
November 4 |
Jackson Field |
Ole Miss |
Hemingway Stadium • Oxford, MS |
L 0–10 | 2,000 | [47] |
November 4 |
No. 16 Tennessee |
LSU |
Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA |
TEN 13–0 | 22,000 | [48] |
November 4 |
Georgia |
No. 19 Alabama |
Legion Field • Birmingham, AL (rivalry) |
UGA 14–7 | 22,000 | [49] |
November 4 |
Kentucky |
No. 18 Mississippi State |
Crump Stadium • Memphis, TN |
MSS 26–0 | 8,000 | [50] |
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. |
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Week Seven
More information Date, Visiting team ...
Date | Visiting team | Home team | Site | Result | Attendance | Ref. |
November 11 |
Sewanee V-12 |
Vanderbilt |
Dudley Field • Nashville, TN |
W 28–7 | 5,000 | [51] |
November 11 |
Tulane |
No. 13 Georgia Tech |
Grant Field • Atlanta, GA |
GT 34–7 | 20,000 | [52] |
November 11 |
Georgia |
Florida |
Fairfield Stadium • Jacksonville, FL (rivalry) |
UGA 38–12 | 18,000 | [53] |
November 11 |
Ole Miss |
Alabama |
Murphy High School Stadium • Mobile, AL (rivalry) |
ALA 34–6 | 8,000 | [54] |
November 11 |
No. 19 Mississippi State |
Auburn |
Legion Field • Birmingham, AL |
MSS 26–21 | 14,000 | [55] |
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. |
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Week Eight
More information Date, Visiting team ...
Date | Visiting team | Home team | Site | Result | Attendance | Ref. |
November 18 |
Temple |
No. 17 Tennessee |
Shields–Watkins Field • Knoxville, TN |
W 27–14 | 15,000 | [56] |
November 18 |
Clemson |
Tulane |
Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA |
W 36–20 | 10,000 | [57] |
November 18 |
West Virginia |
Kentucky |
McLean Stadium • Lexington, KY |
W 40–9 | | [58] |
November 18 |
No. 9 Georgia Tech |
LSU |
Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA |
GT 14–6 | 10,000 | [59] |
November 18 |
Georgia |
Auburn |
Memorial Stadium • Columbus, GA (rivaley) |
UGA 49–13 | 20,000 | [60] |
November 18 |
No. 16 Mississippi State |
Alabama |
Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL (rivalry) |
ALA 19–0 | 23,000 | [61] |
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. |
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Week Nine
More information Date, Visiting team ...
Date | Visiting team | Home team | Site | Result | Attendance | Ref. |
November 24 |
Miami (FL) |
Auburn |
Burdine Stadium • Miami, FL |
W 38–19 | 13,000 | [62] |
November 24 |
Clemson |
Georgia |
Sanford Stadium • Athens, GA (rivalry) |
W 21–7 | 3,500 | [63] |
November 25 |
No. 18 Notre Dame |
No. 10 Georgia Tech |
Grant Field • Atlanta, GA |
L 0–21 | 28,662 | [64] |
November 25 |
No. 15 Tennessee |
Kentucky |
McLean Stadium • Lexington, KY |
TEN 21–7 | | [65] |
November 25 |
Mississippi State |
Ole Miss |
Hemingway Stadium • Oxford, MS (rivalry) |
OM 8–13 | 8,000 | [66] |
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. |
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Week Ten
More information Date, Visiting team ...
Date | Visiting team | Home team | Site | Result | Attendance | Ref. |
December 2 |
Georgia Tech |
Georgia |
Sanford Stadium • Athens, GA (rivalry) |
GT 44–0 | 26,000 | [67] |
December 2 |
Tulane |
LSU |
Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA (rivalry) |
LSU 25–6 | 30,000 | [68] |
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. |
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Postseason
More information Date, Visiting team ...
Date | Visiting team | Home team | Site | Result | Attendance | Ref. |
January 1, 1945 |
Tulsa |
No. 13 Georgia Tech |
Burdine Stadium • Miami, FL (Orange Bowl) |
L 12–26 | 29,426 | [69] |
January 1, 1945 |
No. 12 Tennessee |
No. 7 USC |
Rose Bowl • Pasadena, CA (Rose Bowl) |
L 0–25 | 91,000 | [70] |
January 1, 1945 |
Alabama |
No. 11 Duke |
Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA (Sugar Bowl) |
L 26–29 | 66,822 | [71] |
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. |
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The following players were recognized as consensus first-team honors from the Associated Press (AP) and United Press (UP) on the 1944 All-SEC football team:
- Phil Tinsley, End, Georgia Tech (AP-1, UP-1)
- Wash Serini, Tackle, Kentucky (AP-1, UP-1)
- Bob Dobelstein, Guard, Tennessee (AP-1, UP-1)
- Tex Warrington, Center, Auburn (AP-1, UP-1)
- Shorty McWilliams, Quarterback, Mississippi State (AP-1, UP-1)
- Dub Jones, Halfback, Tulane (AP-1, UP-1)
- Frank Broyles, Fullback, Georgia Tech (AP-1, UP-1 [as hb])
One SEC player was a consensus first-team pick on the 1944 College Football All-America Team:[72]
- Phil Tinsley, End, Georgia Tech (AAB, AP, COL, FN, INS, LK, NEA, SN)
Other SEC players receiving All-American honors from at least one selector were:
Records through the completion of the 1944 season
More information Team, Head coach ...
Team |
Head coach |
Years at school |
Overall record |
Record at school |
SEC record |
Alabama |
Frank Thomas |
14 |
124–29–8 (.795) |
98–20–7 (.812) |
49–13–6 (.765) |
Auburn |
Carl M. Voyles |
1 |
47–22–3 (.674) |
4–4–0 (.500) |
0–4–0 (.000) |
Florida |
Tom Lieb |
4 |
63–54–4 (.537) |
16–21–0 (.432) |
4–12–0 (.250) |
Georgia |
Wally Butts |
6 |
43–19–2 (.688) |
43–19–2 (.688) |
15–10–2 (.593) |
Georgia Tech |
William Alexander |
25 |
134–95–15 (.580) |
134–95–15 (.580) |
33–31–5 (.514) |
Kentucky |
Albert D. Kirwan |
6 |
24–28–4 (.464) |
24–28–4 (.464) |
4–22–3 (.190) |
LSU |
Bernie Moore |
10 |
74–45–7 (.615) |
62–33–4 (.646) |
31–22–3 (.580) |
Mississippi State |
Allyn McKeen |
5 |
53–13–2 (.794) |
40–7–2 (.837) |
19–6–2 (.741) |
Ole Miss |
Harry Mehre |
6 |
94–55–7 (.625) |
35–21–1 (.623) |
24–26–3 (.481) |
Tennessee |
John Barnhill |
3 |
24–4–2 (.833) |
24–4–2 (.833) |
12–2–1 (.833) |
Tulane |
Claude Simons Jr. |
3 |
22–23–1 (.489) |
11–11–0 (.500) |
3–7–0 (.300) |
Vanderbilt |
Doby Bartling |
1 |
3–0–1 (.875) |
3–0–1 (.875) |
0–0–0 (–) |
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The following SEC players were selected in the 1945 NFL draft:[73]
More information Round, Overall Pick ...
Round |
Overall Pick |
Player name |
School |
Position |
NFL team |
1 |
1 |
Charley Trippi |
Georgia |
Halfback |
Chicago Cardinals |
1 |
2 |
Paul Duhart |
Florida |
Halfback |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
1 |
3 |
Joe Renfroe |
Tulane |
Back |
Brooklyn Tigers |
1 |
4 |
Eddie Prokop |
Georgia Tech |
Back |
Boston Yanks |
3 |
25 |
Alvin Dark |
LSU |
Back |
Philadelphia Eagles |
4 |
28 |
Bob Dobelstein |
Tennessee |
Guard |
Chicago Cardinals |
4 |
29 |
Roger Adams |
Florida |
Center |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
5 |
43 |
Joe Graham |
Florida |
End |
Green Bay Packers |
6 |
51 |
Johnny North |
Vanderbilt |
End |
Washington Redskins |
6 |
53 |
Barney Poole |
Ole Miss |
End |
New York Giants |
6 |
54 |
Don Wells |
Georgia |
Tackle |
Green Bay Packers |
7 |
61 |
John Steber |
Georgia Tech |
Guard |
Washington Redskins |
7 |
65 |
Casey Stephenson |
Tennessee |
Back |
Green Bay Packers |
8 |
70 |
Johnny August |
Alabama |
Back |
Cleveland Rams |
8 |
71 |
Art Porter |
Tulane |
End |
Washington Redskins |
9 |
78 |
Gene Meeks |
Kentucky |
Back |
Chicago Cardinals |
9 |
81 |
Dick Huffman |
Tennessee |
Tackle |
Cleveland Rams |
9 |
84 |
Curt Kuykendall |
Auburn |
Back |
Washington Redskins |
10 |
89 |
Art Brandau |
Tennessee |
Center |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
10 |
90 |
Roy Cross |
Tennessee |
End |
Brooklyn Tigers |
10 |
98 |
Hal Helscher |
LSU |
Back |
Green Bay Packers |
11 |
101 |
Halley Heard |
LSU |
Tackle |
Chicago Cardinals |
12 |
119 |
Billy Bevis |
Tennessee |
Back |
New York Giants |
13 |
125 |
Jack Aland |
Alabama |
Tackle |
Cleveland Rams |
13 |
127 |
Charlie Conerly |
Ole Miss |
Quarterback |
Washington Redskins |
14 |
133 |
Hal Self |
Alabama |
Back |
Brooklyn Tigers |
14 |
141 |
Stan Rhoades |
Mississippi State |
Back |
New York Giants |
15 |
151 |
Bill Montgomery |
LSU |
Back |
Philadelphia Eagles |
16 |
163 |
Jim Little |
Kentucky |
Tackle |
New York Giants |
17 |
170 |
Bob Jenkins |
Alabama |
Back |
Washington Redskins |
17 |
171 |
O. J. Key |
Tulane |
Back |
Detroit Lions |
18 |
181 |
Jim McWhorter |
Alabama |
Back |
Detroit Lions |
19 |
191 |
Eagle Matulich |
Mississippi State |
Back |
Cleveland Rams |
19 |
193 |
Jim Bradshaw |
Auburn |
Center |
Washington Redskins |
20 |
202 |
Bill Griffin |
Kentucky |
Tackle |
Cleveland Rams |
20 |
204 |
Mike Castronis |
Florida |
Guard |
Detroit Lions |
20 |
205 |
Broughton Williams |
Florida |
End |
Chicago Bears |
22 |
220 |
Fred Grant |
Alabama |
Back |
Chicago Cardinals |
23 |
231 |
Everett Hartwell |
Auburn |
End |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
23 |
233 |
Johnny Cook |
Georgia |
Back |
Chicago Cardinals |
23 |
237 |
Ray Olsen |
Tulane |
Back |
Detroit Lions |
23 |
239 |
Monk Mosley |
Alabama |
Back |
Philadelphia Eagles |
23 |
240 |
Jim Chadwell |
Tennessee |
Tackle |
New York Giants |
24 |
243 |
Ardie McClure |
Georgia |
Tackle |
Chicago Cardinals |
24 |
247 |
Russ Morrow |
Tennessee |
Center |
Detroit Lions |
25 |
258 |
Jack Green |
Alabama |
Guard |
Chicago Bears |
26 |
265 |
Felix Trapani |
LSU |
Guard |
Brooklyn Tigers |
26 |
266 |
Red Knight |
LSU |
Back |
Chicago Cardinals |
30 |
312 |
Charley Compton |
Alabama |
Tackle |
Cleveland Rams |
31 |
320 |
Bob Cummings |
Vanderbilt |
Center |
Washington Redskins |
31 |
322 |
Ken Reese |
Alabama |
Back |
Philadelphia Eagles |
32 |
329 |
John Staples |
Alabama |
Guard |
New York Giants |
Close
"1945 NFL Draft". SR/Pro Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 10, 2024.