1948 Western Reserve Red Cats football team

The 1948 Western Reserve Red Cats football team represented the Western Reserve University in the American city of Cleveland, Ohio, now known as Case Western Reserve University, during the 1948 college football season. The Red Cats were a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC).

1948 Western Reserve Red Cats football
ConferenceMid-American Conference
Record1–8–1 (1–4 MAC)
Head coach
Home stadiumLeague Park
Seasons
← 1947
1949 →
1948 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Miami (OH) $ 4 0 0 7 1 1
Western Michigan 3 1 0 6 3 0
Cincinnati 3 1 0 3 6 1
Ohio 2 3 0 3 6 0
Western Reserve 1 4 0 1 8 1
Butler 0 4 0 3 5 0
  • $ – Conference champion

The team was coached by Mike Scarry, a former Cleveland Browns player who played under and learned his coaching style from Paul Brown. Assistant coaches were Dick Luther and Lou Zontini.

On October 23, Western Reserve battledKent State to a 14–14 tie, which was broadcast on television in the Cleveland-Akron area, making it Ohio’s first intercollegiate televised football game.[1]

Western Reserve lost to rival Case Tech for the first time since 1927, ending a 17-game Red Cats win streak.[2]

Western Reserve was ranked at No. 220 in the final Litkenhous Difference by Score System ratings for 1948.[3]

Schedule edit

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 25at Western MichiganL 0–26
October 2Miami (OH)L 0–49[4]
October 9Butler
  • League Park
  • Cleveland, OH
W 6–0[5][6]
October 16at OhioL 7–37
October 23Kent State*
  • League Park
  • Cleveland, OH
T 14–14
October 30Pittsburgh*
  • League Park
  • Cleveland, OH
L 0–2012,000[7]
November 6at Brown*L 0–36
November 13at CincinnatiL 13–26
November 20at West Virginia*L 0–20
November 25Case Tech*
  • League Park
  • Cleveland, OH
L 7–15
  • *Non-conference game

[8]

References edit

  1. ^ "Mid-American Conference Football History" (PDF). publish.netitor.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 16, 2013. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
  2. ^ "Case vs. WRU Thanksgiving Day football game". blog.case.edu. Archived from the original on February 13, 2018. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
  3. ^ "Michigan, Irish Finish 1-2 in Litkenhous Ratings". Wilmington Morning News. December 15, 1948. p. 32 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Miami Trounces Reserve: Redskins Score At Will In Winning Third, 49-0". The Dayton Daily News. October 3, 1948. p. Sports 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Butler Opens Mid-American Schedule At Western Reserve". The Indianapolis Star. Indianapolis, Indiana. October 9, 1948. p. 19. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com  .
  6. ^ "Western Reserve Conquers Butler In Conference Engagement, 6 To 0". The Indianapolis Star. Indianapolis, Indiana. October 10, 1948. p. 2, section 7. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com  .
  7. ^ "Becker Leads Pitt in 20-to-0 Victory". New York Times. October 31, 1948. p. S3. ... before 12,000 fans at League Park.
  8. ^ "WRU Football 1948/49". case.edu. Retrieved January 4, 2018.