Jump to content

1956 Lenoir Rhyne Bears football team

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1956 Lenoir Rhyne Bears football
NSC champion
ConferenceNorth State Conference
Record10–0 (6–0 NSC)
Head coach
Home stadiumCollege Field
Seasons
← 1955
1957 →
1956 North State Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Lenoir Rhyne $ 6 – 0 – 0 10 – 0 – 0
Catawba 4 – 2 – 0 5 – 4 – 1
Elon 4 – 2 – 0 5 – 5 – 0
Appalachian State 3 – 3 – 0 3 – 6 – 0
East Carolina 2 – 3 – 0 2 – 7 – 1
Guilford 0 – 4 – 0 1 – 7 – 0
Western Carolina 0 – 5 – 0 1 – 9 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion

The 1956 Lenoir Rhyne Bears football team was an American football team that represented Lenoir Rhyne College (now known as Lenoir–Rhyne University) as a member of the North State Conference (NSC) during the 1956 NAIA football season. In their 11th season under head coach Clarence Stasavich, the team compiled a 10–0 record (6–0 against conference opponents), won the NSC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 380 to 70.[1] 1956 remains the only perfect season in the history of the Lenoir–Rhyne Bears football program.[2] The Bears also had undefeated seasons in 1955 and 1960 in which their record was marred only by a single tie game.

Fullback Harold Bullard led the team with 1,075 rushing yards and 96 points scored.[3][4] Quarterback Dean Cline led the team in passing with 344 passing yards.[5] Guard Arden Ray was selected as a second-team player on the 1956 Little All-America college football team.[6] Eight Lenoir Rhyne players were selected as first-team players on one or more of the All-NSC football teams: halfback Walter Cornwell; fullback Harold Bullard; quarterback Dean Cline; end Hume Collins; guard Arden Ray; center Allan LaTorre; and tackles Bill Dameron and Leveo Sperotto. Cornwell and Ray were unanimous picks.[7][8]

The 1956 season was part of an eight-year run from 1955 to 1962 under Stasavich and his successor, Hanley Painter, during which Lenoir Rhyne compiled a 76–6–4 record and won eight consecutive NSC championships and an NAIA national title in 1960.[2]

The team played home games at College Field in Hickory, North Carolina.

Schedule

[edit]
DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 15Apprentice*
W 67–0[9]
September 22at Wofford*Spartanburg, SCW 13–7[10]
September 29at Newberry*Newberry, SCW 35–253,000[11]
October 6Appalachian State
  • College Field
  • Hickory, NC
W 32–0[12][13]
October 13at GuilfordGuilford, NCW 61–7[14]
October 20Western Carolina
  • College Field
  • Hickory, NC
W 35–04,000[15]
October 27Emory and Henry*dagger
  • College Field
  • Hickory, NC
W 25–68,000[16]
November 3East Carolina
  • College Field
  • Hickory, NC
W 57–124,100[17][18]
November 10at Elon
W 27–135,000[19]
November 22at Catawba
W 28–07,000[20]
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming

[21][22]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "North State Title Rests With Lenoir Rhyne Again". The News & Observer. Raleigh, North Carolina. Associated Press. November 26, 1956. p. 14. Retrieved August 22, 2020 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  2. ^ a b "Lenoir-Rhyne Football Record Book" (PDF). p. 1.
  3. ^ Moses Crutchfield (November 27, 1956). "Harold Bullard's Big Day Makes Big Goals Certain". Greensboro Daily News. p. II-3 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Record Book, pp. 5-7.
  5. ^ Record Book, p. 10.
  6. ^ "Lenoir Rhyne's Arden Ray On Second Little All-A.A." Greensboro Daily News. December 8, 1956. p. IV-3 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Lenoir Rhyne's Champs Lead All North-State". Greensboro Daily News. November 25, 1956. p. Sports 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Champ Lenoir Rhyne Places 7 on All-Star Team". Journal and Sentinel. November 25, 1956. p. 5B – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Tom Einstein Jr. (September 17, 1956). "Bob Miller Scores 4 TD's As LR Tips Navy Lads, 67-0". Hickory Daily Record. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Lenoir-Rhyne Beats Wofford". The Times and Democrat. September 23, 1956. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Lenoir Rhyne Squad Rolls Over Newberry, 35-25". Hickory Daily Record. October 1, 1956. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Tom Einstein Jr. (October 8, 1956). "Harold Bullard Leads Bears to 32-0 Win Over Apps". Hickory Daily Record. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Lenoir Rhyne blisters App eleven, 32–0". The Charlotte Observer. October 7, 1956. Retrieved December 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Mary Garber (October 14, 1956). "Lenoir Rhyne Blasts Hapless Quakers, 61-7". Journal and Sentinel. p. 5B – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ Tom Einstein Jr. (October 22, 1956). "Lenoir Rhyne Claims Top Rung In North States Race". Hickory Daily Record. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ Tom Einstein Jr. (October 29, 1956). "Cornwell, Bullard Pace LR To 25-6 Win Over Wasps". Hickory Daily Record. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ Tom Einstein Jr. (November 5, 1956). "Bullard Leads Bears To 57-12 Win Over ECC Squad: Big Fullback Scores 4 TD's in League Win". Hickory Daily Record. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Lenoir Rhyne wins, 57–12, against ECC". The News and Observer. November 4, 1956. Retrieved March 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ Bill Hunter (November 12, 1956). "Bullard Leads Lenoir Rhyne To 27 To 13 Win: Bear Back Gains 149 Yards, Scores Twice". Burlington Daily Times-News. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ Horace Billings (November 23, 1956). "Bullard Leads Bears To 28-0 Victory Over Indians: Unbeaten Lenoir Rhyne Takes 2nd Straight NS Grid Crown". Salisbury Evening Post. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "1956 Football Schedule". Lenoir-Rhyne University Athletics. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  22. ^ "Lenoir–Rhyne Football Record Book" (PDF). Lenoir-Rhyne University Athletics. p. 17. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1956_Lenoir_Rhyne_Bears_football_team&oldid=1235598849"