1956 Lenoir Rhyne Bears football team

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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]
Novemmber 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". Jornal 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.
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