1956 Lenoir Rhyne Bears football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1956
| team = Lenoir Rhyne Bears
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = North State Conference
| short_conf = NSC
| record = 10–0
| conf_record = 6–0
| head_coach = Clarence Stasavich
| hc_year = 11th
| captain =
| stadium = College Field
| champion = NSC champion
}}
{{1956 North State Conference football standings}}
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.{{cite news |author= |title=North State Title Rests With Lenoir Rhyne Again |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57838638/the-news-and-observer/ |newspaper=The News & Observer |location=Raleigh, North Carolina |agency=Associated Press |date=November 26, 1956 |page=14 |access-date=August 22, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }} 1956 remains the only perfect season in the history of the Lenoir–Rhyne Bears football program.{{cite web|title=Lenoir-Rhyne Football Record Book|page=1|url=https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/sidearm.nextgen.sites/lenoirrhyne.sidearmsports.com/documents/2023/9/21/NewFBRecordBook22.pdf}} 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.{{cite news|title=Harold Bullard's Big Day Makes Big Goals Certain|newspaper=Greensboro Daily News|author=Moses Crutchfield|date=November 27, 1956|page=II-3|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-harold-bullards-big-day/143163828/|via=Newspapers.com}}Record Book, pp. 5-7. Quarterback Dean Cline led the team in passing with 344 passing yards.Record Book, p. 10. Guard Arden Ray was selected as a second-team player on the 1956 Little All-America college football team.{{cite news|title=Lenoir Rhyne's Arden Ray On Second Little All-A.A.|newspaper=Greensboro Daily News|date=December 8, 1956|page=IV-3|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-lenoir-rhynes-arden-ray/143162541/|via=Newspapers.com}} 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.{{cite news|title=Lenoir Rhyne's Champs Lead All North-State|newspaper=Greensboro Daily News|date=November 25, 1956|page=Sports 10|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-lenoir-rhynes-champs-le/143160900/|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news|title=Champ Lenoir Rhyne Places 7 on All-Star Team|newspaper=Journal and Sentinel|date=November 25, 1956|page=5B|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/winston-salem-journal-champ-lenoir-rhyne/143162023/|via=Newspapers.com}}
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.
The team played home games at College Field in Hickory, North Carolina.
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| attend = y
| source = y
|September 15||{{cfb link|year=1956|team=Apprentice Builders|title=Apprentice}}
|September 22|at|{{cfb link|year=1956|team=Wofford Terriers|title=Wofford}}
|September 29|at|{{cfb link|year=1956|team=Newberry Indians|title=Newberry}}
|October 6||Appalachian State|College Field|Hickory, NC|W 32-0||{{cite news|title=Harold Bullard Leads Bears to 32-0 Win Over Apps|newspaper=Hickory Daily Record|author=Tom Einstein Jr.|date=October 8, 1956|page=8|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/hickory-daily-record-harold-bullard-lead/143155932/|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90370010/lenoir-rhyne-blisters-app-eleven-320/|newspaper=The Charlotte Observer|title=Lenoir Rhyne blisters App eleven, 32–0|date=October 7, 1956|accessdate=December 10, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
|October 13|at|{{cfb link|year=1956|team=Guilford Quakers|title=Guilford}}||Guilford, NC|W 61-7||{{cite news|title=Lenoir Rhyne Blasts Hapless Quakers, 61-7|newspaper=Journal and Sentinel|author=Mary Garber|date=October 14, 1956|page=5B|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/winston-salem-journal-lenoir-rhyne-blast/143155160/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|October 20||{{cfb link|year=1956|team=Western Carolina Catamounts|title=Western Carolina}}|College Field|Hickory, NC|W 35-0|4,000|{{cite news|title=Lenoir Rhyne Claims Top Rung In North States Race|newspaper=Hickory Daily Record|author=Tom Einstein Jr.|date=October 22, 1956|page=8|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/hickory-daily-record-lenoir-rhyne-claims/143151422/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|October 27||{{cfb link|year=1956|team=Emory and Henry Wasps|title=Emory and Henry}}
|November 3||East Carolina|College Field|Hickory, NC|W 57-12|4,100|{{cite news|title=Bullard Leads Bears To 57-12 Win Over ECC Squad: Big Fullback Scores 4 TD's in League Win|newspaper=Hickory Daily Record|author=Tom Einstein Jr.|date=November 5, 1956|page=10|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/hickory-daily-record-bullard-leads-bears/143150382/|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72786818/lenoir-rhyne-wins-5712-against-ecc/|work=The News and Observer|title=Lenoir Rhyne wins, 57–12, against ECC|date=November 4, 1956|accessdate=March 6, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
|November 10|at|{{cfb link|year=1956|team=Elon Fightin' Christians|title=Elon}}|Memorial Stadium|Burlington, NC|W 27-13|5,000|{{cite news|title=Bullard Leads Lenoir Rhyne To 27 To 13 Win: Bear Back Gains 149 Yards, Scores Twice|newspaper=Burlington Daily Times-News|author=Bill Hunter|date=November 12, 1956|page=8|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-times-news-bullard-leads-lenoi/143149514/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|November 22|at|{{cfb link|year=1956|team=Catawba Indians|title=Catawba}}|Shuford Field|Salisbury, NC|W 28-0|7,000|{{cite news|title=Bullard Leads Bears To 28-0 Victory Over Indians: Unbeaten Lenoir Rhyne Takes 2nd Straight NS Grid Crown|newspaper=Salisbury Evening Post|author=Horace Billings|date=November 23, 1956|page=6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salisbury-post-bullard-leads-bears-t/143148988/|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
{{cite web |title=1956 Football Schedule |url=https://lrbears.com/sports/football/schedule/1956 |publisher=Lenoir-Rhyne University Athletics |access-date=March 11, 2024 }}{{cite web |title=Lenoir–Rhyne Football Record Book |url=https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/sidearm.nextgen.sites/lenoirrhyne.sidearmsports.com/documents/2023/9/21/NewFBRecordBook22.pdf |publisher=Lenoir-Rhyne University Athletics |page=17 |access-date=March 11, 2024 }}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Lenoir–Rhyne Bears football navbox}}
Category:Lenoir–Rhyne Bears football seasons
Category:Carolinas Conference football champion seasons