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.
^"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 .
^ ab"Lenoir-Rhyne Football Record Book" (PDF). p. 1.
^Moses Crutchfield (November 27, 1956). "Harold Bullard's Big Day Makes Big Goals Certain". Greensboro Daily News. p. II-3 – via Newspapers.com.
^Record Book, pp. 5-7.
^Record Book, p. 10.
^"Lenoir Rhyne's Arden Ray On Second Little All-A.A." Greensboro Daily News. December 8, 1956. p. IV-3 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Lenoir Rhyne's Champs Lead All North-State". Greensboro Daily News. November 25, 1956. p. Sports 10 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Champ Lenoir Rhyne Places 7 on All-Star Team". Jornal and Sentinel. November 25, 1956. p. 5B – via Newspapers.com.
and 23 Related for: 1956 Lenoir Rhyne Bears football team information
The 1960 LenoirRhyneBearsfootballteam was an American footballteam represented LenoirRhyne College (now known as Lenoir–Rhyne University) as a member...
Assistant Football Coaches at the Citadel!". Triple Option Football Academy. January 9, 2014. Retrieved July 25, 2023. "Lenoir-RhyneFootball Coaching...
football player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Lenoir–Rhyne College—now known as Lenoir–Rhyne University—in...
FOOTBALL COACH". January 18, 2024. "Doug Socha named Lenoir-RhyneFootball Head Coach". Lenoir-Rhyne University Athletics. January 29, 2024. Retrieved January...
Shields served as the head football coach at Eastern Oregon University in La Grande, Oregon from 2006 to 2007, Lenoir–Rhyne University in Hickory, North...
The 1956 college football season finished with five teams having claim to a national championship: Oklahoma compiled a 10–0 record in their 10th season...
the head football coach at Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina in 1973. He later served as the head football coach at Lenoir–Rhyne College in...
undefeated regular season in 2023, with a mark of 11–0. That team later defeated Lenoir–Rhyne in the NCAA Division II semifinals to send Harding to its first-ever...
in 1913 and Lenoir College—now known as Lenoir–Rhyne University—in 1921, compiling a career college football coaching record of 9–5. He coached the Wake...
Record. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com. "LenoirRhyne wins, 57–12, against ECC". The News and Observer. November 4, 1956. Retrieved March 6, 2021 – via Newspapers...
City, Kansas. The Northwest Missouri State Bearcats defeated the Lenoir–RhyneBears, 43–28, to win their fourth national title. The 2013 Harlon Hill Trophy...
cross-country, football, softball, volleyball, tennis, golf, and track and field. The nickname for the school's teams is the Blue Bears. The Livingstone...
University, the University of West Alabama, Southern Arkansas University, Lenoir–Rhyne University and The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina. Laurendine...
North Carolina. He is a 1977 graduate of Lenoir-Rhyne College where he was a member of the men's basketball team. Barnes served as an assistant under Eddie...
semifinal game against Whitworth, then lost in the championship game against Lenoir–Rhyne. Sarboe resigned in January 1965, and Bud Van Deren was named his successor...
called the Holiday Bowl from 1956 to 1960, they faced the Lenoir–RhyneBears in St. Petersburg, Florida. Lenoir–Rhyne prevailed by one point in the game...
Grand Valley. Northwest won its fourth title in 2013 defeating the Lenoir-RhyneBears 43–28. It was the first Bearcat national championship game not coached...
lifted their quarter century ban of football on campus leading to an interest in naming the athletic teams. The team was then known as the Trinity Eleven...
accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Coker's sports teams, nicknamed the Cobras, compete in NCAA Division II. Coker University began...
Archived from the original on 2018-07-15. "Team Roster | Chicago Bears Official Website". Chicagobears.com. "Bears announce 53-man roster". Chicagobears.com...
Global Information
.
