1956 Football Team
| Overall Record: 7-2 | Conference Record: 5-2 |
| Conference Finish: 2nd place | |
| National Ranking: AP - No. 7, UPI - No. 7 | |
| Coach: Bennie G. Oosterbaan | |
| Captain: Tom Maentz | |
| All-Americans: Ron Kramer | |
| All-Conference: Ron Kramer | |
| Most Valuable Player: Dick Hill | |
| Meyer Morton Award: John Herrnstein | |
| John Maulbetsch Award: John Herrnstein | |
| Trainer: Jim Hunt | |
| Assistant coaches: Jack Blott, Don Dufek, Robert Holloway, Clifford Keen, Pete Kinyon, Matt Patanelli, Don Robinson, Walter Weber | |
| Manager: Dave Lundquist | |
| Opponent | Rank | Date | Site | Result | Attend. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UCLA | 13/- | 09/29 | H | W | 42-13 | 70,159 |
| Michigan State | 5/2 | 10/06 | H | L | 0-9 | 101,001 |
| Army | 12/15 | 10/13 | H | W | 48-14 | 93,402 |
| Northwestern | 8/- | 10/20 | H | W | 34-20 | 81,718 |
| Minnesota (HC) | 5/- | 10/27 | H | L | 7-20 | 85,566 |
| Iowa | 17/7 | 11/03 | A | W | 17-14 | 55,896 |
| Illinois | 10/- | 11/10 | H | W | 17-7 | 75,735 |
| Indiana | 10/- | 11/17 | H | W | 49-26 | 58,515 |
| Ohio State | 9/12 | 11/24 | A | W | 19-0 | 78,830 |
| Totals | 233-123 | 700,822 | ||||
| Position | Player | |
|---|---|---|
| left end | Ron Kramer (9) | |
| left tackle | Jim Orwig (9) | |
| left guard | Dick Hill (9) | |
| center |
Mike Rotunno (8) Gene Snider | |
| right guard | Marv Nyren (9) | |
| right tackle | Lionel Sigman (9) | |
| right end | Tom Maentz (9) | |
| quarterback |
Jim Van Pelt (9)
| |
| fullback | John Herrnstein (9) | |
| left halfback |
Jim Pace (7) Bob Ptacek (2) | |
| right halfback |
Terry Barr (7) Ed Shannon (2) |
View full 1956 roster (from all-time roster database, includes non-lettermen and freshmen)
1956 Team Photo
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- Back Row
- Dave Lundquist (Manager), Jack Lousma, Gene Sisinyak, John Spidel, Ray Wine, Walter Johnson, Dave Bowers, Jerry Marciniak, Jim Dickey
- 4th Row
- Jim Hunt (trainer), Dick Heynen, Gene Snider, Marv Nyren, Bob Ptacek, Gary Prahst, John Herrnstein, Tom Berger, Willie Smith
- 3rd Row
- Jim Van Pelt, Alex Bochnowski, Jim Pace, Clem Corona, Jim Byers, Jim Davies, Larry Faul, Mike Shatusky
- 2nd Row
- Al Sigman, Terry Barr, Dave Rentschler, Ron Krammer, Charlie Brooks, Dick Hill, Ed Shannon
- Front Row
- John Greenwood, Mike Rotunno, H. O. Crisler (Director of Athletics), Tom Maentz (captain), Bennie Oosterbaan (coach), Jim Orwig (captain-elect), Jim Maddock