1956 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1956 Illinois Fighting Illini football 1956 Illinois Fighting Illini football team.jpg 285 Big Ten Conference Big Ten 2–5–2 1–4–2 Ray Eliot 15th Dave Walker James Minor Memorial Stadium The 1956 Illinois Fighting Illini football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1956 Big Ten season. In their 15th year under head coach Ray Eliot, the Fighting Illini compiled a 2–5–2 record (1–4–2 in conference games), tied for seventh place in the Big Ten, and were outscored by a total of 154 to 124.1956 Illinois Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 27, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/1956-schedule.html The team's statistical leaders included Miles Stout (278 passing yards, 51.3% completion rate) and halfback Abe Woodson (599 rushing yards, 5.4 yards per rushing carry, 12 receptions, 257 receiving yards).1956 Illinois Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 27, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/1956.html Woodson received first-team honors on the 1956 All-Big Ten Conference football team.Hawk Trio On All Big Ten The Spencer Daily Reporter November 30, 1956 4 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1926&dat=19561129&id=52wrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=s9kEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1097,3709370Mel Dillard on All-Big Ten Team; Iowa Puts Men in Four Positions Alexandria (IN) Times-Tribune November 30, 1956 3 https://www.newspapers.com/image/82602844/?terms=kramer%2Bdillard%2Bmatsko%2Bcoaches The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. Schedule 1956 AP September 29 w y California Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 32–20 54,833 October 6 l y y 13 Washington Husky Stadium Seattle, WA 13–28 36,261 October 13 l Ohio State 5 Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL Illibuck 6–26 58,247 October 20 l y Minnesota Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN 13–16 62,614 October 27 w Michigan State 1 Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 20–13 56,431 November 3 t y Purdue Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN rivalry 7–7 46,166 November 10 l y Michigan 10 Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI rivalry 7–17 75,735 November 17 t Wisconsin Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 13–13 52,858 November 24 l y Northwestern Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL rivalry 13–14 40,000 Game summaries On September 29, 1956, Illinois defeated California, 32–20, before a crowd of 54,833 at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. The attendance was a Memorial Stadium record for an opening game. California took a 20–0 lead, but Illinois scored four touchdowns in the third quarter over a span of six minutes and 36 seconds. Abe Woodson recovered Ray Nitschke's fumble for Illinois' first touchdown.Illini's 3d Period Rally Stuns California 32 to 20 Chicago Tribune September 30, 1956 2–1, 2–7 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8295410/illinis_3d_period_rally_stuns/ Newspapers.com On October 6, Washington defeated Illinois, 28–13, before a crowd of 36,261 at Husky Stadium in Seattle. On the opening series of the game, Illinois drove to Washington's two yard line but quarterback Hiles Stout fumbled. Washington recovered the ball, and Dean Derby ran 92 yards for a touchdown.Illini Lose, 28–13 Chicago Tribune October 7, 1956 2-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8296495/illini_lose_2813/ Newspapers.com On October 13, Ohio State (ranked No. 5 at the AP Poll) defeated Illinois, 26–6, before a crowd of 58,247 at Memorial Stadium in Champaign. Ohio State rushed for 307 yards, aided by the blocking of guard Jim Parker who was selected as the team's most valuable player for the 1956 season. Parker also played on defense and recovered a fumble at the Illinois 10-yard line to set up a touchdown. Quarterback Frank Ellwood rushed for two touchdowns and threw a touchdown pass to Jim Roseboro.Buckeyes Thump Illinois 26–6: Elwood, Roseboro Score As Ohio State Cops 14th Straight Big 10 Victory The Coshocton, Ohio, Tribune Ed Sainsbury October 14, 1956 14 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8311424/buckeyes_thump_illinois_266_elwood/ Newspapers.com It was on the opening kickoff of this game that Illinois linebacker/backup quarterback (and future Green Bay Packers star) Ray Nitschke developed his famous toothless grin when he took a Buckeye helmet in the mouth. Nitschke, who never wore a face guard on his helmet in college, lost his four top front teeth as a result of the play.http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/40250287.html The face of a smashmouth approach On October 20, Minnesota defeated Illinois, 16–13, before a crowd of 63,037 at Memorial Stadium in Minneapolis. Dick Borstad kicked a field goal with two minutes remaining to put the Golden Gophers in the lead.Gophers Beat Ilini on Field Goal, 16–13 Maurice Shevlin Chicago Tribune October 21, 1956 2-1, 2-2 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8322742/gophers_beat_ilini_on_field_goal_1613/ On October 27, Illinois upset Michigan State, 20–13, before a homecoming crowd of 71,119 at Memorial Stadium in Champaign. Michigan State was ranked No. 1 before the game and had its national championship hopes, and a 12-game winning streak, dashed by the defeat. The Spartans led, 13–0, at halftime, but Abe Woodson, the Big Ten's indoor sprint champion, led the Illini to 20 unanswered points in the second half. Woodson scored all three Illinois touchdowns: a 70-yard touchdown run, an 82-touchdown reception, and a short touchdown run. Woodson had 116 rushing yards and total gains of 198 yards.Illinois 20, Mich. State 13 Detroit Free Press Hal Middlesworth October 28, 1956 1C https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8305686/illinois_20_mich_state_13/ Newspapers.com On November 3, Illinois and Purdue played to a 7–7 tie before a homecoming crowd of 46,166 at Ross–Ade Stadium in West Lafayette.Illinois Ties, 7–7: Boilermakers Avert Loss in Final Period Chicago Tribune Charles Bartlett November 4, 1956 Howard Barry 2–1, 2–3 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8307815/illinois_ties_77_boilermakers_avert/ Newspapers.com On November 10, Michigan (ranked No. 10 in the AP Poll) defeated Illinois, 17–7, before a crowd of 75,470 at Michigan Stadium. Illinois scored a touchdown on its first possession but was held scoreless for the remainder of the game. Michigan came back with rushing touchdowns by Jim Pace and Jim Byers and a field goal by Ron Kramer. Michigan rushed for 328 yards, including 120 yards by Jim Pace.U-M Shoves Illinois Out of Rose Bowl Way: Wins, 17–7, To Keep Hope Alive Detroit Free Press Hal Middlesworth November 11, 1956 1C https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8300736/um_shoves_illinois_out_of_rose_bowl/ Newspapers.com On November 17, Illinois and Wisconsin played to a 13–13 tie before a crowd of 52,858 at Memorial Stadium in Champaign. Illinois led 13–6 at halftime. With slightly more than three minutes left in the game, Wisconsin end Sidney Williams threw a 34-yard pass to Danny Lewis on the nine-yard line, setting up a touchdown run on the next play. Williams' pass was his first of the season.Williams' First Pass of Season Sparks Wisconsin to 13 to 13 Tie with Illinois Chicago Tribune Maurice Shevlin November 18, 1956 2-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8297841/williams_first_pass_of_season_sparks/ Newspapers.com On November 24, in the annual Illinois–Northwestern football rivalry game, Northwestern defeated Illinois, 14–13, before a crowd of 40,000 at Dyche Stadium in Evanston. Bob McKelver kicked two extra points for Northwestern, which proved to be the difference in a game in which each team scored two touchdowns.N.U. Rallies to Beat Illini, 14–13 Chicago Tribune David Condon November 25, 1956 2-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8297228/nu_rallies_to_beat_illini_1413/ Newspapers.com Awards and statistics Halfback Abe Woodson was selected as a first-team All-Big Ten player by both the Associated Press and United Press.Hawk Trio On All Big Ten The Spencer Daily Reporter November 30, 1956 4 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1926&dat=19561129&id=52wrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=s9kEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1097,3709370Mel Dillard on All-Big Ten Team; Iowa Puts Men in Four Positions Alexandria (IN) Times-Tribune November 30, 1956 3 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8299452/mel_dillard_on_allbig_ten_team_iowa/ Newspapers.com Woodson was drafted in the second round, 15th overall pick, of the 1957 NFL draft.1957 NFL Draft: Full Draft National Football League NFL.com January 4, 2017 http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/fulldraft?season=1957 Guard Dave Walker was selected as the team's most valuable player.Fighting Illini Football Record Book University of Illinois 2015 December 28, 2016 155 http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/fightingillini.com/documents/2015/8/3/3_History_7_30.pdf November 29, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201129040612/http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/fightingillini.com/documents/2015/8/3/3_History_7_30.pdf dead Illinois' statistical leaders in 1956 included Hiles Stout with 278 passing yards, Abe Woodson with 599 rushing yards, and Woodson with 257 receiving yards.1956 Illinois Fighting Illini Stats Sports Reference LLC https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/1956.html References Illinois Category:Illinois Fighting Illini football seasons Illinois Fighting Illini football