1956 USC Trojans football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1956 USC Trojans football Pacific Coast Conference PCC 15 18 8–2 5–2 Jess Hill 6th Jon Arnett Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum The 1956 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California (USC) in the 1956 college football season. In their sixth and final year under head coach Jess Hill, the Trojans compiled an 8–2 record (5–2 against conference opponents), finished in a tie for second place in the Pacific Coast Conference, and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 218 to 126. The team was ranked No. 15 in the final United Press Coaches Poll and No. 18 in the final AP poll. Total attendance for all 10 games was 469,762.1957 "El Rodeo" (USC yearbook), page 252. Frank Hall led the team in passing with 10 of 23 passes completed for 196 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. C. R. Roberts led the team in rushing with 120 carries for 775 yards and five touchdowns. Tony Ortega was the leading receiver with seven catches for 223 yards and one touchdown. Ernie Zampese rushed for 500 yards and passed for 166 yards.1956 Southern California Trojans Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 21, 2015 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/southern-california/1956.html Two Trojans received first-team honors from the Associated Press or the United Press (UP) on the 1956 All-Pacific Coast Conference football team: backs C. R. Roberts (AP-1; UP-1 [fullback]) and Jon Arnett, USC (UP-1 [halfback]).All-Pacific Coast Team Choices Reflect a Season of Upsets Independent Journal, San Rafael, California December 4, 1956 12 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2578888/1956_ap_and_up_allpcc_football_teams/United Press Announces All-PCC Team Independent Journal, San Rafael, California December 4, 1956 12 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2578888/1956_ap_and_up_allpcc_football_teams/ Schedule 1956 AP September 22 w y y 15 Texas Texas Memorial Stadium Austin, TX 44–20 47,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123798602/trojans-batter-texans/ Santa Barbara News-Press Trojans batter Texans September 23, 1956 April 30, 2023 Newspapers.com September 28, 1956 w 6 Oregon State Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 21–13 53,714 https://www.newspapers.com/article/valley-times-oregon-state-beaten-but-pr/189244571/ Valley Times Oregon State beaten, but proves rugged September 29, 1956 January 18, 2026 Newspapers.com October 6 w y y 10 Wisconsin Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 13–6 52,944 Trojans Defeat Badgers; Jon Arnett Paces So. California 13–6 Triumph Chicago Tribune Robert Cromie October 7, 1956 2–1, 2–8 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8296428/trojans_defeat_badgers_jon_arnett/ Newspapers.com October 20 w 9 Washington Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 35–7 44,749 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sunday-herald-44749-watch-trojan-tr/189246151/ The Sunday Herald 44,749 watch Trojan trip Huskies 35–7 October 21, 1956 January 18, 2026 Newspapers.com October 27 l y 6 Stanford Stanford Stadium Stanford, CA rivalry 19–27 70,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-stanford-r/189246292/ The San Bernardino Sun-Telegram Stanford rally upsets USC, 27 to 19 October 28, 1956 January 18, 2026 Newspapers.com November 3 w y 20 Washington State Rogers Field Pullman, WA 28–12 13,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bellingham-herald-usc-comes-back-to/189246484/ The Bellingham Herald USC comes back to beat Cougars without Arnett November 4, 1956 January 18, 2026 Newspapers.com November 10 w y 16 California Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 20–7 41,628 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-register-trojans-chase-bears-to-lair/189246649/ The Register Trojans chase Bears to lair for sixth straight time, 20–7 November 11, 1956 January 18, 2026 Newspapers.com November 17 l y 14 Oregon Multnomah Stadium Portland, OR 0–7 14,480 https://www.newspapers.com/article/medford-mail-tribune-uo-grid-squad-drops/189246771/ Medford Mail Tribune UO grid squad drops Southern Cal November 18, 1956 January 18, 2026 Newspapers.com November 24 w y UCLA Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA Victory Bell 10–7 63,709 https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-kissingers-fiel/189246898/ St. Louis Post-Dispatch Kissinger's field goal nips UCLA November 25, 1956 January 18, 2026 Newspapers.com December 1 w y 17 Notre Dame Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA rivalry 28–20 64,538 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montana-standard-spirited-irish-figh/189247029/ The Montana Standard Spirited Irish fight hard but USC wins December 2, 1956 January 18, 2026 Newspapers.com Schedule/Results (1956 Southern California) https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/129250 National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA Statistics January 18, 2026 Game summaries At Texas C.R. Roberts 12 rushes, 251 yardshttps://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/usctrojans.com/documents/2020/10/6/usc_trojans_football_2020_media_guide_extra_pages.pdf 2020 USC Media Guide Supplement January 17, 2021 February 25, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210225154328/https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/usctrojans.com/documents/2020/10/6/usc_trojans_football_2020_media_guide_extra_pages.pdf dead Personnel Coaching staff Head coach: Jess Hill Assistant coaches: Nick Pappas (back coach), Mel Hein (line coach), George Ceithaml (back coach), Bill Fisk (end coach), Joe Margucci (JV coach), Don Clark (line coach), Bob Titchenal (freshman)1957 "El Rodeo" (USC yearbook), pages 251 and 266. Senior football manager: Mike O'Dell1957 "El Rodeo", page 251. Roster The following players were members of the 1956 USC football team.1957 "El Rodeo", pages 253-265. Fabian Abram, tackle, 6'3", 215 pounds, Redondo Beach, California Jon Arnett, senior HB (#26) George Belotti, tackle, 6'3", 253 pounds, Oxnard, California Ron Fletcher, tackle, 6'3", 215 pounds, Los Angeles Walt Gurasich, guard, 6'1", 219 pounds, Sherman Oaks, California Frank Hall, quarterback, 6'0", 175 pounds, San Francisco, California Mike Henry, tackle, 6'2", 212 pounds, Los Angeles Don Hickman, halfback, 5'10", 170 pounds, Monterey Park, California Hillard Hill, end, 6'1", 188 pounds, Pasadena, California Ells Kissinger, quarterback, 5'10, 183 pounds, York, Pennsylvania Ben Lardizabal, guard, 5'11", 210 pounds, Los Angeles Chuck Leimbach, end, 6'4", 193 pounds, Los Angeles C. R. Roberts, fullback, 6'1", 206 pounds, Oceanside, California Bob Rosendahl, end, 6'1", 178 pounds, Lynwood, California Karl Rubke, center, 6'4", 225 pounds, Lynwood, California Laird Willott, guard, 6'0", 205 pounds, Glendale, California Ernie Zampese, halfback, 5'9", 166 pounds, Santa Barbara, California References USC Category:USC Trojans football seasons USC Trojans football