1956 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1956 Nebraska Cornhuskers football University of Nebraska Logo 1956-1961.PNG Big Seven Conference Big 7 4–6 3–3 Pete Elliott 1st Memorial Stadium The 1956 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team was the representative of the University of Nebraska and member of the Big 7 Conference in the 1956 college football season. The team was coached by Pete Elliott and played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska. Before the season Going into the season, Nebraska's sought to return to form, as the last few bright spots on the record books had been increasingly far into the past. The last season resulting in a convincing win record was 1950, where Nebraska finished 6–2–1. Prior to that, there was the 8–2–0 finish in 1940. During the ongoing low period in program history, seven-year coach Bill Glassford had stepped down and was replaced by first-time head coach Pete Elliott, previously the Backfield Coach at Oklahoma, and a former college quarterback who helped lead the 1948 Michigan Wolverines football team to a national championship. With four new assistants on the staff, Elliott set to the task of proving he could run a successful football team.http://yearbooks.unl.edu/yearbook.php?year=1956&page=304 1956 Cornhusker – University of Nebraska Yearbook (Page 304) 2010-08-03 University of Nebraska–Lincoln Libraries Schedule 1956 AP September 22 2:00 pm w y South Dakota Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE 34–6 30,000–31,260 Explosive Huskers Rip SoDak With Long Runs: Hawkins Tallies Twice As NU Wins Debut, 34–6 Sunday Journal and Star Dick Becker September 23, 1956 1B, 2B https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117004763/explosive-huskers-rip-sodak-with-long/ Newspapers.com September 29 1:00 pm l y y Ohio State 8 Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH 7–34 82,153 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kalamazoo-gazette-ohio-state-whips-n/201408490/ The Kalamazoo Gazette Ohio State whips Nebraska, 34 to 0, before 82,153 fans September 30, 1956 July 11, 2026 Newspapers.com October 6 2:00 pm w Iowa State Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE rivalry 9–7 30,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tulsa-world-nebraska-calms-iowa-state-9/201405990/ Tulsa Daily World Nebraska calms Iowa State, 9–7, in final minute October 7, 1956 July 11, 2026 Newspapers.com October 13 2:00 pm l Kansas State Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE rivalry 7–10 24,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/shawnee-news-star-kansas-state-nips-husk/201406971/ Shawnee News-Star Kansas State nips Huskers October 14, 1956 July 11, 2026 Newspapers.com October 20 2:00 pm l y Indiana Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE 14–19 38,000 Indiana Wins: Hoosiers Defeat Nebraska, 19–14 Chicago Tribune Floyd Olds October 21, 1956 2-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8323014/indiana_wins_hoosiers_defeat_nebraska/ October 27 3:00 pm l y Colorado Folsom Field Boulder, CO rivalry 0–16 45,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-record-45500/201408633/ The Philadelphia Inquirer Record 45,500 see Colorado win October 28, 1956 July 11, 2026 Newspapers.com November 3 2:00 pm w y Missouri Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE rivalry 15–14 35,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kansas-city-star-mu-bowl-hope-shat/201408722/ The Kansas City Star M.U. bowl hope shattered November 4, 1956 July 11, 2026 Newspapers.com November 10 1:30 pm w y Kansas Memorial Stadium Lawrence, KS rivalry 26–20 26,422 https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-globe-democrat-nebraska-nips-k/201407862/ St. Louis Globe-Democrat Nebraska nips K.U. in 26–20 Big 7 thriller November 11, 1956 July 11, 2026 Newspapers.com November 17 2:00 pm l y Baylor Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE 7–26 31,775 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sioux-city-journal-baylor-cuffs-husk/168531052/ The Sioux City Journal Baylor cuffs Huskers November 18, 1956 March 21, 2025 Newspapers.com November 24 2:00 pm l y Oklahoma 1 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK rivalry 6–54 46,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/holdenville-daily-news-sooners-54-nebra/201408866/ Holdenville Daily News Sooners 54, Nebraska 6; 46,000 fans watch final home game November 25, 1956 July 11, 2026 Newspapers.com Schedule/Results (1956 Nebraska) https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/129159 NCAA Statistics National Collegiate Athletic Association July 11, 2026 Roster Official Roster61 Adkins, Larry G (So.) 21 Arnost, John QB (Jr.) 54 Berguin, Robert C (Sr.) 40 Boroff, Claire HB (So.) 35 Brown, Jerry FB (Jr.) 80 Cook, Clarence E (So.) 31 Dillard, Bennie HB (So.) 70 Dohrman, Melvin T (So.) 87 Edwards, William E (Jr.) 81 Elacqua, John E (So.) 24 Englert, Gordon QB (Sr.) 72 English, Ernest T (So.) 25 Erway, Don QB (Sr.) 71 Fleming, Jack T 41 Flock, WilliamDean HB (So.) 42 George, Leo HB (Jr.) 47 Greenlaw, William HB (Sr.) 38 Haman, Gene FB (Jr.) 27 Harshman, George QB (Jr.) 73 Hart, Joseph T (Jr.) 32 Hawkins, William HB (Jr.) 88 Hilding, Marlin E (Jr.) 64 Hinkle, Don G (So.) 83 Howerter, Stuart E (Jr.) 63 Jones, Larry G (Jr.) 77 Kampe, Lester T (Jr.) 50 King, Richard C (So.) 74 Kitzelman, Max T (Sr.) 79 Kleiber, Dick T (Jr.) 65 Klein, Arthur G (Jr.) 75 Klingaman, Richard T (So.) 33 Krhounek, Roger HB (So.) 82 Lee, Michael E (So.) 37 Lehr, Richard FB (Jr.) 51 Lyall, Bob C (Jr.) 30 Martin, Lyle HB (Jr.) 34 McCashland, Dick FB (So.) 84 McVay, Howard E (So.) 78 Murphy, James T (Sr.) 45 Nappi, Frank HB (Jr.) 43 Naviaux, Larry HB (So.) 76 Petersen, Jerry T (Jr.) 44 Pinkston, Darrel HB (So.) 85 Prusia, Dick E (Jr.) 68 Reeves, Franklin G (Jr.) 66 Rhoda, Donald T (Jr.) 67 Ritner, Bill G (So.) 86 Sandage, Gene E (Jr.) 52 Sapp, Guy C (So.) 46 Schoettger, Jerry HB (So.) 22 Stinnett, Roy QB (So.) 36 Thomas, Douglas HB (Jr.) 69 Torczon, LaVerne G (Sr.) 89 Tsoukalas, Charles E (So.) 62 Wheeler, Jerry G (Jr.) 56 Wollenberg, Gene C (Jr.) 55 Wood, Dewain E (Jr.) 39 Yeisley, James FB (Sr.) Depth Chart + Defense by committee HB HB LB LB CB DE DT NT DT DE CB +Offensive starters + LE Marlin Hilding Clarence Cook LG C RG LT RT LaVerne Torczon Robert Berguin James Murphy Lester Kampe Jerry Wheeler Donald Rhoda Max Kitzelman Dick McCashland Arthur Klein Jerry Petersen Jack Fleming RE Michael Lee Howard McVay QB Roy Stinnett George Harshman Gordon Englert LB RB FB William Hawkins Larry Naviaux Jerry Brown Frank Nappi William Greenlaw Leo George Coaching staff thumb|right|140px|Pete Elliott, 1956 Name Title First yearin this position Years atNebraska Alma materPete ElliottHead coach19561956MichiganL. F. "Pop" KleinAssistant coach19451945–1958Don Strasheim 19541954–1958NebraskaBill JenningsBackfield Coach19561956–1961OklahomaDon ScarbroughAssistant coach19561956–1961Dee AndrosLine Coach19561956OklahomaGene StauberFreshman Coach19561956http://www.huskermax.com/coaches.html Nebraska head coaches 2010-08-03 HuskerMax https://web.archive.org/web/20100719123605/http://www.huskermax.com/coaches.html 19 July 2010 livehttp://www.huskermax.com/coaches/assistants.html Assistant coaches 2010-08-03 HuskerMax https://web.archive.org/web/20100721014938/http://www.huskermax.com/coaches/assistants.html 21 July 2010 livehttp://yearbooks.unl.edu/yearbook.php?year=1957&page=293 1957 Cornhusker – University of Nebraska Yearbook (Page 293) 2010-08-03 University of Nebraska–Lincoln Libraries Game summaries South Dakota South Dakota 6 Nebraska 34 September 22 Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska 31,260 Coach Elliott's first game as a head coach went down as a victory as the Cornhuskers had little trouble with South Dakota in Lincoln. It was the seventh straight loss by the Coyotes to Nebraska, and the 14th straight in the series without a South Dakota Victory since their one and only win against the Cornhuskers from 1899.http://huskermax.com/allgames/1950s.html 1950s Nebraska football schedules 2010-08-03 HuskerMaxhttp://yearbooks.unl.edu/yearbook.php?year=1957&page=297 1957 Cornhusker – University of Nebraska Yearbook (Page 297) 2010-08-03 University of Nebraska–Lincoln Libraries Ohio State Nebraska 7 #8 Ohio State 34 September 29 Ohio Stadium • Columbus, Ohio 79,351 In front of one of the larger crowds to watch a Nebraska football game, the Cornhuskers stumbled out of the gate in Columbus and found themselves behind 0–27 by the end of the first half. Nebraska avoided the shutout only by blocking a punt and falling on the ball in the end zone to secure a single touchdown. It was only the second time these teams had met, and the Buckeyes held both victories. Ohio State would go on to finish the season 6–3–0 and ranked #15 by the AP Poll. Iowa State Iowa State 7 Nebraska 9 October 6 Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska 31,743 Nebraska's Big 7 season opened with the Cyclones arriving in Lincoln and bringing with them a real battle. As the game was drawing to a close, the Cornhuskers still trailed 6–7 when Nebraska PK George Harshman booted a 24-yard field goal in the final seconds to extract the win. The victory extended Nebraska's winning streak over Iowa State to 11 in a row, as the record now stood at 41–8–1.http://yearbooks.unl.edu/yearbook.php?year=1957&page=298 1957 Cornhusker – University of Nebraska Yearbook (Page 298) 2010-08-03 University of Nebraska–Lincoln Libraries Kansas State Kansas State 10 Nebraska 7 October 13 Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska 30,469 Kansas State arrived in Lincoln as the underdog, and perhaps few expected the Wildcats to put up much of a fight, as the stadium was relatively empty. As expected, just five minutes into the game, Nebraska scored to set the tone of a game that seemed decided before it started. However, if the outcome was foretold, someone failed to tell the Wildcat team, as Kansas State then put up a solid defensive effort to hold off any further Nebraska scores while punching in one of their own. In a turn of fortunes from the previous week, it was a field goal that made the difference and this time handed Nebraska a defeat. Kansas State had far to go to catch up in the series, however, as this win moved them only to 7–31–2 against Nebraska all time. Indiana Indiana 19 Nebraska 14 October 20 Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska 37,527 Nebraska looked to be in form to bounce back from the upset loss to Kansas State the week prior, and made a statement suggesting as much when they jumped out to a 14–0 lead over the Hoosiers. Following that second touchdown, however, the game was all Indiana as the undaunted visitors rolled off an unanswered 19 straight points to hand the Cornhuskers a third loss for the season, leaving them winless in their previous nine attempts against Indiana as they fell to 3–8–3 in the series.http://yearbooks.unl.edu/yearbook.php?year=1957&page=299 1957 Cornhusker – University of Nebraska Yearbook (Page 299) 2010-08-03 University of Nebraska–Lincoln Libraries Colorado Nebraska 0 Colorado 16 October 27 Folsom Field • Boulder, Colorado 42,818 Colorado–Nebraska football rivalryThe Cornhuskers were handed their first shutout loss of 1956 by Colorado, whose two touchdowns and safety provided the points to break their two-game losing streak to Nebraska. The win moved the Buffaloes to 6–9–0 over the Cornhuskers all-time, and left Nebraska nursing three straight losses, with just a 1–2 record in conference play so far for the season. Missouri Missouri 14 Nebraska 15 November 3 Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska 34,748 Missouri–Nebraska football rivalryUnderdog Nebraska managed to create an exciting finish for the homecoming crowd at Memorial Stadium by staying within a score as time marched on. With Missouri holding onto the lead 14–9 and less than two minutes remaining, the Cornhuskers threw for a touchdown to go up by one point and snatch the victory from the Tigers. Nebraska's series lead remained comfortable at 28–18–3. This victory was the 350th all-time win for the Nebraska football team.http://yearbooks.unl.edu/yearbook.php?year=1957&page=300 1957 Cornhusker – University of Nebraska Yearbook (Page 300) 2010-08-03 University of Nebraska–Lincoln Libraries Kansas Nebraska 26 Kansas 20 November 10 Memorial Stadium • Lawrence, Kansas 26,422 Turning their attention to the homecoming event in Lawrence, Nebraska once again faced an opponent they were not expected to defeat. BY the end of the contest as the Jayhawks filed disappointed from the field on the wrong end of a 20–26 defeat, it may have seemed that coach Elliott had begun to figure out how to manage his football team, and that the season, now 4–4 and 3–2 in the Big 7, might be salvageable. Nebraska's win was the fifth straight in the series, and they improved to 46–13–3 over Kansas overall. Baylor Baylor 26 Nebraska 7 November 17 Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska 31,775 Nebraska fought a fairly even battle against the Bears until into the third quarter, when the line began to falter and allow Baylor to march down the field. The momentum of the game finally turned completely when Baylor returned a punt 91 yards for a score, and the Bears eventually pulled away by 19 points. It was the first time these teams had met since their first matchup in 1939, and the series was now tied at 1–1–0. Baylor went on to finish the season 8–2–0 and ranked #11 by the AP Poll.http://yearbooks.unl.edu/yearbook.php?year=1957&page=301 1957 Cornhusker – University of Nebraska Yearbook (Page 301) 2010-08-03 University of Nebraska–Lincoln Libraries Oklahoma Nebraska 6 #1 Oklahoma 54 November 24 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium • Norman, Oklahoma 50,039 Nebraska–Oklahoma football rivalryThe vaunted Oklahoma football powerhouse was Nebraska's final challenge of the year, and the Cornhuskers brought everything they had to bear against the Sooners. Despite their best efforts, Nebraska was fortunate to escape Norman without having suffered a shutout loss thanks to a single touchdown on a five-yard pass. Oklahoma moved to 17–16–3 against Nebraska to date, taking the lead in the series for the first time in the history of the games between these programs dating back to 1912. Oklahoma went on to finish the season undefeated at 10–0–0, Big 7 champions, and AP national champions. After the season Coach Elliott's first season did not bring any significant change to the fortunes of the program, finishing with a losing season to extend by another year the stretch of relatively unsuccessful campaigns waged by the Cornhuskers since the dawn of the 1940s. At the conclusion of the season, Elliott announced that he had accepted the head coaching position at California, making his first Nebraska season also his last.http://yearbooks.unl.edu/yearbook.php?year=1957&page=296 1957 Cornhusker – University of Nebraska Yearbook (Page 296) 2010-08-03 University of Nebraska–Lincoln Libraries His California tenure lasted only three years as he compiled a disappointing 10–21 record, and his last two head coaching jobs at Illinois and Miami produced only four winning seasons over nine years. Nebraska's conference record under Elliott slipped to 146–58–12 (.704) while the overall program record fell to 351–189–34 (.641). Backfield Coach Bill Jennings was subsequently named as Elliott's successor and assumed control over the struggling Cornhusker football program. Future NFL and other professional league players Clarence Cook, 1957 18th-round pick of the Los Angeles Rams Laverne Torczon, 1957 18th-round pick of the Cleveland Browns References Nebraska Category:Nebraska Cornhuskers football seasons Nebraska Cornhuskers football