1956 Saint Joseph's Pumas football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1956 Saint Joseph's Pumas football Indiana Collegiate Conference ICC 8–1–1 6–0 Bob Jauron 3rd NAIA national co-championICC champion Aluminum Bowl T 0–0 vs. Montana State The 1956 Saint Joseph's Pumas football team was an American football team that represented Saint Joseph's College of Rensselaer, Indiana as a member of the Indiana Collegiate Conference (ICC) during the 1956 college football season. In their third year under head coach Bob Jauron, the Pumas compiled an 8–1–1 record (6–0 against ICC opponents), won the ICC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 360 to 32. Saint Joseph's tied with Montana State in the 1956 Aluminum Bowl. The two teams were declared co-winners of the 1956 NAIA football national championship. Schedule y y September 16 at Xavier<ncg> Xavier Stadium Cincinnati, OH L 8-13 Xavier Rallies, Edges St. Joseph's, 13-8: Musketeers Are Behind, 8-7 When Bertoia Hits Junker With Payoff TD Pass In Waning Seconds The Cincinnati Enquirer Bill Ford September 17, 1956 43 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88444345/xavier-rallies-edges-st-josephs-13-8/ Newspapers.com September 23 1956 Great Lakes Navy Bluejackets Great Lakes Navy<ncg> Rensselaer, IN W 29-0 St. Joseph Pumas Beat Great Lakes Eleven, 29-0 Journal and Courier September 24, 1956 19 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88444594/st-joseph-pumas-beat-great-lakes/ Newspapers.com September 29 1956 DePauw Tigers DePauw Rensselaer, IN W 32-0 St. Joe Dumps DePauw, 32-0 The Evansville Courier and Press September 30, 1956 7C https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88453206/st-joe-dumps-depauw-32-0/ Newspapers.com October 6 at 1956 Valparaiso Crusaders Valparaiso Valparaiso, IN W 35-0 St. Joseph's Rips Valparaiso, 35-0 Evansville Press October 7, 1956 5C https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88453387/st-josephs-rips-valparaiso-35-0/ Newspapers.com October 13 1956 Indiana State Sycamores Indiana State Rensselaer, IN W 59-13 Sycamores Bow To St. Joseph's The Terre Haute Tribune-Star Tom Reck October 14, 1956 52 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88453568/sycamores-bow-to-st-josephs/ Newspapers.com October 20 at 1956 Butler Bulldogs Butler Butler Bowl Indianapolis, IN W 31-6 Pumas Turn On Power, Overwhelm Butler, 31-6 The Indianapolis Star Max Stultz October 21, 1956 II-5 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88454157/pumas-turn-on-power-overwhelm-butler/ Newspapers.com October 27 1956 Evansville Purple Aces Evansville Rensselaer, IN W 29-0 Powerful Pumas Trump Aces, 29-0 Evansville Press October 28, 1956 C1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88454432/powerful-pumas-trump-aces-29-0/ Newspapers.com November 3 at Ball State Ball State Field Muncie, IN W 66-0 St. Joe Bounces Cards -- No Surprise; Likewise 66-0 Score, Some Things Considered The Star Press Bob Barnet November 4, 1956 Sports 1–2 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88454632/st-joe-bounces-cards-no-surprise/ Newspapers.com November 10 at Illinois-Navy Pier<ncg> Shewbridge Field Chicago, IL W 71-0 Pumas Blast Navy Pier 71-0 in Final The Hammond Times November 11, 1956 D4 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88444092/pumas-blast-navy-pier-71-0-in-final/ Newspapers.coma December 22 vs Montana State<ncg> War Memorial Stadium Little Rock, AR (Aluminum Bowl) T 0-0 8,000 Montana State and St. Joseph's Fight to Tie The Independent Record (Helena, MT) December 23, 1956 12 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/27398196/montana_state_and_st_josephs_fight_to/ Newspapers.com Season overview Saint Joseph's lost the opening game of the season to Xavier, as Xavier score the winning touchdown in the game's closing seconds. The Pumas then won the remaining eight games of the regular season, including six shut outs, and scoring 59 points against 1956 Indiana State Sycamores Indiana State, 66 against Ball State, and 71 against Illinois-Navy Pier. During the regular season, the Pumas broke 15 ICC records, including the season records for most points scored, most yards gained, and fewest points and yards allowed. They tied another seven ICC season records.St. Joseph's Changes 22 ICC Grid Records The Indianapolis Star November 18, 1956 55 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88455310/st-josephs-changes-22-icc-grid-records/ Newspapers.com Defensively, the team's average of 109 yards of total offense allowed per game ranked best among all small colleges. The Pumas were invited to play in the NAIA national championship game, then known as the Aluminum Bowl.St. Joe Will Play In Aluminum Bowl Evansville Press November 24, 1956 5 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88455700/aluminum-bowl/ Newspapers.com They faced Montana State in Little Rock, Arkansas. The game ended in a scoreless tie, and the teams thus shared the 1956 NAIA national championship. Saint Joseph's outscored opponents by a total of 360 to 32 on the season.1956 - Saint Joseph's (IN) College Football Data Warehouse November 6, 2021 http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/incomplete_data/game_by_game_current.php?teamid=2816&year=1956 https://web.archive.org/web/20150915024003/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/incomplete_data/game_by_game_current.php?teamid=2816&year=1956 2015-09-15 The Pumas shut out seven of their ten opponents and limited all opponents to an average of 3.2 points per game. Awards and honors Junior quarterback Ralph Tite was selected by the conference coaches as the most outstanding back in the ICC.Ralph Tite To Lead Pumas In Aluminum Bowl Grid Tilt The Tipton Daily Tribune December 17, 1956 4 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88456941/ralph-tite-to-lead-pumas-in-aluminum/ Newspapers.comTite Named Outstanding ICC Back The Star Press November 25, 1956 36 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88457148/tite-named-outstanding-icc-back/ Newspapers.com Five Saint Joseph's players were named to the first team on the All-ICC team selected by the conference's seven coaches: quarterback Ralph Tite (second consecutive year); halfback Ray Banary; end George Sherwood (unanimous choice); tackle Ken Bates; and center Jerry Selinger (unanimous choice).St. Joe Lands Five on ICC Grid Team The Indianapolis News November 21, 1956 12 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88456619/st-joe-lands-five-on-icc-grid-team/ Newspapers.com Jerry Selinger later played 13 seasons in the Canadian Football League, winning three Grey Cup championships. References Saint Joseph's Category:Saint Joseph's Pumas football seasons Category:NAIA football national champions Category:Indiana Collegiate Conference football champion seasons Saint Joseph's Pumas football