1956 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1956 Minnesota Golden Gophers football Big Ten Conference Big Ten 9 12 6–1–2 4–1–2 Murray Warmath 3rd Bobby Cox Dean Maas Memorial Stadium The 1956 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Minnesota in the 1956 Big Ten Conference football season. In their third year under head coach Murray Warmath, the Golden Gophers compiled a 6–1–2 record and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 127 to 87.1956 Minnesota Golden Gophers Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football November 1, 2017 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/minnesota/1956-schedule.html The team finished 12th in the final AP poll and ninth in the final Coaches Poll. Quarterback Bobby Cox received the team's Most Valuable Player award. Tackle Bob Hobert was selected by the Football Writers Association of America (for Look magazine) as a first-team player on the 1956 College Football All-America Team.The All-Time Team https://www.sportswriters.net/fwaa/awards/allamerica/alltime.pdf sportswriters.net https://web.archive.org/web/20211202184440/https://www.sportswriters.net/fwaa/awards/allamerica/alltime.pdf December 2, 2021 dead Hobert was also named All-Big Ten first team, Academic All-American and Academic All-Big Ten. Offensive lineman Perry Gehring was named Academic All-Big Ten. Keiser Jeff 2007 Media Guide 179–182 2007 https://gophersports.com/documents/2011/7/14/_minn_m_footbl_2007_8_misc_non_event__m-footbl-media-guide-0708-sec7.pdf Total attendance for the season was 372,654, which averaged to 62,109. The season high for attendance was against rival Iowa. Keiser Jeff 2007 Media Guide 160 2007 https://gophersports.com/documents/2011/7/14/_minn_m_footbl_2007_8_misc_non_event__m-footbl-media-guide-0708-sec6.pdf Schedule 1956 AP September 29 w y y Washington Husky Stadium Seattle, WA 34–14 41,000 October 6 w Purdue Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN 21–14 58,660 October 13 t 17 Northwestern Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN 0–0 62,006 October 20 w Illinois Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN 16–13 62,614 October 27 w y Michigan 5 Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI Little Brown Jug 20–7 84,639 November 3 w y y 8 Pittsburgh 11 Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN 9–6 63,158 November 10 l 6 Iowa 15 Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN rivalry 0–7 64,235 November 17 w 17 Michigan State 3 Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN 14–13 61,981 November 24 t y 7 Wisconsin Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI rivalry 13–13 54,149 Game summaries On September 29, 1956, Minnesota defeated Washington, 34–14, before a crowd of 40,000 at Husky Stadium in Seattle. Quarterbacks Dick Larson and Bobby Cox led Minnesota on offense. Cox had played for Washington in 1954 threw a touchdown pass to give Minnesota the lead at halftime.Minnesota Power Routs Washington Huskies, 34–14 Chicago Tribune September 30, 1956 2-2 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8294840/minnesota_power_routs_washington/ Newspapers.com On October 6, Minnesota defeated Purdue, 21–14, before a crowd of 59,314 at Memorial Stadium in Minneapolis. Fullback Dick Borstad scored two Minnesota touchdowns on runs of 23 yards and one yard. Purdue quarterback Len Dawson completed seven of 13 passes for 102 yards and three interceptions.Gopher Defense Halts Late Purdue Bid, 21–14 Chicago Tribune October 7, 1956 2–1, 2–8 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8296248/gopher_defense_halts_late_purdue_bid/ Newspapers.com On October 13, Minnesota (ranked No. 17 in the AP Poll) and Northwestern played to a scoreless tie in front of a crowd of 62,006 at Memorial Stadium in Minneapolis. Minnesota had been a 14-point favorite and moved the ball well, out-gaining Northwestern 271 yards to 142. However, the Gophers were unable to score, turning the ball over on fumbles three times, including one at Northwestern's goal line. Heavy rain slowed the teams in the second half.Wildcats and Gophers Play Scoreless Tie! Chicago Tribune Robert Cromie October 14, 1956 2-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8311749/wildcats_and_gophers_play_scoreless_tie/ Newspapers.com 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, in the annual battle for the Little Brown Jug, Minnesota defeated Michigan (ranked No. 5 in the AP Poll), 20–7, before a crowd of 84,639 at Michigan Stadium. Michigan led, 7–0, at halftime on 16-yard touchdown run by Terry Barr, but Barr was injured on the touchdown and did not return to the game. Minnesota came back in the second half with 20 unanswered points, including two touchdown runs by Bobby Cox.Minnesota 20, Michigan 7 Detroit Free Press Lyall Smith Lyall Smith October 28, 1956 1C https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8305481/minnesota_20_michigan_7/ Newspapers.com On November 3, Minnesota (ranked No. 8 in the AP Poll) defeated Pittsburgh, 9–6, before a homecoming crowd of 63,158 at Memorial Stadium in Minneapolis. Minnesota's Dick Borstad kicked a field goal with two-and-a-half minutes to go to give Minnesota the lead. Pitt's Joe Walton returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown, but the return was called back due to a clipping penalty.Pitt Falls Before Minnesota, 9 to 6 The Pittsburgh Press Roy McHugh November 4, 1956 6-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8307495/pitt_falls_before_minnesota_9_to_6/ Newspapers.com On November 10, Minnesota lost to 1956 Big Ten champion Iowa, 7–0, before a crowd of 64,235 at Memorial Stadium in Minneapolis. Iowa coach implemented a 6-3-2 defense to contain Minnesota's speedy Bobby Cox. After the game, Cox noted: "I couldn't go outside. They forced me to go inside and then some linebacker would nail me."Evy's Defensive Gamble Pays Off to Bottle Up Cox The Des Moines Register November 11, 1956 2S https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8300555/evys_defensive_gamble_pays_off_to/ Newspapers.com The outcome put Iowa into the lead in the race for the conference's Rose Bowl bid. After the game, Iowa's players carried coach Evashevski off the field on their shoulders.Iowa Deflates Gophers, 7–0 The Des Moines Register Bert McGrane November 11, 1956 1S https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8300371/iowa_deflates_gophers_70/ Newspapers.com On November 17, Minnesota (ranked No. 17 in the AP Poll) upset Michigan State (ranked No. 3), 14–13, before a crowd of 62,478 at Memorial Stadium in Minneapolis. Bobby Cox led the way for MinnesotaIowa Takes All as MSU Bows, 14–13: Cox's Razzle Dazzle Too Much for Spartans Detroit Free Press November 18, 1956 1D https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8291968/iowa_takes_all_as_msu_bows_1413/ Newspapers.com On November 24, in the annual battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe, Minnesota (ranked No. 7 in the AP Poll) and Wisconsin played to a 13–13 tie before a crowd of 54,149 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison. On the final play of the game, Wisconsin's Jon Hobbs missed his third field goal attempt of the game. Wisconsin finished the season without a conference win for the first time since 1939.Badgers Gain Late 13–13 Tie with Gophers Chicago Tribune Edward Prell November 25, 1956 2-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8297134/badgers_gain_late_1313_tie_with_gophers/ Newspapers.com Rankings and awards On December 3, 1956, both the Associated Press (AP) and United Press (UP) released their final college football polls. Both organizations ranked undefeated Oklahoma at the No. 1 spot. The AP ranked the Golden Gophers No. 12, and the UP ranked them No. 9.Sooners Win: Tennessee Second in 1956 Poll The Ogden Standard-Examiner 10A https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8316043/sooners_win_tennessee_second_in_1956/ Newspapers.com Standings Deadwood Pioneer Times December 4, 1956 4 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8316148/final_up_college_football_standings/ Newspapers.com Only one Minnesota player, tackle Bob Hobert, was picked by the Associated Press (AP) and/or the United Press (UP) as a first-team player on the 1956 All-Big Ten Conference football team. Hobert received first-team honors from both the AP and UP.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 Hobert was also selected by the Football Writers Association of America as a first-team pick for the 1956 College Football All-America Team. References Minnesota Category:Minnesota Golden Gophers football seasons Minnesota Golden Gophers football