1956 Northwestern Wildcats football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1956 Northwestern Wildcats football Big Ten Conference Big Ten 4–4–1 3–3–1 Ara Parseghian 1st Al Viola Ted Ringerhttp://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/nw/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/nu-mg-07-history.pdf#page=7 Year-by-Year Results 2007 148 PDF https://web.archive.org/web/20190316165052/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/nw/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/nu-mg-07-history.pdf#page=7 March 16, 2019 live March 14, 2019 Dyche Stadium The 1956 Northwestern Wildcats team was an American football team that represented Northwestern University during the 1956 Big Ten Conference football season. In their first year under head coach Ara Parseghian, the Wildcats compiled a 4–4–1 record (3–1–1 against Big Ten Conference opponents), finished in sixth place in the Big Ten, and were outscored by their opponents by a combined total of 112 to 107.Northwestern Yearly Results (1955-1959) David DeLassus College Football Data Warehouse August 7, 2015 http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/n/northwestern/1955-1959_yearly_results.php September 5, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150905171505/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/n/northwestern/1955-1959_yearly_results.php dead Schedule 1956 AP September 29 w y Iowa State Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL 14–13 31,108 October 6 l y Tulane Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL 13–20 32,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8296338/tulanes-2d-quarter-beats-n-u-20-to-1/ Chicago Tribune Tulane's 2d Quarter Beats N. U., 20 to 13 October 7, 1956 September 19, 2021 Newspapers.com October 13 t y Minnesota 17 Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN 0–0 62,006 October 20 l y Michigan 8 Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI rivalry 20–34 81,718 October 27 l y Indiana Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN 13–19 23,000 November 3 l Ohio State 6 Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL 2–6 42,000 November 10 w y Wisconsin Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 17–7 54,645 November 17 w Purdue Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL 14–0 32,000 November 24 w Illinois Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL rivalry 14–13 40,000 Preseason On December 9, 1955, Purdue head coach Stu Holcomb resigned his position and signed a five-year contract as the athletic director at Northwestern.Holcomb Accepts N.U. Challenge: New Director of Athletics Quits Purdue Chicago Tribune Edward Prell December 10, 1955 3-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8298271/holcomb_accepts_nu_challenge_new/ Newspapers.com Three days later, Holcomb fired Northwestern head coach Lou Saban and his entire staff of assistant coaches.Holcomb Drops Saban, N. U. Staff Chicago Tribune December 13, 1956 4-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8298101/holcomb_drops_saban_n_u_staff/ Newspapers.com On December 16, Holcomb announced that he had signed Miami (OH) head coach Ara Parseghian to a three-year contract as the Wildcats' new head coach. Parseghian had led the 1955 Miami Redskins football team to a perfect 9–0 record.Parseghian Named N.U. Football Coach Chicago Tribune December 17, 1956 3-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8298181/parseghian_named_nu_football_coach/ Newspapers.com Game summaries On September 29, 1956, Northwestern defeated Iowa State, 14–13, before a crowd of 38,000 at Dyche Stadium in Evanston, Illinois. With six seconds remaining in the game and Iowa State driving deep into Northwestern territory, Chuck Latting fumbled at the seven-yard line.Wildcats Top Iowa State by 14 to 13 Chicago Tribune Howard Barry September 30, 1956 2-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8295041/wildcats_top_iowa_state_by_14_to_13/ Newspapers.com On October 6, Northwestern lost to Tulane, 20–13, before a crowd of 32,000 at Dyche Stadium in Evanston. Tulane scored all 20 of its points in a wild second quarter. Northwestern's Bob McKelver rushed for 116 net yards on 12 carries.Tulane's 2d Quarter Beats N. U., 20 to 13 Chicago Tribune Cooper Rollow October 7, 1956 2-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8296338/tulanes_2d_quarter_beats_n_u_20_to/ Newspapers.com On October 13, Northwestern and Minnesota (ranked No. 17 in the AP Poll) 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, Michigan (ranked No. 8 in the AP Poll) defeated Northwestern, 34–20, before a Band Day crowd of 81,227 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor. Fullback John Herrnstein scored three touchdowns for Michigan.U-M Fights Off Wildcats, 34–20: Herrnstein Runs for 3 Touchdowns Detroit Free Press Hal Middlesworth October 21, 1956 1D https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8322399/um_fights_off_wildcats_3420/ Newspapers.com On October 27, Indiana defeated Northwestern, 19–13, before a homecoming crowd of 23,000 at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington. The game was tied, 13–13, at halftime. Indiana intercepted a Northwestern pass with four minutes remaining to set up the winning touchdown.Late Indiana Score Beats N.U., 19–13 Chicago Tribune Robert Cromie October 28, 1956 2-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8305826/late_indiana_score_beats_nu_1913/ Newspapers.com On November 3, Ohio State (ranked No. 6 in the AP Poll) defeated Northwestern, 6–2, before a homecoming crowd of 42,000 at Dyche Stadium in Evanston. Northwestern guard Al Viola blocked a punt in the first quarter that rolled out of the end zone for a safety. With 16 seconds left in the first half, Ellwood threw a seven-yard touchdown pass to Leo Brown.Buckeyes Overcome Stubborn N.U., 6 to 2, For Big Ten Record of 16 Victories in Row Chicago Tribune Charles Bartlett November 4, 1956 2–1, 2–4 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8307585/msu_gets_back_in_swing_by_blasting/ Newspapers.com On November 10, Northwestern defeated Wisconsin, 17–7, before a homecoming crowd of 54,645 spectators at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison. The attendance was the highest in the history of Camp Randall Stadium to that point. Northwestern's first touchdown of the game was scored by center Ted Ringer when he recovered a loose ball in the end zone following a fumble by teammate Wilmer Fowler. The outcome was Northwestern's first conference victory under Ara Parseghian.N.U. Wins, 17–7! Record 54,645 See Wildcats Claw Badgers Chicago Tribune Howard Barry November 11, 1956 2-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8301285/nu_wins_177_record_54645_see/ Newspapers.com On November 17, Northwestern defeated Purdue, 14–0, before a crowd of 32,000 at Dyche Stadium in Evanston. Northwestern recovered five of seven Purdue fumbles and intercepted three passes. Four of the fumbles were recovered by Al Viola. After the game, Edward Prell wrote in the Chicago Tribune that Northwestern had in 1956 been "brought back to life by its new 33 year old coach, Ara Parseghian."N.U., Notre Dame Triump; Wildcats Hop on 5 Purdue Fumbles, 14–0 Chicago Tribune Edward Prell November 18, 1956 2-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8297956/nu_notre_dame_triump_wildcats_hop/ 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 Two Northwestern players were picked by the Associated Press (AP) and/or the United Press (UP) as first-team players 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/clip/8299452/mel_dillard_on_allbig_ten_team_iowa/ Newspapers.com They were: PositionNameTeamSelectorsHalfbackBob McKelverNorthwesternAPGuardAl ViolaNorthwesternUP References Northwestern Category:Northwestern Wildcats football seasons Northwestern Wildcats football