1956 Purdue Boilermakers football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1956 Purdue Boilermakers football Big Ten Conference Big Ten 3–4–2 1–4–2 Jack Mollenkopf 1st Lamar Lundy Bob Clasey Len Dawson Lamar Lundy Ross–Ade Stadium The 1956 Purdue Boilermakers football team was an American football team that represented Purdue University during the 1956 Big Ten Conference football season. In their first year under head coach Jack Mollenkopf, the Boilermakers compiled a 3–4–2 record, finished in a tie for seventh place in the Big Ten Conference with a 1–4–2 record against conference opponents, and outscored opponents by a total of 139 to 122.1956 Purdue Boilermakers Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football December 6, 2015 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/purdue/1956-schedule.html Notable players on the 1956 Purdue team include quarterback Len Dawson, fullback Mel Dillard, and end Lamar Lundy. Schedule 1956 AP September 29 w y Missouri Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN 16–7 46,455 October 6 l y Minnesota Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN 14–21 58,660 October 13 w y y Notre Dame 18 Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry 28–14 58,778 October 20 t y 17 Wisconsin Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 6–6 53,044 October 27 l Iowa 12 Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN 20–21 41,415 November 3 t y Illinois Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN rivalry 7–7 46,166 November 10 l y Michigan State 4 Macklin Stadium East Lansing, MI 9–12 56,431 November 17 l y Northwestern Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL 0–14 32,000 November 24 w Indiana Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN Old Oaken Bucket 39–20 42,856 2022 Purdue Football Record Book https://purduesports.com/documents/2022/8/23/2022_Purdue_Record_Book.pdf Purdue University Athletics 86 January 29, 2023 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 Four days later, Purdue president Frederick L. Hovde announced that Holcomb's top assistant, Jack Mollenkopf, had been signed to a three-year contract as Purdue's head football coach.Mollenkopf Asks Stu's Staff to Stay The Indianapolis Star Bob Collins December 13, 1956 27 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8298388/mollenkopf_asks_stus_staff_to_stay/ Newspapers.com Game summaries Missouri In the first game under head coach Mollenkopf, Purdue defeated Missouri, 16–7, before a crowd of 46,455 at Ross–Ade Stadium in Lafayette, Indiana. Purdue halfback Tom Fletcher rushed for 154 yards on 22 carries, including a 35-yard touchdown run. Purdue quarterback Len Dawson completed eight of 17 passes for 118 yards.Purdue Beats Missouri, 16–7 Chicago Tribune September 30, 1956 2-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8295306/purdue_beats_missouri_167/ Newspapers.com Minnesota 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 Mel Dillard rushed for 120 yards on 25 carries.2020 Purdue Record Book. Retrieved 2021-Jan-01. Notre Dame Purdue defeated Notre Dame (ranked No. 18 in the AP Poll), 28–14, before a crowd of 58,778 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend. Purdue back Mel Dillard rushed for 142 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries.Purdue Wallops Irish: Wins, 28–14 By Ripping Foe's Line The Indianapolis Star Jeb Cadou Jr. October 14, 1956 21 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8308850/purdue_wallops_irish_wins_2814_by/ Newspapers.com Wisconsin Purdue and Wisconsin played to a 6–6 tie before a Dad's Day crowd of 53,094 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison. Danny Lewis ran 30 yards for a Wisconsin touchdown in the first quarter, and Len Dawson threw a touchdown pass to Lamar Lundy in the second quarter. Neither team converted its extra point.Badgers, Purdue Miss Kick, Tie, 6–6: 8 Fumbles Mar Peculiar Game Chicago Tribune Charles Bartlett October 21, 1956 2-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8322889/badgers_purdue_miss_kick_tie_66_8/ Iowa Iowa (ranked No. 12 in the AP Poll) defeated Purdue, 21–20, before a crowd of 41,415 at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette. Purdue quarterback Len Dawson threw two touchdown passes, and Mel Dillard ran for a third. Iowa also scored three touchdowns, with the difference being a missed extra point. Purdue drove into Iowa territory late in the game, but Purdue fumbled at the 25-yard line with a minute and a half remaining in the game.It's No. 5: Iowa 21, Purdue 20! The Des Moines Register Bill Bryson October 28, 1956 1S https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8305245/its_no_5_iowa_21_purdue_20/ Newspapers.com Illinois Illinois and Purdue played to a 7–7 tie before a homecoming crowd of 46,166 at Ross–Ade Stadium in West Lafayette.Illinois Ties, 7–7: Boilermakers Avert Loss in Final Period Chicago Tribune Charles Bartlett November 4, 1956 Howard Barry 2–1, 2–3 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8307815/illinois_ties_77_boilermakers_avert/ Newspapers.com Michigan State Michigan State (ranked No. 4 in the AP Poll) defeated Purdue, 12–9, before a crowd of 56,431 at Macklin Stadium in East Lansing. Purdue was a three touchdown underdog without Len Dawson but scored on a touchdown run by Mel Dillard and a safety triggered by Fletcher tackling Martin in the end zone. Michigan State scored two touchdowns, a 27-yard pass from Jim Ninowski to Harold Dukes, and a fumble recovery by Tony Kolodziej in Purdue's end zone.It's a 'Steal' for Sputtering Spartans, 12–9: MSU Is Outplayed All the Way Detroit Free Press Tommy Devine November 11, 1956 1C https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8300962/its_a_steal_for_sputtering_spartans/ Newspapers.com Northwestern 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 Indiana In the annual battle for the Old Oaken Bucket, Purdue defeated Indiana, 39–20, at Ross-Ade Stadium in Lafayette, Indiana. In his final college game, Purdue quarterback Len Dawson threw two touchdown passes, both caught by end Lamar Lundy. Mel Dillard rushed for 130 yards (on 24 carries) and three touchdowns in the game and a conference high 873 yards for the season. The game proved to be a battle for last place in the conference, with Purdue finishing in ninth place and Indiana in tenth and last place.Purdue Explodes, Buries Hoosiers, 39 To 20: Score 3 Times in 3rd Period The Indianapolis Star Jep Cadou Jr. November 25, 1956 4-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8292154/purdue_explodes_buries_hoosiers_39_to/ Newspapers.com Roster 1956 Purdue Boilermakers y 16 Sr Len Dawson QB y Mel Dillard FB Lamar Lundy E y Jack Mollenkopf Awards and statistics Purdue fullback Mel Dillard was recognized by both the Associated Press and the United Press as a first-team player 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 Purdue players led the Big Ten in rushing yards, total offense, and passing yards. Dillard led the conference with 873 rushing yards and 902 yards of total offense.1956 Big Ten Conference Year Summary Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football January 9, 2017 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/conferences/big-ten/1956.html Quarterback Len Dawson led the conference with 856 passing yards. Lamar Lundy ranked fifth in the Big Ten with 248 receiving yards. 1957 NFL draft The following Purdue players were among the first 100 picks in the 1957 NFL draft:1957 NFL Draft: Full Draft National Football League NFL.com January 4, 2017 http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/fulldraft?season=1957 1957 1 5 Pittsburgh Steelers Len Dawson QB 1956 yes yes 1957 4 47 Los Angeles Rams Lamar Lundy E 1956 yes no References Purdue Category:Purdue Boilermakers football seasons Purdue Boilermakers football