1956 Lenoir Rhyne Bears football | |
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NSC champion | |
Conference | North State Conference |
Record | 10–0 (6–0 NSC) |
Head coach |
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Home stadium | College Field |
Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lenoir Rhyne $ | 6 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 10 | – | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Catawba | 4 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 4 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Elon | 4 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Appalachian State | 3 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
East Carolina | 2 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 7 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Guilford | 0 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 1 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Western Carolina | 0 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 1 | – | 9 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1956 Lenoir Rhyne Bears football team was an American football team that represented Lenoir Rhyne College (now known as Lenoir–Rhyne University) as a member of the North State Conference (NSC) during the 1956 NAIA football season. In their 11th season under head coach Clarence Stasavich, the team compiled a 10–0 record (6–0 against conference opponents), won the NSC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 380 to 70.[1] 1956 remains the only perfect season in the history of the Lenoir–Rhyne Bears football program.[2] The Bears also had undefeated seasons in 1955 and 1960 in which their record was marred only by a single tie game.
Fullback Harold Bullard led the team with 1,075 rushing yards and 96 points scored.[3][4] Quarterback Dean Cline led the team in passing with 344 passing yards.[5] Guard Arden Ray was selected as a second-team player on the 1956 Little All-America college football team.[6] Eight Lenoir Rhyne players were selected as first-team players on one or more of the All-NSC football teams: halfback Walter Cornwell; fullback Harold Bullard; quarterback Dean Cline; end Hume Collins; guard Arden Ray; center Allan LaTorre; and tackles Bill Dameron and Leveo Sperotto. Cornwell and Ray were unanimous picks.[7][8]
The 1956 season was part of an eight-year run from 1955 to 1962 under Stasavich and his successor, Hanley Painter, during which Lenoir Rhyne compiled a 76–6–4 record and won eight consecutive NSC championships and an NAIA national title in 1960.[2]
The team played home games at College Field in Hickory, North Carolina.
Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source | ||
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September 15 | Apprentice* |
| W 67–0 | [9] | |||
September 22 | at Wofford* | Spartanburg, SC | W 13–7 | [10] | |||
September 29 | at Newberry* | Newberry, SC | W 35–25 | 3,000 | [11] | ||
October 6 | Appalachian State |
| W 32–0 | [12][13] | |||
October 13 | at Guilford | Guilford, NC | W 61–7 | [14] | |||
October 20 | Western Carolina |
| W 35–0 | 4,000 | [15] | ||
October 27 | Emory and Henry* |
| W 25–6 | 8,000 | [16] | ||
Novemmber 3 | East Carolina |
| W 57–12 | 4,100 | [17][18] | ||
November 10 | at Elon |
| W 27–13 | 5,000 | [19] | ||
November 22 | at Catawba |
| W 28–0 | 7,000 | [20] | ||
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