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1956 George Washington Colonials football team

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1956 George Washington Colonials football
Sun Bowl champion
Sun Bowl, W 13–10 vs. Texas Western
ConferenceSouthern Conference
Ranking
APNo. 17
Record8–1–1 (5–1 SoCon)
Head coach
Home stadiumGriffith Stadium
Seasons
← 1955
1957 →
1956 Southern Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
West Virginia $ 5 – 0 – 0 6 – 4 – 0
VPI 3 – 0 – 0 7 – 2 – 1
No. 17 George Washington 5 – 1 – 0 8 – 1 – 1
Davidson 2 – 2 – 1 5 – 3 – 1
Furman 2 – 2 – 0 2 – 8 – 0
VMI 2 – 3 – 1 3 – 6 – 1
Richmond 2 – 5 – 0 4 – 5 – 0
The Citadel 1 – 3 – 0 3 – 5 – 1
Washington and Lee 0 – 1 – 0 1 – 7 – 0
William & Mary 0 – 5 – 0 0 – 9 – 1
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1956 George Washington Colonials football team was an American football team that represented George Washington University (GWU) as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1956 college football season. In its fifth season under head coach Bo Sherman, the team compiled an 8–1–1 record (5–1 in conference games), finished third in the SoCon, and outscored opponents by a total of 171 to 81.[1]

The team's sole loss was to SoCon champion West Virginia. George Washington was ranked No. 17 in the final AP Poll and finished the season with a victory over the 1957 Sun Bowl over Texas Western which is GWU's only football bowl game.

At the end of the regular season, the team voted quarterback Ray Looney and guard Ed Sakach as the team's best players.[2] Tackle Dave Liddick was the only George Washington player to receive first-team honors on the 1956 All-Southern Conference football team.[3]

The team's statistical leaders included Looney with 262 passing yards, Pete Spera with 345 rushing yards, and Thompson with 156 receiving yards.[4]

Schedule

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DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 22at Miami (OH)*
W 7–66,546[5]
September 29at Furman
W 10–06,000[6]
October 5Hardin–Simmons*
W 13–710,000[7]
October 13at Boston University*No. 16
T 20–209,104[8]
October 19VMI
  • Griffith Stadium
  • Washington, DC
W 40–1410,000[9]
October 26William & MaryNo. 17
  • Griffith Stadium
  • Washington, DC
W 16–146,000[10]
November 3at West VirginiaNo. 14
L 0–1422,000[11]
November 9Richmond
  • Griffith Stadium
  • Washington, DC
W 32–64,000[12]
November 17at The CitadelNo. 18
W 20–08,500[13]
January 1, 1957at Texas Western*No. 17
W 13–015,000[14]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Personnel

[edit]
  • Claude "Bo" Austin, co-captain and fullback, fullback, 195 rushing yards
  • Bill Berry, end, 200 pounds
  • Dick Claypool, right halfback, 185 pounds, 170 rushing yards, 109 receiving yards
  • Ted Colna, right halfback, sophomore, 5'10", 178 pounds, 277 rushing yards
  • Francis Gleason, end, 195 pounds
  • Jack Henzes, quarterback, 175 pounds, 112 passing yards
  • Donald Herman, wide receiver, 50 receiving yards, 12 points scored
  • Joe Hince, center, senior, 190 pounds
  • Marion Hoar, guard, 195 pounds
  • Bob Jewett, tackle, 210 pounds
  • Jack Kesock, end, 190 pounds
  • Dave Liddick, tackle, 240 pounds
  • Ray Looney, quarterback, 185 pounds, 262 passing yards, 256 rushing yards
  • Bill McHenry, tackle, 200 pounds
  • Ray Murray, guard, 200 pounds
  • Ed Rutsch, tackle, 250 pounds
  • Ed Sakach, guard, 225 pounds
  • Bob Shuba, fullback, 185 pounds, 179 rushing yards
  • Mike Sommer, left halfback, 190 pounds, 185 rushing yards
  • Pete Spera, left halfback, 5'8", 175 pounds, Belleville, NJ, 345 rushing yards
  • Bob Sutton, guard, 200 pounds
  • Paul Thompson, co-captain and end, 200 pounds, 157 receiving yards, 12 points scored
  • Mickey Varley, center, 210 pounds

[15][16][17]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "1956 George Washington Colonials Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  2. ^ "Looney and Sakach Voted Awards by GW Players". The Evening Star. December 7, 1956. p. C2 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Walt Brodie Is Captain of All-SC Squad". The Robesonian. November 28, 1956. p. 9.
  4. ^ "1956 George Washington Colonials Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  5. ^ Ben Garlikov (September 23, 1956). "GWU depth, penalties hit Miami". Dayton Daily News. p. 4-1 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Jim Anderson (September 30, 1956). "Colonials have to battle to top scrappy Furman, 10-0". The Greenville News. p. C1 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Don Oliver (October 6, 1956). "George Washington Nips Cowboys, 13–7". The Abilene Reporter-News. p. 9A – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Bob Holbrook (October 14, 1956). "B.U. Ties Geo. Washington, 20–20; Fennessey Scores On Run, Pass". The Boston Globe. p. 44 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Steve Guback (October 20, 1956). "GW thumps Keydets, 40-14". Richmond Times-Dispatch. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Hank Maloney (October 27, 1956). "GW Gains 16-Point Lead, Fights Off William & Mary For 16–14 Win". Daily Press (Newport News, Virginia). p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Harry Keck (November 4, 1956). "West Virginia cops, 14-0, nears conference title". Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph. p. 3-1 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "GW romps by Richmond, 32–6". The Birmingham News. November 10, 1956. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "GW finally overcomes stubborn Citadel, 20-0". The Times and Democrat. Associated Press. November 18, 1956. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Chuck Whitlock (January 2, 1957). "Tough Colonials Upset Miners, 13–0: Vicious Line Play Marks Win". The El Paso Times. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "1956 George Washington Colonials Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  16. ^ "GW's Fine Starters Have to Stay Healthy". THe Evening Star. September 18, 1956. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "GW Squad Dons Full Gear For Stiff Workout in Heat". Evening Star. September 2, 1956. p. C5 – via Newspapers.com.
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