1956 Michigan Wolverines football team
Encyclopedia
The 1956 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan
in the 1956 college football season
. The team's head coach was Bennie Oosterbaan
. The Wolverines played their home games at Michigan Stadium
.
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in the 1956 college football season
1956 college football season
The 1956 college football season saw the Sooners of the University of Oklahoma finish a third consecutive season unbeaten and untied to again win the national championship....
. The team's head coach was Bennie Oosterbaan
Bennie Oosterbaan
Benjamin Gaylord "Bennie" Oosterbaan was a three-time first team All-American football end for the Michigan Wolverines football team, two-time All-American basketball player for the basketball team and an All-Big Ten Conference baseball player for the baseball team...
. The Wolverines played their home games at Michigan Stadium
Michigan Stadium
Michigan Stadium, nicknamed "The Big House," is the football stadium for the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan Stadium was built in 1927 at a cost of $950,000 and had an original capacity of 72,000. Before playing football at the stadium, the Wolverines played on Ferry Field...
.
Schedule
Rushing
| Player | Attempts | Net yards | Yards per attempt | Touchdowns |
| Jim Pace Jim Pace James Edward Pace was an American running back in the National Football League. He was also an All-American halfback who played for the University of Michigan Wolverines teams from 1955 to 1957.-Youth:... |
103 | 498 | 4.8 | 2 |
| John Herrnstein | 123 | 475 | 3.9 | 7 |
| Terry Barr Terry Barr Terry Albert Barr was an American football wide receiver. He played for nine seasons in the NFL, all with the Detroit Lions.... |
60 | 366 | 6.1 | 6 |
Passing
| Player | Attempts | Completions | Interceptions | Comp % | Yards | Yds/Comp | TD | Long |
| Bob Ptacek Bob Ptacek Robert J. "Bob" Ptacek, Jr. is a former professional American and Canadian football quarterback, defensive back, and linebacker who was drafted in the 1959 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. He played for the Browns during the 1959 NFL season... |
23 | 15 | 2 | 65.2 | 245 | 16.3 | 3 | 25 |
| Jim Van Pelt Jim Van Pelt James S. Van Pelt is a former American football player.He played at the quarterback position for the University of Michigan from 1955 to 1957.... |
33 | 15 | 1 | 45.5 | 221 | 14.7 | 1 | 37 |
| Jim Maddock Jim Maddock James Andrew 'Mad Dog' Maddock was an American football player. He played at the quarterback position for the University of Michigan from 1954 to 1956. He appeared in all 127 games for the Wolverines during his sophomore, junior and senior years, and led the teams to final Associated Press... |
42 | 19 | 3 | 45.2 | 213 | 11.2 | 0 | 18 |
Receiving
| Player | Receptions | Yards | Yds/Recp | TD | Long |
| Ron Kramer Ron Kramer Ronald J. Kramer was a multi-sport college athlete and professional American football player. Before embarking on a career in the National Football League, he lettered in football, basketball, and track at the University of Michigan in the 1950s... |
18 | 353 | 19.6 | 2 | 70 |
| Jim Pace Jim Pace James Edward Pace was an American running back in the National Football League. He was also an All-American halfback who played for the University of Michigan Wolverines teams from 1955 to 1957.-Youth:... |
7 | 155 | 22.1 | 0 | 37 |
| Jim Maddock Jim Maddock James Andrew 'Mad Dog' Maddock was an American football player. He played at the quarterback position for the University of Michigan from 1954 to 1956. He appeared in all 127 games for the Wolverines during his sophomore, junior and senior years, and led the teams to final Associated Press... |
5 | 79 | 15.8 | 1 | 23 |
| Tom Maentz Tom Maentz Tom Maentz is a former American football player who played end for the University of Michigan Wolverines from 1954-1956. Maentz played on offense and defense and also served as the punter for the Michigan football team... |
6 | 70 | 11.7 | 0 | 17 |
Kickoff returns
| Player | Returns | Yards | Yds/Return | TD | Long |
| Jim Pace Jim Pace James Edward Pace was an American running back in the National Football League. He was also an All-American halfback who played for the University of Michigan Wolverines teams from 1955 to 1957.-Youth:... |
11 | 274 | 24.9 | 0 | 39 |
| Jim Van Pelt Jim Van Pelt James S. Van Pelt is a former American football player.He played at the quarterback position for the University of Michigan from 1955 to 1957.... |
4 | 84 | 21.0 | 0 | 36 |
Punt returns
| Player | Returns | Yards | Yds/Return | TD | Long |
| Terry Barr Terry Barr Terry Albert Barr was an American football wide receiver. He played for nine seasons in the NFL, all with the Detroit Lions.... |
6 | 118 | 19.7 | 0 | 51 |
| Ed Shannon | 7 | 38 | 5.4 | 0 | 9 |
| Bob Ptacek Bob Ptacek Robert J. "Bob" Ptacek, Jr. is a former professional American and Canadian football quarterback, defensive back, and linebacker who was drafted in the 1959 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. He played for the Browns during the 1959 NFL season... |
6 | 36 | 6.0 | 0 | 12 |
Players
- Terry Barr - started 7 games at right halfback
- John Herrnstein - started 9 games at fullback
- Dick Hill - started 9 games at left guard
- Ron KramerRon KramerRonald J. Kramer was a multi-sport college athlete and professional American football player. Before embarking on a career in the National Football League, he lettered in football, basketball, and track at the University of Michigan in the 1950s...
- started 9 games at left end - Tom MaentzTom MaentzTom Maentz is a former American football player who played end for the University of Michigan Wolverines from 1954-1956. Maentz played on offense and defense and also served as the punter for the Michigan football team...
- started 9 games at right end - Marv Nyren - started 9 games at right guard
- Jim Orwig - started 9 games at left tackle
- Jim PaceJim PaceJames Edward Pace was an American running back in the National Football League. He was also an All-American halfback who played for the University of Michigan Wolverines teams from 1955 to 1957.-Youth:...
- started 7 games at left halfback - Bob PtacekBob PtacekRobert J. "Bob" Ptacek, Jr. is a former professional American and Canadian football quarterback, defensive back, and linebacker who was drafted in the 1959 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. He played for the Browns during the 1959 NFL season...
- started 2 games at left halfback - Mike Rotunno - started 8 games at center
- Ed Shannon - started 2 games at right halfback
- Lionel Sigman - started 9 games at right tackle
- Willie SmithWillie Smith (American football)Willie Smith is a former American football player. A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, Smith attended Dunbar High School, a segregated high school for African-American students. He was teammates during high school with Jim Pace, and the two of them opted to attend the University of Michigan where...
- tackle - Gene Snider - started 1 game at center
- Jim Van PeltJim Van PeltJames S. Van Pelt is a former American football player.He played at the quarterback position for the University of Michigan from 1955 to 1957....
- started 9 games at quarterback
Awards and honors
- Captain: Tom MaentzTom MaentzTom Maentz is a former American football player who played end for the University of Michigan Wolverines from 1954-1956. Maentz played on offense and defense and also served as the punter for the Michigan football team...
- All-Americans: Ron KramerRon KramerRonald J. Kramer was a multi-sport college athlete and professional American football player. Before embarking on a career in the National Football League, he lettered in football, basketball, and track at the University of Michigan in the 1950s...
- All-Conference: Ron Kramer
- Most Valuable Player: Dick Hill
- Meyer Morton Award: John Herrnstein
- John Maulbetsch Award: John Herrnstein
Coaching staff
- Head coach: Bennie OosterbaanBennie OosterbaanBenjamin Gaylord "Bennie" Oosterbaan was a three-time first team All-American football end for the Michigan Wolverines football team, two-time All-American basketball player for the basketball team and an All-Big Ten Conference baseball player for the baseball team...
- Assistant coaches: Jack BlottJack BlottJack Leonard Blott was an All-American football center and place kicker for the University of Michigan Wolverines from 1922–1923. He was also a baseball catcher for the Wolverines from 1922–1924. After a two-game Major League Baseball career with the Cincinnati Reds in 1924, he worked as...
, Don DufekDon Dufek, Sr.Don Dufek, Sr. is a former American football player and athletic director at Grand Valley State University and Kent State University. He is the father of All-American football players Don, and Bill as well as Joe who all played in the National Football League....
, Robert Holloway, Cliff KeenCliff KeenClifford Patrick Keen was an American coach who served as the head coach of the University of Michigan collegiate wrestling team from 1925 to 1970. He led the Michigan Wolverines to 13 Big Ten Conference championships, and coached 68 All-American wrestlers...
, Pete Kinyon, Matt PatanelliMatt PatanelliMatthew L. "Matt" Patanelli was an American football, baseball and basketball player and coach. He played and coached all three sports at the University of Michigan and was selected as the Most Valuable Player on the 1936 Michigan Wolverines football team. He was also the first University of...
, Don Robinson, Walter WeberWally WeberWalter J. Weber was an American football player and coach at the University of Michigan. He played halfback and fullback for the Wolverines in 1925 and 1926 on the same teams as Benny Friedman and Bennie Oosterbaan. He later became an assistant football coach at Michigan for 28 years from 1931 to... - Trainer: Jim Hunt
- Manager: Dave Lundquist