The 1956 Wyoming Cowboys football team was an American football team that represented the University of Wyoming as a member of the Skyline Conference during the 1956 college football season. In their fourth season under head coach Phil Dickens, the Cowboys compiled a perfect 10–0 record (7–0 against Skyline opponents), won the Skyline Conference championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 252 to 112.[1][2] The Cowboys were ranked No. 19 in the AP Poll issued on November 19, 1956, but dropped out in the final poll.[1]
| 1956 Wyoming Cowboys football | |
|---|---|
Skyline champion | |
| Conference | Skyline Conference |
| Ranking | |
| Coaches | No. 16 |
| Record | 10–0 (7–0 Skyline) |
| Head coach |
|
| Captain | Ove Stapleton |
| Home stadium | War Memorial Stadium |
| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wyoming | 7 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 10 | – | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Utah | 5 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Denver | 4 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Utah State | 4 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Colorado A&M | 2 | – | 4 | – | 1 | 2 | – | 7 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| New Mexico | 2 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BYU | 1 | – | 5 | – | 1 | 2 | – | 7 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Montana | 1 | – | 6 | – | 0 | 1 | – | 9 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The team's statistical leaders included Larry Zowada with 878 passing yards, Jim Crawford with 1,104 rushing yards and 72 points scored, and John Watts with 287 receiving yards.[3] Crawford led the nation in rushing yards and went on to play five seasons for the Boston Patriots.
Believing that they would get a better bowl appearance, the team declined a Sun Bowl invitation. No other invitations came.[citation needed]
Schedule
edit| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 15 | Western State (CO)* | W 40–13 | [4] | ||||
| September 22 | at Arizona* | W 26–20 | 23,000 | [5] | |||
| September 29 | Denver |
| W 27–0 | 17,000 | [6] | ||
| October 6 | at Colorado A&M | W 20–12 | 11,138 | [7] | |||
| October 13 | New Mexico |
| W 20–13 | 6,021 | [8] | ||
| October 20 | Utah |
| W 30–20 | 16,833 | [9] | ||
| October 27 | Kansas State* |
| W 27–15 | 6,731 | [10] | ||
| November 3 | at Utah State | W 21–0 | 9,000 | [11] | |||
| November 10 | vs. Montana |
| W 34–13 | 8,000 | [12] | ||
| November 17 | at BYU |
| W 7–6 | 4,447 | [13] | ||
| |||||||
References
edit- ^ a b "1956 Wyoming Cowboys Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
- ^ "2018 Wyoming Football Media Guide" (PDF). University of Wyoming. 2018. p. 212.
- ^ "1956 Wyoming Cowboys Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
- ^ "Cowboys Ride Over Western State For Easy 40-13 Win". Casper Tribune-Herald & Star. September 16, 1956. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Abe Chanin. "Wyoming Defeats Arizona 26-20 In Rugged Battle". The Arizona Daily Star. p. C1 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Ray Giffin (September 16, 1956). "Cowpokes in Easy 27-0 Win Over DU". Casper Tribune-Herald & Star. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Howard Graves (October 7, 1956). "Cowpokes Hold Off Aggies; Win 20-12". Casper Tribune-Herald & Star. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Joe McGowan (October 14, 1956). "Pokes Pick Off Lobos 20-13; 'Lack Luster'". Casper Tribune-Herald & Star. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Joe McGowan (October 21, 1956). "Pokes Drop Utah 30-20; Nearer Title". Casper Tribune-Herald & Star. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Joe McGowan Jr. (October 29, 1956). "Aroused 'Pokes Take Kansas State, 27-15". Casper Tribune-Herald & Star. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Cowboys Romp Over Utah Aggies, 21-0". The Ogden Standard-Examiner. November 4, 1956. p. 2B – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Montana Bows To Wyoming By 34-13 Score". The Billings Gazette. November 11, 1956. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Battling Cougars Scare Punchers Before Losing 7-6". The Sunday Herald (Provo, UT). November 18, 1956. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.