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1956 Clemson Tigers football team

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1956 Clemson Tigers football
ACC champion
Orange Bowl, L 21–27 to Colorado
ConferenceAtlantic Coast Conference
Ranking
APNo. 19
Record7–2–2 (4–0–1 ACC)
Head coach
CaptainCharlie Bussey
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
Seasons
← 1955
1957 →
1956 Atlantic Coast Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 19 Clemson $ 4 0 1 7 2 2
Duke 4 1 0 5 4 1
South Carolina 5 2 0 7 3 0
Maryland 2 2 1 2 7 1
North Carolina 2 3 1 2 7 1
NC State 2 4 0 3 7 0
Wake Forest 1 5 1 2 5 3
Virginia 1 4 0 3 7 0
Rankings from AP Poll[1]

The 1956 Clemson Tigers football team was an American football team that represented Clemson College in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) during the 1956 college football season. In its 17th season under head coach Frank Howard, the team compiled a 7–2–2 record (4–0–1 against conference opponents), won the ACC championship, was ranked No. 19 in the final AP Poll, lost to Colorado in the 1957 Orange Bowl, and outscored all opponents by a total of 167 to 101.[2][3] The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina.

Quarterback Charlie Bussey was the team captain. The team's statistical leaders included Bussey with 330 passing yards and left halfback Joel Wells with 803 rushing yards and 48 points (8 touchdowns).[4]

Four Clemson players were selected by the Associated Press or the United Press to the first or second teams of the 1956 All-Atlantic Coast Conference football team: Joel Wells (AP-1, UP-1); Charlie Bussey (AP-1, UP-2); guard John Grdijan (AP-2, UP-1); and tackle Dick Maraza (AP-2).[5][6] Four Clemson players were also named to the 1956 All-South Carolina football team: Joel Wells, guards John Grdijan and Earle Greene, and tackle Billy Hudson.[7]

Schedule

[edit]
DateTimeOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 228:00 p.m.Presbyterian*W 27–718,000[8]
September 292:30 p.m.at No. 19 Florida*T 20–2028,000[9]
October 68:00 p.m.at NC StateW 13–715,000[10]
October 132:00 p.m.at Wake ForestW 17–013,000[11]
October 252:00 p.m.at South CarolinaNo. 20W 7–035,000[12]
November 32:00 p.m. No. 16 VPI*daggerNo. 13
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Clemson, SC
W 21–623,000[13][14]
November 102:00 p.m.at MarylandNo. 11T 6–618,000[15]
November 168:15 p.m.at No. 8 Miami (FL)*No. 13L 0–2147,603[16]
November 242:00 p.m.Virginia
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Clemson, SC
W 7–016,000[17]
December 12:00 p.m.Furman*
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Clemson, SC
W 28–7[18]
January 1, 1957vs. No. 20 Colorado*No. 19
L 21–2772,552[19]
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

[20]

After the season

[edit]

The 1957 NFL Draft was held on November 26, 1956. The following Tigers were selected.[21]

Round Pick Player Position NFL club
2 18 Joel Wells Back Green Bay Packers
3 34 Bill Hudson Defensive tackle Chicago Cardinals

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "1956 Atlantic Coast Conference Year Summary". sports-reference.com. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  2. ^ "2016 Media Guide" (PDF). clemsontigers.com. Clemson Athletics. 2016. pp. 200–208. Retrieved June 23, 2017.
  3. ^ "1956 Clemson Tigers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 2, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Clemson 1960 Football Media Guide". Clemson University. 1960. pp. 40–42. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  5. ^ "Bill Barnes Tops All-ACC Team Voting". The Bee: Danville, Virginia. November 28, 1956. p. 3.
  6. ^ Alvin B. Webb Jr.date=December 6, 1956. "Barnes Leads All-ACC Team; Duke Places Three On Squad". Statesville Record and Landmark. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ 1960 Clemson Football Media Guide, p. 23.
  8. ^ "Clemson whips PC in opener, 27 to 7". Florence Morning News. September 23, 1956. Retrieved January 6, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Bussey leads Tigers to tie with Florida". Asheville Citizen-Times. September 30, 1956. Retrieved October 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Clemson romps from behind to defeat N.C. State, 13–7". The Rocky Mount Telegram. October 7, 1956. Retrieved January 6, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Clemson downs Deacons 17–0". Greensboro Daily News. October 14, 1956. Retrieved January 6, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Jim Anderson (October 26, 1956). "Tigers Repel Late Drive To Whip Gamecocks, 7-0". The Greenville News. pp. 1, 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Clemson - VPI Football Game Program". Clemson University. November 3, 1956. p. 29. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
  14. ^ "Bengals Rout Virginia Tech In Homecoming Game, 21-6". The Tiger. Clemson University. November 8, 1956. p. 5. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
  15. ^ "Terps battle Clemson to 6–6 deadlock". Winston-Salem Journal & Sentinel. November 11, 1956. Retrieved January 6, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Hurricanes get 21–0 victory over Tigers". The State. November 17, 1956. Retrieved January 6, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Clemson trips Virginia 7–0; Eyes Orange bid". St. Petersburg Times. November 25, 1956. Retrieved January 6, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Clemson uses Furman as bowl bait in 28–7 romp". Daily Press. December 2, 1956. Retrieved September 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Buffs falter, fight back". The Kansas City Times. January 2, 1957. Retrieved January 6, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Clemson Football Media Guide - 1956". Clemson University. 1956. p. 1. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  21. ^ "1957 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 5, 2021.