1956 Saint Joseph's Pumas football team

The 1956 Saint Joseph's Pumas football team was an American football team that represented Saint Joseph's College of Rensselaer, Indiana as a member of the Indiana Collegiate Conference (ICC) during the 1956 NAIA football season. In their third year under head coach Bob Jauron, the Pumas compiled an 8–1–1 record (6–0 against ICC opponents), won the ICC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 360 to 32. Saint Joseph's tied with Montana State in the 1956 Aluminum Bowl. The two teams were declared co-winners of the 1956 NAIA Football National Championship.

1956 Saint Joseph's Pumas football
NAIA national co-champion
ICC champion
ConferenceIndiana Collegiate Conference
Record8–1–1 (6–0 ICC)
Head coach
1956 Indiana Collegiate Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Saint Joseph's (IN) $^ 6 –0 –08 –1 –1
Butler 5 –1 –06 –2 –0
Valparaiso 4 –2 –06 –4 –0
Evansville 3 –3 –04 –5 –0
Ball State 2 –4 –04 –4 –0
DePauw 1 –5 –01 –6 –1
Indiana State 0 –6 –02 –6 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NAIA playoff participant

Season overview

Saint Joseph's lost the opening game of the season to Xavier, as Xavier score the winning touchdown in the game's closing seconds.[1] The Pumas then won the remaining eight games of the regular season, including six shut outs, and scoring 59 points against Indiana State,[2] 66 against Ball State,[3] and 71 against Illinois-Navy Pier.[4]

During the regular season, the Pumas broke 15 ICC records, including the season records for most points scored, most yards gained, and fewest points and yards allowed.[5] Defensively, the team's average of 109 yards of total offense allowed per game ranked best among all small colleges.[6]

The Pumas were invited to play in the NAIA national championship game, then known as the Aluminum Bowl.[6] They faced Montana State in Little Rock, Arkansas. The game ended in a scoreless tie, and the teams thus shared the 1956 NAIA national championship.[7]

Saint Joseph's outscored opponents by a total of 360 to 32 on the season.[8] The Pumas shut out seven of their ten opponents and limited all opponents to an average of 3.2 points per game.

Awards and honors

Junior quarterback Ralph Tite was selected by the conference coaches as the most outstanding back in the ICC.[9][10]

Five Saint Joseph's players were named to the first team on the All-ICC team selected by the conference's seven coaches: quarterback Ralph Tite (second consecutive year); halfback Ray Banary; end George Sherwood (unanimous choice); tackle Ken Bates; and center Jerry Selinger (unanimous choice).[11]

Jerry Selinger later played 13 seasons in the Canadian Football League, winning three Grey Cup championships.

Schedule
DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 16at Xavier*
L 8–13[1]
September 23Great Lakes Navy*Rensselaer, INW 29–0[12]
September 29DePauwRensselaer, INW 32–0[13]
October 6at ValparaisoValparaiso, INW 35–0[14]
October 13Indiana StateRensselaer, INW 59–13[2]
October 20at Butler
W 31–6[15]
October 27EvansvilleRensselaer, INW 29–0[16]
November 3at Ball State
W 66–0[3]
November 10at Illinois-Navy Pier*
W 71–0[4]
December 22vs. Montana State*
T 0–08,000[7]
  • *Non-conference game

References
  1. Bill Ford (September 17, 1956). "Xavier Rallies, Edges St. Joseph's, 13-8: Musketeers Are Behind, 8-7 When Bertoia Hits Junker With Payoff TD Pass In Waning Seconds". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. 43 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. Tom Reck (October 14, 1956). "Sycamores Bow To St. Joseph's". The Terre Haute Tribune-Star. p. 52 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. Bob Barnet (November 4, 1956). "St. Joe Bounces Cards -- No Surprise; Likewise 66-0 Score, Some Things Considered". The Star Press. pp. Sports 1–2 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Pumas Blast Navy Pier 71-0 in Final". The Hammond Times. November 11, 1956. p. D4 – via Newspapers.coma.
  5. "St. Joseph's Changes 22 ICC Grid Records". The Indianapolis Star. November 18, 1956. p. 55 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "St. Joe Will Play In Aluminum Bowl". Evansville Press. November 24, 1956. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Montana State and St. Joseph's Fight to Tie". The Independent Record (Helena, MT). December 23, 1956. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "1956 - Saint Joseph's (IN)". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on September 15, 2015. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
  9. "Ralph Tite To Lead Pumas In Aluminum Bowl Grid Tilt". The Tipton Daily Tribune. December 17, 1956. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Tite Named Outstanding ICC Back". The Star Press. November 25, 1956. p. 36 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "St. Joe Lands Five on ICC Grid Team". The Indianapolis News. November 21, 1956. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "St. Joseph Pumas Beat Great Lakes Eleven, 29-0". Journal and Courier. September 24, 1956. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. "St. Joe Dumps DePauw, 32-0". The Evansville Courier and Press. September 30, 1956. p. 7C – via Newspapers.com.
  14. "St. Joseph's Rips Valparaiso, 35-0". Evansville Press. October 7, 1956. p. 5C – via Newspapers.com.
  15. Max Stultz (October 21, 1956). "Pumas Turn On Power, Overwhelm Butler, 31-6". The Indianapolis Star. p. II-5 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. "Powerful Pumas Trump Aces, 29-0". Evansville Press. October 28, 1956. p. C1 – via Newspapers.com.
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