1956 Columbia Lions football team

The 1956 Columbia Lions football team was an American football team that represented Columbia University as a member of the Ivy League during the 1956 NCAA University Division football season.

1956 Columbia Lions football
Conference	Ivy League
1956 record	3–6 (2–5 Ivy)
Head coach	Lou Little (27th season)
Captain	Arthur Wilson
Home stadium	Baker Field

1956 Ivy League football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
Yale $	7	–	0	–	0			8	–	1	–	0
Princeton	5	–	2	–	0			7	–	2	–	0
Dartmouth	4	–	3	–	0			5	–	4	–	0
Penn	4	–	3	–	0			4	–	5	–	0
Brown	3	–	4	–	0			5	–	4	–	0
Columbia	2	–	5	–	0			3	–	6	–	0
Harvard	2	–	5	–	0			2	–	6	–	0
Cornell	1	–	6	–	0			1	–	8	–	0
$ – Conference champion

In their 27th and final season under head coach Lou Little, the Lions compiled a 3–6 record and were outscored 237 to 94. Arthur Wilson was the team captain.[1]

The Lions' 2–5 conference record tied for sixth place in the Ivy League.[2] This was the first season of formal play for the league, although the Lions' previous independent schedules, dating back to the 19th century, often featured future Ivy opponents. Six of the seven Ivy matchups on Columbia's 1956 schedule had been present on the 1955 slate, as well (as had the two remaining non-Ivy fixtures, Army and Rutgers).

Columbia played its home games at Baker Field in Upper Manhattan, in New York City.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 29	Brown	Baker Field New York, NY	L 0–20	12,000	[3]
October 6	at Princeton	Palmer Stadium Princeton, NJ	L 0–39	16,000	[4]
October 13	Yale	Baker Field New York, NY	L 19–33	22,000	[5]
October 20	Harvard	Baker Field New York, NY	W 26–20	15,000	[6]
October 27	Army*	Baker Field New York, NY	L 0–60	20,000	[7]
November 3	Cornell	Baker Field New York, NY (rivalry)	W 25–19	12,000	[8]
November 10	at Dartmouth	Memorial Field Hanover, NH	L 0–14	9,000	[9]
November 17	at Penn	Franklin Field Philadelphia, PA	L 6–20		[10]
November 24	at Rutgers*	Rutgers Stadium Piscataway, NJ	W 18–12	9,000	[11]
*Non-conference game Homecoming

References

1. "Columbia Football 2019 Record Book". New York, N.Y.: Columbia University. p. 215. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
2. "Year-by-Year History". Ivy League Football Media Guide (PDF). Princeton, N.J.: Ivy League. 2017. p. 22. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
3. Briordy, William J. (September 30, 1956). "Bruins Register in Ivy Opener, 20-0". The New York Times. New York, N.Y. p. S1.
4. Strauss, Michael (October 7, 1956). "Benham of Columbia Hurt as Tigers Rout Lions, 39-0". The New York Times. New York, N.Y. p. S1.
5. Effrat, Louis (October 14, 1956). "Elis Top Columbia; Yale Pressed in 33-19 Victory as Benham Sparks Lions". The New York Times. New York, N.Y. p. S1.
6. McGowen, Roscoe (October 21, 1956). "Columbia Tops Harvard, 26-20; Benham Is Star". The New York Times. New York, N.Y. p. S1.
7. Effrat, Louis (October 28, 1956). "Cadets Conquer Columbia in Finale of Series, 60-0". The New York Times. New York, N.Y. p. S1.
8. Danzig, Allison (November 4, 1956). "Lions Beat Cornell, 25-19, on Benham Aerials, Runs". The New York Times. New York, N.Y. p. S1.
9. Werden, Lincoln A. (November 11, 1956). "Dartmouth Beats Columbia, 14 to 0". The New York Times. New York, N.Y. p. S1.
10. McGowen, Roscoe (November 18, 1956). "Riepl of Quakers Excels in 20-6 Victory over Lions". The New York Times. New York, N.Y. p. S1.
11. Werden, Lincoln A. (November 25, 1956). "Lions Down Rutgers, 18-12, on Benham's Scoring Pass". The New York Times. New York, N.Y. p. S1.