1956 Montana State Bobcats football team

The 1956 Montana State Bobcats football team was an American football team that represented Montana State University in the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) during the 1956 college football season. In its first season under head coach Tony Storti, the team compiled a 9–0–1, won the RMC championship, tied with Saint Joseph's (IN) in the Aluminum Bowl, and was recognized as the national champion in the 1956 NAIA football season.[1]

1956 Montana State Bobcats football
NAIA national co-champion
RMC champion
Aluminum Bowl, T 0–0 vs. Saint Joseph's (IN)
ConferenceRocky Mountain Conference
1956 record9–0–1 (5–0 RMC)
Head coachTony Storti (1st season)
Home stadiumGatton Field
1956 Rocky Mountain Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L T  W L T
Montana State $^ 5 –0 –0  9 –0 –1
Idaho State 3 –2 –0  6 –3 –0
Colorado State–Greeley 3 –2 –0  5 –4 –0
Western State 2 –3 –0  4 –6 –0
Colorado Mines 1 –4 –0  3 –6 –0
Colorado College 1 –4 –0  2 –7 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NAIA playoff participant

The team excelled on both offense and defense. On offense, the 1956 Bobcats averaged 323.1 rushing yards per game, a total that remains a program record.[2] On defense, the team gave up 9.1 points per game, a total that was the lowest in program history until the 1976 team limited opponents to 8.1 points per game.[3]

Tony Storti's assistant coaches were Joe Berry (line), Herb Agocs (ends), and Gene Bourdet (backs).[4]

Don Edwards and Jim Posewitz were co-winners of the team's most valuable player award.[5]

Tackle Ron Warzeka was selected as a second-team player on the Little All-America team.[6] He went on to play for the Oakland Raiders in the American Football League.

Several Bobcats were named to the All-Rocky Mountain Conference football teams selected by the Associated Press (AP) and United Press International (UPI). They are: Warzeka (AP-1; UPI-1); R Ed Ritt (AP-1; UPI-1); fullback Don Edwards (AP-1; UPI-1); center Sonny Holland (AP-1; UPI-1); quarterback Dave Alt (AP-1; UPI-1); end Jim Posewitz (UPI-2); end Bob Black (UPI-HM); guard Herb Roberts (UPI-HM); guard Charley Jackson (UPI-HM); and halfback George Marinkovich (UPI-HM).[7]

Schedule
DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 15South Dakota State*Great Falls, MTW 33–14
September 22at North Dakota*Grand Forks, NDW 33–13
September 29at Colorado College
W 30–14
October 6Colorado Mines
  • Gatton Field
  • Bozeman, MT
W 62–0[8]
October 12at Colorado State–GreeleyGreeley, COW 13–0[9]
October 20Idaho State
  • Gatton Field
  • Bozeman, MT
W 26–6[10]
October 27Western State (CO)
  • Gatton Field
  • Bozeman, MT
W 28–132,000[11]
November 3at Montana*
W 33–14[12]
November 17Whitworth*
  • Gatton Field
  • Bozeman, MT
W 54–04,000[13]
December 22vs. Saint Joseph's (IN)*
T 0–08,000[14]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
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References
  1. "Bobcat Record Book" (PDF). Montana State University. 2018. p. 58. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  2. Bobcat Record Book, p. 30.
  3. Bobcat Record Book, p. 38.
  4. Bobcat Record Book, p. 99.
  5. Bobcat Record Book, p. 72.
  6. Bobcat Record Book, p. 65.
  7. Bobcat Record Book, p. 70.
  8. "Bobcats Use 4 Teams Routing Colomines: Boost Record Running Up a 62-0 Score". Montana Standard. October 7, 1956. p. 14B – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Big M-State Club Bops Bears, 13-0". Greeley Daily Tribune. October 13, 1956. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Bobcats Whip Idaho State By 26-6 Score". The Missoulian. October 21, 1956. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "Bobcats Get RMC Crown by Beating Western State 28-13". Great Falls Tribune. October 28, 1956. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "Unbeaten Bobcats Score 33-14 Win Over Grizzlies". The Billings Gazette. November 4, 1956. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. "Bobcats Batter Whitworth Pirates 54 to 0: Montana State Hot After Aluminum Bid". The Independent Record (Helena, Montana). November 18, 1956. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. "Montana State and St. Joseph's Fight to Tie". The Independent Record (Helena, MT). December 23, 1956. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
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