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 NCAA University Division 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 | |
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Skyline champion | |
Conference | Skyline Conference |
Ranking | |
Coaches | No. 16 |
Record | 10–0 (7–0 Skyline) |
Head coach |
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Captain | Ove Stapleton |
Home stadium | War Memorial Stadium |
Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 16 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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]
Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source | ||
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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] | ||
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