1956 Western Michigan Broncos football team

The 1956 Western Michigan Broncos football team represented Western Michigan College (renamed Western Michigan University in 1957) in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 1956 NCAA College Division football season. In their fourth and final season under head coach Jack Petoskey, the Broncos compiled a 2–7 record (1–4 against MAC opponents), finished in sixth place in the MAC, and were outscored by their opponents, 168 to 114.^[1][2] The team played its home games at Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan.^[3]

1956 Western Michigan Broncos football
Conference	Mid-American Conference
Record	2–7 (1–4 MAC)
Head coach	Jack Petoskey (4th season)
MVP	John Berryman
Captain	Bob Soderman
Home stadium	Waldo Stadium
Seasons ← 1955 1957 →

1956 Mid-American Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
Bowling Green $	5	–	0	–	1			8	–	0	–	1
Miami (OH)	4	–	0	–	1			7	–	1	–	1
Kent State	4	–	2	–	0			7	–	2	–	0
Marshall	2	–	4	–	0			3	–	6	–	0
Ohio	2	–	4	–	0			2	–	7	–	0
Western Michigan	1	–	4	–	0			2	–	7	–	0
Toledo	1	–	5	–	0			1	–	7	–	1
$ – Conference champion

Center Bob Soderman was the team captain.^[4] End and tackle John Berryman received the team's most outstanding player award.^[5]

Jack Petoskey resigned as the team's head coach on December 13, 1956; he compiled a record of 8–25–2 in four years at Western Michigan.^[6]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 22	Central Michigan	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI (rivalry)	L 7–14	13,000	^[7]
September 29	Bowling Green	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	L 13–27
October 6	at Marshall	Fairfield Stadium Huntington, WV	L 0–13
October 13	Toledo	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	W 26–15		^[8]
October 20	at Washington University*	Francis Field St. Louis, MO	L 7–13	2,000	^[9]
October 27	at Great Lakes Navy*	Great Lakes, IL	L 6–13		^[10]
November 3	Ohio	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	L 0–27		^[11]
November 10	Western Reserve	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	W 42–19		^[12]
November 17	Kent State	Memorial Stadium Kent, OH	L 13–27		^[13]
*Non-conference game

^[14]

References

1. "Football Records: Annual Results". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
2. "Football Records: Year-By-Year Results - 1950 - 59". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
3. . Western Michigan University. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
4. "Football History: All-Time Captains". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
5. "Football History: Team Awards". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
6. "WMC Grid Coach Quits: Petoskey Resigns With Losing Record". The News-Palladium (Benton Harbor, Mich.). December 13, 1956. p. 1.
7. "Central Michigan Slips Past Western, 14 to 7". Lansing State Journal. September 23, 1956. p. 53 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Toledo Is Beaten By Broncos, 26-15". The Cincinnati Enquirer. October 14, 1956. p. 73 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Bears Come From Behind, Beat Western Michigan". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. October 21, 1956. p. 1F – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Broncos Bow, 13 to 6, To Great Lakes". Battle Creek Enquirer. October 28, 1956. p. 4-2 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Western Michigan Upended, 27 to 0". Battle Creek Enquirer. November 4, 1956. p. 4-1 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Western Michigan Clubs Western Reserve, 42-19". Lansing State Journal. November 11, 1956. p. 69 – via Newspapers.com.
13. "Kent State Triumphs, 27-13, Over Western Michigan Club". Cincinnati Enquirer. November 18, 1956. p. 82 – via Newspapers.com.
14. "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 18, 2022.