The 1956 Central Michigan Chippewas football team was an

American football American football, referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada and also known as gridiron football, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular American football field, field with goalposts at e ...

team that represented Central Michigan College, renamed

Central Michigan University Central Michigan University (CMU) is a Public university, public research university in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, United States. It was established in 1892 as a private normal school and became a state institution in 1895. CMU is one of the eigh ...

in 1959, in the

Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference The Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) was a college athletic conference that existed from 1908 to 1970 in the United States. At one time the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, or IIAC, was a robust league that cla ...

during the

1956 college football season The 1956 college football season was the 88th season of intercollegiate football in the United States. It finished with five teams having claim to a national championship: * Oklahoma compiled a 10–0 record in their 10th season under Bud Wilk ...

. In their sixth season under head coach Kenneth Kelly, the Chippewas compiled a perfect 9–0 record, won the

(IIAC) championship for the fifth consecutive year, and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 313 to 92. The team set multiple school records that still stand, including allowing 797 rushing yards (88.5 yards per game) and allowing only 1,292 net yards.2015 Media Guide, p. 85. The 1956 season was part of the longest winning streak in school history, 15 games running from October 8, 1955, to November 10, 1956. The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Herb Kipke with 490 passing yards (36 of 68 passing) and halfback

Jim Podoley James Podoley (September 16, 1933 – January 24, 2010) was an American professional football halfback and end for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL). Born in Mount Morris, Michigan, he played college football at Cen ...

with 655 rushing yards (100 carries) and 211 receiving yards (11 receptions). Podoley set three Central Michigan records in 1956 that still stand. The first and second are his six touchdowns and 36 points scored against Eastern Illinois in his final college game on November 10, 1956, and the third is his season average of 29.0 yards per punt return. In his final home game on November 3, 1956, Podoley ran for a touchdown and passed for another in a 19-0 victory over

Eastern Michigan Eastern Michigan University (EMU, EMich, Eastern Michigan or simply Eastern) is a public research university in Ypsilanti, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1849 as the Michigan State Normal School, it was the fourth normal school (teachers' ...

. Podoley played for Central Michigan from 1953 to 1956, and his jersey (No. 62) is the only number retired in Central Michigan football history. He was inducted into the Central Michigan Athletic Hall of Fame in 1984. Tackle Oliver Porter received the team's most valuable player award. Five Central Michigan players (Kipke, Podoley, end Tim Burdon, fullback Bob McNamara, and tackle Oliver Porter) received first-team honors on the All-IIAC team.

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References

Central Michigan Central Michigan, also called Mid Michigan, is a region in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, Lower Peninsula of the United States, U.S. state of Michigan. As its name implies, it is the middle area of the Lower Peninsula. Lower Michigan is said t ...

Central Michigan Chippewas football seasons College football undefeated seasons Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football champion seasons

Central Michigan Chippewas football The Central Michigan Chippewas are a college football program in Division I FBS, representing Central Michigan University (CMU). CMU has the 24th highest overall winning percentage of programs playing in NCAA Division I. The Chippewas have pla ...

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