Thursday, November 22
Johnson City, Tenn.
TBA
University of Memphis
32
at
12
ETSU
Tigers Claim Burley Bowl Title
Nov 22, 1956 | Football
Memphis scores 26 unanswered second-half points
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — In November of 1956, Memphis State College received its second bowl bid in school history, but this time University officials accepted the invitation and the team traveled to East Tennessee to participate in its first post-season event.
In 1938, the Tigers received an invitation to play in the Prune Bowl in California and asked bowl officials for a financial guarantee to help cover the cost of transporting the squad across country. When the guarantee did not come through, Memphis opted to stay home.
In November of 1956, the Memphis squad finished the season with a record of 4-4-1 under head coach Ralph Hatley. Andy Nelson and Cotton Clifford served as team captains that year and helped Memphis to victories in two of the final three games of the season.
During that three-week span, the Tigers had back-to-back shutouts, defeating Western Kentucky 42-0 and Arkansas State 34-0.
November 22 was a cold and blustery day in Johnson City, Tenn. Not suited for football or any other outdoor event, the day was highlighted by a light snow fall and spitting rain and sleet.
East Tennessee State College tallied the game's first points on a 14-yard pass from quarterback Howard Tippett to halfback Bob Lindsey during the first period. The point after failed, as did most that day, and the Buccaneers led 6-0.
The Tigers answered the ETSC score before the first quarter ended. Bob Schmidt blasted into the end zone from two yards out and following the missed PAT by Memphis, the score was tied 6-6.
Neither team could do much to defeat the weather the remainder of the first half, although the Tigers penetrated several times into Buccaneer territory in the second quarter. Memphis even moved down to the East Tennessee State 1-yard line before a fumble halted the drive. The first half ended with the score knotted at 6-all.
It was not until the second half that the Tigers got their offense going. After being held to 6-all in the first half by a battling bunch of Buccaneers, Memphis shook off the effects of the biting cold weather conditions and took charge of the Burley Bowl – which was witnessed by 700 fans on a frigid Thanksgiving afternoon – in the third quarter. The Tigers punched across three touchdowns in that third period to take control of the contest en route to the program's first ever postseason bowl victory.
The first time Memphis received the ball in the third quarter, fullback Bobby Brooks sprinted right up the middle, veered to the left and went 45 yards for a touchdown. And before that decisive period ended, the Tigers also scored on a one-yard plunge by Eddie Gebara and a 64-yard screen pass from Bubba Leonard to Gebara.
Andy Nelson took a pitchout four yards for the final Memphis touchdown in the opening minutes of the fourth period. Leonard converted the PATs after the third and fourth touchdowns.
East Tennessee's last touchdown came midway in the fourth period when quarterback Joe Dixon ran in from one yard out.
The Tigers ended the season with a 5-4-1 record, while East Tennessee State College dropped to 4-5 on the season.
In 1938, the Tigers received an invitation to play in the Prune Bowl in California and asked bowl officials for a financial guarantee to help cover the cost of transporting the squad across country. When the guarantee did not come through, Memphis opted to stay home.
In November of 1956, the Memphis squad finished the season with a record of 4-4-1 under head coach Ralph Hatley. Andy Nelson and Cotton Clifford served as team captains that year and helped Memphis to victories in two of the final three games of the season.
During that three-week span, the Tigers had back-to-back shutouts, defeating Western Kentucky 42-0 and Arkansas State 34-0.
November 22 was a cold and blustery day in Johnson City, Tenn. Not suited for football or any other outdoor event, the day was highlighted by a light snow fall and spitting rain and sleet.
East Tennessee State College tallied the game's first points on a 14-yard pass from quarterback Howard Tippett to halfback Bob Lindsey during the first period. The point after failed, as did most that day, and the Buccaneers led 6-0.
The Tigers answered the ETSC score before the first quarter ended. Bob Schmidt blasted into the end zone from two yards out and following the missed PAT by Memphis, the score was tied 6-6.
Neither team could do much to defeat the weather the remainder of the first half, although the Tigers penetrated several times into Buccaneer territory in the second quarter. Memphis even moved down to the East Tennessee State 1-yard line before a fumble halted the drive. The first half ended with the score knotted at 6-all.
It was not until the second half that the Tigers got their offense going. After being held to 6-all in the first half by a battling bunch of Buccaneers, Memphis shook off the effects of the biting cold weather conditions and took charge of the Burley Bowl – which was witnessed by 700 fans on a frigid Thanksgiving afternoon – in the third quarter. The Tigers punched across three touchdowns in that third period to take control of the contest en route to the program's first ever postseason bowl victory.
The first time Memphis received the ball in the third quarter, fullback Bobby Brooks sprinted right up the middle, veered to the left and went 45 yards for a touchdown. And before that decisive period ended, the Tigers also scored on a one-yard plunge by Eddie Gebara and a 64-yard screen pass from Bubba Leonard to Gebara.
Andy Nelson took a pitchout four yards for the final Memphis touchdown in the opening minutes of the fourth period. Leonard converted the PATs after the third and fourth touchdowns.
East Tennessee's last touchdown came midway in the fourth period when quarterback Joe Dixon ran in from one yard out.
The Tigers ended the season with a 5-4-1 record, while East Tennessee State College dropped to 4-5 on the season.
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