The 1956 Michigan Wolverines football team was an American football team that represented the University of Michigan in the 1956 Big Ten Conference football season. In their ninth year under head coach was Bennie Oosterbaan, the Wolverines compiled a 7-2 record (5-2 Big Ten), outscored opponents 233 to 123, and finished the season in second place in the Big Ten Conference and ranked #7 in the final 1956 AP poll. The team played five of its nine games against ranked opponents, losing to #2 Michigan State by a 9-0 score and #15 Minnesota by a 20-7 score, but defeating #15 Army by a 48-14 score, #7 Iowa by a 17-14 score, and #12 Ohio State by a 19-0 score.
End Ron Kramer was selected as a consensus All-American and a first team All-Big Ten player. Guard Dick Hill was selected as the team's Most Valuable Player and was named by the Associated Press (AP) as a first-team All-Big Ten player. Halfback Terry Barr averaged 6.1 yards per carry rushing and 19.7 yards per punt return and was selected as a first-team All-Big Ten player by the United Press (UP).
On September 29, 1956, Michigan opened its season with a 42–13 victory over UCLA. The Bruins were ranked #4 in the final AP Poll in 1955, but lost a number of players due to sanctions imposed by the Pacific Coast Conference. Michigan rushed for 234 yards against UCLA, including 67 yards by junior halfback Jim Pace. In the air, Michigan completed four of nine passes for 103 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown pass from Bob Ptacek to Jim Van Pelt and a 70-yard touchdown pass from Terry Barr to Ron Kramer. Barr also set up a touchdown with a 51-yard punt return to the UCLA 15-yard line in the first quarter. Halfback John Herrnstein scored two touchdowns for Michigan on runs of six and four yards. Ed Shannon and Jim Dickey also scored touchdowns for Michigan. Kramer and Maddock each kicked three extra points for Michigan.
The following players won varsity letters for their participation on the 1956 Michigan football team. Players who started at least half of Michigan's games are shown in bold.
Terry Barr, halfback, senior, Grand Rapids, Michigan - started 7 games at right halfbackThomas E. Berger, guard, junior, Detroit, MichiganAlex Bochnowski, guard, junior, Munster, IndianaDavid C. Bowers, end, junior, Traverse City, MichiganCharles Books, end, senior, Marshall, MichiganJames Byers, fullback, sophomore, Evansville, IndianaClement Corona, guard, senior, Berwick, PennsylvaniaJames H. Davies, tackle, senior, Muskegon Heights, MichiganJames A. Dickey, fullback, junior, Miamisburg, OhioLawrence Faul, guard, junior, River Forest, IllinoisJohn Greenwood, halfback, senior, Bay City, MichiganJohn Herrnstein, fullback, sophomore, Chillicothe, Ohio - started 9 games at fullbackRichard B. Heynen, tackle, senior, Grand Rapids, MichiganDick Hill, guard, sophomore, Gary, Indiana - started 9 games at left guardWalter N. Johnson, end, sophomore, Dearborn, MichiganRon Kramer, end, senior, East Detroit, Michigan - started 9 games at left endJack Lousma, quarterback, sophomore, Ann Arbor, MichiganJim Maddock, quarterback, senior, Chicago, IllinoisTom Maentz, end, senior, Holland, Michigan - started 9 games at right endJerry Marciniak, fullback, sophomore, Chicago, IllinoisMarvin R. Nyren, guard, junior, Des Plaines, Illinois - started 9 games at right guardJames B. Orwig, tackle, senior, Toledo, Ohio - started 9 games at left tackleJim Pace, halfback, junior, Little Rock, Arkansas - started 7 games at left halfbackGary Prahst, end, sophomore, Berea, OhioBob Ptacek, halfback, sophomore, Cleveland, Ohio - started 2 games at left halfbackDavid F. Rentschler, halfback, junior, Detroit, MichiganMike Rotunno, center, senior, Canton, Ohio - started 8 games at centerEdward J. Shannon, running back, senior, River Forest, Illinois - started 2 games at right halfbackMichael Shatusky, halfback, senior, Menominee, MichiganLionel Albert Sigman, tackle, senior, Ann Arbor, Michigan - started 9 games at right tackleEugene Sisinyak, fullback, sophomore, Monroe, MichiganWillie Smith, tackle, sophomore, Little Rock, Arkansas - tackleEugene "Gene" Snider, center, junior, Hamtramck, Michigan - started 1 game at centerJohn Spidel, quarterback, sophomore, Greenville, OhioJim Van Pelt, quarterback, junior, Evanston, Illinois - started 9 games at quarterbackRaymond L. Wine, center, sophomore, Port Huron, MichiganAwards and honors
Captain: Tom MaentzAll-Americans: Ron KramerAll-Conference: Ron Kramer, Dick Hill, Terry BarrMost Valuable Player: Dick HillMeyer Morton Award: John HerrnsteinJohn Maulbetsch Award: John HerrnsteinHead coach: Bennie OosterbaanAssistant coaches:Backfield: Don RobinsonLine: Jack Blott, assisted by Don DufekEnds: Matt PatanelliFreshmen: Wally WeberScout: Pete KinyonOthers: Bob Hollway, Cliff KeenTrainer: Jim HuntManager: Dave Lundquist