Throwback Thursday - 1956

The 1956 season opened with local rival Delaware. The Blue Hens were coming off an 8-1 season in which they defeated Lafayette, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rutgers, Temple and Bucknell. However, they had not faced West Chester since laying a 40-6 whipping on the Golden Rams in 1954. This year in Newark, although it was not a wide margin, West Chester beat the Blue Hens in heartbreaking fashion with a late field goal, 10-7.

Notice a future West Chester football coach and borough mayor
back row, fourth from left

The Golden Rams then edged King's 21-19. Then in their first ever meeting, West Chester lost 33-7 to New Haven State Teachers College, which became Southern Connecticut State three years later. The Golden Rams then ran the table, knocking off Drexel, California (in their first ever meeting), East Stroudsburg, Millersville and Bloomsburg. With the 7-1 record, Dr. W. Glenn Killinger not only extended his streak of non-losing seasons as head coach at West Chester, he also won the conference crown by virtue of the Saylor Points System.

Football boosters with the live ram mascot

On the all-conference team, there was no first team and second team, no east and west. Just eleven players from the entire league. West Chester team captain and left guard Joe Chilbert and Golden Ram left tackle Lyndon Sorber each claimed spots. They both are now in the Killinger Football Hall of Fame.

#10 Jack Wendland waits to make a tackle while #65 Joe Chilbert pursues