Wikipedia

1961 Arizona Wildcats football team

The 1961 Arizona Wildcats football team was an American football team that represented the University of Arizona as an independent during the 1961 college football season. In their third season under head coach Jim LaRue, the Wildcats compiled an 8–1–1 record, were ranked No. 17 in the final AP Poll, and outscored their opponents by a total of 288 to 131.[1][2]

1961 Arizona Wildcats football
ConferenceIndependent
Ranking
APNo. 17
Record8–1–1
Head coach
MVPEddie Wilson
CaptainBob Garis, Eddie Wilson
Home stadiumArizona Stadium
Seasons
← 1960
1962 →
1961 Western college football independents records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 17 Arizona   –   8 – 1 – 1
Westminster (UT)   –   7 – 1 – 1
La Verne   –   7 – 2 – 0
Idaho State   –   5 – 2 – 1
San Francisco   –   4 – 2 – 0
Cal Poly Pomona   –   6 – 3 – 0
San Jose State   –   6 – 4 – 0
Eastern New Mexico   –   6 – 4 – 0
Los Angeles Pacific   –   5 – 3 – 0
Montana State   –   4 – 3 – 1
Pacific (CA)   –   5 – 4 – 0
Azusa   –   4 – 3 – 0
Oregon State   –   5 – 5 – 0
Santa Clara   –   3 – 3 – 0
Oregon   –   4 – 6 – 0
Claremont   –   3 – 6 – 0
Air Force   –   3 – 7 – 0
Washington State   –   3 – 7 – 0
Cal Western   –   3 – 7 – 0
Idaho   –   2 – 7 – 0
San Diego   –   2 – 8 – 0
Southern California College   –   1 – 5 – 0
UC Riverside   –   1 – 7 – 0
Pepperdine   –   1 – 9 – 0

The team was led on offense by quarterback Eddie Wilson and halfback Bobby Thompson. Wilson ranked third nationally in passing (1,294 yards) and fifth in total offense (1,377 yards). Thompson ranked seventh nationally in scoring (82 points) and ninth in rushing (752 yards).

Three Arizona players were among the top 38 picks in the 1962 NFL draft: Joe Hernandez 15th; Wilson 24th; and Thompson 38th.

The team played its home games in Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Arizona.

Schedule

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DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 23Colorado State*
W 28–624,300[3]
September 301:00 p.m.at Nebraska*
T 14–1434,721[4]
October 7Hardin-Simmons
  • Arizona Stadium
  • Tucson, AZ
W 53–725,179[5]
October 14at Oregon*
W 15–618,651[6]
October 21New Mexico
  • Arizona Stadium
  • Tucson, AZ (rivalry)
W 22–21[7]
October 28at West Texas State
L 23–2712,000[8]
November 4Wyoming*
  • Arizona Stadium
  • Tucson, AZ
W 20–1525,150[9]
November 118:00 p.m.Idaho*
  • Arizona Stadium
  • Tucson, AZ
W 43–720,350[10][11]
November 18Texas Western
  • Arizona Stadium
  • Tucson, AZ
W 48–1522,200[12][13]
November 25at Arizona State
W 22–1340,164[14]

Statistics

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The Wilcats gained an average of 232.6 rushing yards and 145.6 passing yards per game. On defense, they gave up an average of 181.0 rushing yards and 79.1 passing yards per game.[15]

Quarterback Eddie Wilson led the team in passing, completing 79 of 154 passes (51.3% completion) for 1,294 yards, 10 touchdowns, seven interceptions and a 134.2 quarterback rating.[15] His 1,294 passing yards was the third most in major college football in 1961, trailing only Ron Miller of Wisconsin and Chon Gallegos of San Jose State.[16] Wilson also led the team and ranked fifth nationally with 1,377 yards of total offense.[17]

Halfback Bobby Thompson also ranked among the national leaders in both scoring and rushing yardage. He ranked seventh nationally with 82 points scored (13 touchdowns and four extra points) and ninth nationally with 752 rushing yards on 157 carries for an average of 4.89 yards per carry.[18] Thompson also led the team in receiving with 468 receiving yards on 25 receptions for an average of 18.7 yards per catch.[15]

The team's rushing leaders after Thompson were Walt Mince (328 yards, 53 carries, 6.2-yard averag), Joe Hernandez (278 yards, 55 carries, 5.1-yard average), Ted Christy (194 yards, 47 carries, 4.1-yard average), and Jim Faulks (168 yards, 33 carries, 5.1-yard average).[15]

The team's leading receivers after Thompson were Joe Hernandez (423 yards, 27 receptions, 15.7-yard average) and Walt Mince (201 yards, nine receptions, 22.3-yard average).[15]

The leading scorers after Thompson were Joe Hernandez and Walt Mince, each with 42 points, and Eddie Wilson with 24 points.[15]

Awards

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Quarterback Eddie Wilson was selected by the Associated Press (AP) as the third-team quarterback on the 1961 All-America college football team. He was the first Arizona player to win All-Americ honors since Jim Donarski was named to the second team in 1961. Three other Arizona players received honorable mention from the AP: center Bob Garis, halfback Bobby Thompson, and Joe Hernandez.[19][20]

Wilson also received: the Governor's Award as the team's most valuable senior player;[21][22] and The Arizona Daily Star's 1961 Athlete-of-the-Year award.[23]

Wilson and center Bob Garis were selected as the team captains.[24]

Pro football drafts

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Three Arizona players were selected among the top 38 players in the 1962 NFL draft. No other college team had so many player drafted in the early rounds.[25] The players selected in the 1962 NFL and AFL drafts were::

  • Joe Hernandez - 15th pick in the NFL draft (Washington Redskins), 24th pick in the NFL draft (Detroit Lions), 33rd pick in the AFL draft (Oakland Raiders)
  • Eddie Wilson - 24th pick in the NFL draft (Detroit Lions), 19th pick in the AFL draft (Dallas Texans)
  • Bobby Thompson - 38th pick in the NFL draft (Detroit Lions), 91st pick in the AFL draft (Dallas Texans)
  • Walt Mince - 234th pick in the AFL draft (Denver Broncos)

References

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  1. ^ "1961 Arizona Wildcats Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
  2. ^ "Arizona Football 2016 Media Guide" (PDF). University of Arizona. 2016. p. 106. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
  3. ^ "Arizona Topples Rams, 28-6, For 7th In Row (part 2)". Arizona Daily Star. September 24, 1961. pp. 1A, 1D – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Dick Becker (October 1, 1961). "Whew! Huskers Escape With Tie: Determined Arizona Misses Upset, 14-14". Sunday Journal and Star. pp. 1D, 5D – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "UA Wildcats Run Wild Defeating Pokes, 53-7: Arizona Establishes Modern Win Record". The Arizona Daily Star. October 8, 1961. pp. 1A, 1D – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Don McLeod (October 15, 1961). "Arizona Hangs 15-6 Defeat On Webfoots: 18,651 See Wildcats Rack UO". The Sunday Oregonian. pp. 1, 6 (section 2) – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Abe Chanin (October 22, 1961). "Wilson's Pin-Point Passing Gives Cats 22-21 Victory: '2-Pointer' Gives UA Triumph". The Arizona Daily Star. pp. 1A, 1D – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Abe Chanin (October 29, 1961). "Buffs Upset UA, 27-23". The Arizona Daily Star. pp. 1A, 1D – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Abe Chanin (November 5, 1961). "Wildcats Stun Unbeaten Wyoming In 20-15 Thriller: Ed Wilson Passes For Two TDs". The Arizona Daily Star. pp. 1A, 1D – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Abe Chanin (November 12, 1961). "Wildcats Easily Brush Past Idaho, 43 To 7". The Arizona Daily Star. pp. 1A, 1D – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Arizona Wildcats wallop Idaho 43-7". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. Associated Press. November 12, 1961. p. 10.
  12. ^ Abe Chanin (November 19, 1961). "Wilson's Aerial Wizardry Paces UA's 48-15 Victory: 22,000 Fans Watch Defeat Of Miners". The Arizona Daily Star. pp. 1A, 1D – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Bob Ingram (November 20, 1961). "Big Effort for 3". El Paso Herald-Post. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Abe Chanin (November 26, 1961). "Arizona Comes From Behind To Whip ASU 22-13". The Arizona Daily Star. pp. 1A, 1D – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ a b c d e f "1961 Arizona Wildcats Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
  16. ^ Offficial Collegiate Football Record Book. National Collegiate Athletic Association. 1962.
  17. ^ Offficial Collegiate Football Record Book. National Collegiate Athletic Association. 1962.
  18. ^ Offficial Collegiate Football Record Book. National Collegiate Athletic Association. 1962.
  19. ^ "Wilson Lands Berth on 3rd All-America Team". The Arizona Daily Star. December 8, 1961. p. D1 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Wilson Tabbed For AP's All-America Third Team". Tucson Daily Citizen. December 8, 1961. p. 41 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Wilson Tops Honorees". Tucson Daily Citizen. December 5, 1961. p. 27 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "Garis, Runk, Wilson Get Plaudits". The Arizona Daily Star. December 5, 1961. p. 4B – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "Arizona QB Is Named 1961 Athlete-Of-Year". The Arizona Daily Star. December 31, 1961. p. 4D – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ 2016 Media Guide, p. 102.
  25. ^ George McLeod (December 5, 1961). "Arizona Prestige Jumps". Tucson Daily Citizen. p. 27 – via Newspapers.com.
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