The 1961 Maine Black Bears football team was an American football team that represented the University of Maine as a member of the Yankee Conference during the 1961 college football season. In its 11th season under head coach Harold Westerman, the team compiled an 8–0–1 record (5–0 against conference opponents) and won the Yankee Conference championship. The team played its home games at Alumni Field in Orono, Maine. Robert Kinney and David Cloutier were the team captains.[1]
1961 Maine Black Bears football | |
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Yankee Conference champion | |
Conference | Yankee Conference |
Record | 8–0–1 (5–0 Yankee) |
Head coach |
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Captain | Robert Kinney, David Cloutier |
Home stadium | Alumni Field |
Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Maine $ | 5 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 8 | – | 0 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
UMass | 3 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Connecticut | 2 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
New Hampshire | 1 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rhode Island | 1 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 6 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Vermont | 0 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The team's statistical leaders included fullback Dale Curry with 291 rushing yards; quarterback Manchester Wheeler with 715 passing yards; end Richard Kinney with 171 receiving yards; and halfback David Cloutier with 42 points scored.[2]
Schedule
editDate | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source | ||
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September 23 | Army B team* | W 21–6 | 4,800 | [3] | |||
September 30 | at Rhode Island | W 22–20 | 3,500 | [4] | |||
October 7 | Vermont |
| W 34–14 | 4,600–5,000 | [5][6] | ||
October 14 | at New Hampshire | W 7–6 | 7,500–8,500 | [7] | |||
October 21 | Connecticut |
| W 2–0 | 8,000 | |||
October 28 | at Bates* | T 15–15 | 4,500 | ||||
November 4 | at Colby* |
| W 14–0 | 5,000 | |||
November 11 | Bowdoin* |
| W 13–8 | 9,000 | |||
November 22 | UMass |
| W 10–7 | 4,500 | |||
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After the season
editThe following Black Bear was selected in the 1962 NFL Draft after the season.[8]
Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL club |
---|---|---|---|---|
18 | 242 | Dave Cloutier | Back | Dallas Cowboys |
References
edit- ^ "2019 Maine Football Media Guide" (PDF). University of Maine. 2019. p. 86. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
- ^ a b "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
- ^ "Maine Passing Whips Army's B Team, 21-6". The Boston Globe. September 24, 1961. p. 87 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "U-M Edges Rhody; Bears Tip RI 22-20". The Bangor Daily News. October 2, 1961. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Maine Stuns Vt.; 4 TDs By Cloutier". The Boston Globe. October 8, 1961. p. 79 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Maine wallops Vermont eleven, 34–14". The Bangor Daily News. October 9, 1961. Retrieved June 7, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
- ^ "1962 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 1, 2024.