Wikipedia

1961 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team

The 1961 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Minnesota in the 1961 Big Ten Conference football season. In their eighth year under head coach Murray Warmath, the Golden Gophers compiled an 8–2 record (6–1 in conference games), outscored opponents by a total of 140 to 75, and were ranked No. 6 in the final final AP and UPI polls. They defeated UCLA, 21–3, in the 1962 Rose Bowl.[1][2][3]

1961 Minnesota Golden Gophers football
Rose Bowl champion
Rose Bowl, W 21–3 vs. UCLA
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 6
APNo. 6
Record8–2 (6–1 Big Ten)
Head coach
MVPSandy Stephens
CaptainJohn Mulvena
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
Seasons
← 1960
1962 →
1961 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 2 Ohio State $ 6 – 0 – 0 8 – 0 – 1
No. 6 Minnesota 6 – 1 – 0 8 – 2 – 0
No. 8 Michigan State 5 – 2 – 0 7 – 2 – 0
No. 12 Purdue 4 – 2 – 0 6 – 3 – 0
Wisconsin 4 – 3 – 0 6 – 3 – 0
Michigan 3 – 3 – 0 6 – 3 – 0
Iowa 2 – 4 – 0 5 – 4 – 0
Northwestern 2 – 4 – 0 4 – 5 – 0
Indiana 0 – 6 – 0 2 – 7 – 0
Illinois 0 – 7 – 0 0 – 9 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The team averaged 176.7 rushing yards, 88.2 passing yards, and 14 points per game. On defense, the team gave up an average of 84.3 rushing yards, 115.4 passing yards, and 7.5 points per game.[4]

Quarterback Sandy Stephens led the team in passing, rushing, and scoring. He was a consensus first-team All-American, finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting, and received the Chicago Tribune Silver Football award as the Big Ten's most valuable player. Tackle Bobby Bell was also named a first-team All-American.

The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Minneapolis. Total attendance at six home games was 366,491, an average of 61,081, and the season high was against Purdue on November 18.[5]

Schedule

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DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 30Missouri*
L 0–658,840[6]
October 7Oregon*
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Minneapolis, MN
W 14–750,499[7]
October 14at Northwestern
W 10–341,251[8]
October 21at Illinois
W 33–052,247[9][10]
October 28Michigan 
W 23–2063,898[11][12]
November 4No. 1 Michigan State
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Minneapolis, MN
W 13–059,941[13][14]
November 11at IowaNo. 5
W 16–960,100[15]
November 18No. 7 PurdueNo. 5
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Minneapolis, MN
W 10–767,081[16][17]
November 25WisconsinNo. 3
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Minneapolis, MN (rivalry)
L 21–2366,232[18]
January 1vs. No. 16 UCLA*No. 6
W 21–398,214[19]
  • *Non-conference game
  •  Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Awards

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Quarterback Sandy Stephens won the Chicago Tribune Silver Football award as the most valuable player in the Big Ten.[20] He also finished fourth in voting for the 1961 Heisman Trophy.[21]

Two Minnesota players received first-team honors on the 1961 All-America team. Stephens was a first-team pick by the Associated Press (AP), United Press International (UPI), Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Sporting News, and the Walter Camp Football Foundation. Tackle Bobby Bell was a first-team pick by the American Football Coaches Association, FWAA, Sporting News, and Central Press Association.

The following Minnesota players were recognized on the 1961 All-Big Ten Conference football team: quarterback Sandy Stephens (AP-1, UPI-1); tackle Bobby Bell (AP-1, UPI-1); end Tom Hall (AP-2, UPI-1); halfback Bill Munsey (AP-3, UPI-2); and guard Robin Tellor (AP-3, UPI-3).[22][23]

Statistical leaders

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Quarterback Sandy Stephens led the team in multiple statistical categories, including passing (47 of 142 for 794 yards with nine touchdown passes and 13 interceptions); rushing (487 yards on 110 attempts); and scoring 48 points (eight touchdowns).[4]

The team's rusing leaders after Stephens were Judge Dickson (275 yards), Bill Munsey (211 yards), Dave Mulholland (176 yards), Jim Cairns (171 yards), and Jerry Jones (167 yards).[4]

The team's receiving leaders were Tom Hall with nine receptions for 197 yards; Jim Cairns with eight receptions for 156 yards; John Campbell with three receptions for 117 yards; and Bob Deegan with five receptions for 72 yards.[4]

Roster

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  • Bobby Bell*, tackle, 6'4", 220 pounds[24]
  • Paul Benson, halfback, 6'1", 186 pounds[24]
  • Duane Blaska, quarterback, 5'11", 184 pounds[24]
  • Terry Brown, halfback, 5'11", 178 pounds[24]
  • Jim Cairns, halfbacks, 6'0", 185 pounds[24]
  • John Campbell, end, 6'3", 204 pounds[24]
  • Timothy Cashman
  • Bob Deegan, end, 6'2-1/2", 205 pounds[24]
  • Duane Dickson, fullback, 6'2", 210 pounds[24]
  • Carl Eller*, tackle, 6'5", 226 pounds[24]
  • Dick Enga, center, 6'0", 190 pounds[24]
  • Al Fischer, halfbacks, 5'9", 164 pounds[24]
  • Bob Frisbee, center, 6'3", 230 pounds[24]
  • Tom Hall, end, 6'1-1/2", 195 pounds[24]
  • Terry Hedstrom, fullback, 5'10", 201 pounds[24]
  • Julian J. Hook, center, 5'9-1/2", 183 pounds[24]
  • Jerry Jones, fullback, 5'11", 195 pounds[24]
  • Steve Kereakos, tackle, 5'11-1/2", 222 pounds[24]
  • Tom King
  • Tom Loechler, tackle, 6'2", 230 pounds[24]
  • David Lothner, end, 6'2", 195 pounds[24]
  • Dave Mulholland, halfbacks, 6'0", 190 pounds[24]
  • John Mulvena, guard and captain, 6'1", 206-1/2 pounds[24]
  • Roland Mudd, guard, 6'1", 205 pounds[24]
  • Bill Munsey*, halfback, 5'11", 196 pounds[24]
  • Jerry Pelletier, quarterback, 5'8", 150 pounds[24]
  • Jack Perkovich, guard, 6'1-1/2", 195 pounds[24]
  • Bob Prawdzik, end, 6'2", 203 pounds[24]
  • Ted Rude, end, 6'2", 210 pounds[24]
  • Bob Sadek, quarterback, 6'2", 185 pounds[24]
  • Charlie Smith, halfbacks, 6'1", 186 pounds[24]
  • Sandy Stephens, quarterback, 6'0", 215 pounds[24]
  • Robin Tellor, guard, 6'0", 216 pounds[24]
  • Jim Wheeler, tackle, 6'2", 206 pounds[24]

References

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  1. ^ "1961 Minnesota Golden Gophers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
  2. ^ "Champion vote goes to Alabama". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. Associated Press. December 5, 1961. p. 2B.
  3. ^ Joyce, Dick (December 5, 1961). "Alabama No. 1 football team in final UPI poll". Bend Bulletin. Oregon. UPI. p. 3.
  4. ^ a b c d "1961 Minnesota Golden Gophers Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  5. ^ Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF), p. 160[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ Dick Gordon (October 1, 1961). "Missouri Tips Gophers 6-0". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune. pp. 1S, 10S – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Dick Gordon (October 8, 1961). "Gophers Whip Oregon 14-7". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune. pp. 1, 2 (sports) – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Dick Gordon (October 15, 1961). "Gophers Stun Wildcats 10-3". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune. pp. 1, 2 (sports) – via Newspaper.com.
  9. ^ Dick Gordon (October 22, 1961). "Gophers Bomb Illinois 33-0". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune. pp. 1, 2 (sports) – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Fred Young (October 22, 1961). "Illinois Bows To Minnesota". The Pantagraph. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Dick Gordon (October 29, 1961). "Gopher Rally Nips Michigan 23-20". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune. pp. 1, 2 (sports) – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Fumble Wrecks U-M, 23-20". Detroit Free Press. October 29, 1961. p. D1, D3 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Dick Gordon (November 5, 1961). "Gophers Shock Spartans 13-0". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune. pp. 1, 2 (sports) – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ George S. Alderton (November 5, 1961). "State Dreams Dimmed in Gopherland". Lansing State Journal. pp. 55, 56 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ Dick Gordon (November 12, 1961). "Gophers Blast Iowa 16-9; Retain Share of Big Ten Lead". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune. pp. 1, 2 (sports) – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ Dick Gordon (November 19, 1961). "Gophers Whip Purdue 10-7". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune. pp. 1, 2 (sports) – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ Bill Eggert (November 19, 1961). "Purdue 10-7 Victim Before 67,081: Gophers Still Bowling Along". The Indianapolis Star. p. 1 (sports) – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ Dick Gordon (November 26, 1961). "Badgers Spoil 'U' Title Hopes: Gophers Beaten 23-21". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune. pp. 1, 2 (sports) – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Warmath, Gopher Football Vindicated". The Minneapolis Star. January 2, 1961. p. 13B – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Gophers' Stephens 'MV' in Big Ten". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune. December 17, 1961. p. 1 (Sports) – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "1961 Heisman Trophy Voting". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  22. ^ "Stephens, Bell Unanimous Choices on All-Big Ten". St. Cloud Times. November 28, 1961. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "Stephens, Bell, Hall on UPI Big Ten First Team". The Minneapolis Star. November 28, 1961. p. 12B – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af BillMcGrane (September 10, 1961). "Here Are Profiles of Football Gophers". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune. pp. 31, 32 – via Newspapers.com.
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