1961 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football season

The 1961 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football season was the season of college football played by the five member schools of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) as part of the 1961 college football season.

1961 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football season
SportFootball
Number of teams5
ChampionWhittier
Football seasons
← 1960
1961 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 4 Whittier $^ 4 0 0 9 1 0
Redlands 3 1 0 6 4 0
Occidental 2 2 0 6 3 0
Pomona 1 3 0 5 4 0
Claremont-Mudd 0 4 0 3 6 0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NAIA playoff participant
Rankings from NAIA poll

Whittier compiled a perfect 9–0 record in the regular season, won the SCIAC championship, and lost to Linfield in the semifinals of the NAIA playoffs. In the 1961 small college football rankings, Whittier was ranked No. 4 in the NAIA coaches poll, No. 5 in the Associated Press poll, and No. 8 in the United Press International poll.

Teams

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Whittier

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1961 Whittier Poets football
SCIAC champion
ConferenceSouthern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Record9–1 (4–0 SIAC)
Head coach
Seasons
← 1960
1962 →

The 1961 Whittier Poets football team represented Whittier College of Whittier, California. In their second year under head coach John Godfrey, the Poets compiled a perfect 9–1 record (4–0 against SCIAC opponents) and won the SCIAC championship.[1] In the 1961 small college football rankings, Whittier was ranked No. 4 in the NAIA coaches poll,[2] No. 5 in the Associated Press poll,[3] and No. 8 in the United Press International poll.[4]

Quarterback Sei Miyano completed 63 of 115 passes for 1,154 yards with 15 touchdown passes and four interceptions. He also led the team with 1,291 yards of total offense. Halfback Dick Skinner led the team in rushing with 120 carries for 648 yards.[5] Miyano was five feet, seven inches tall. He was one of four Japanese-American players on the 1961 Whittier team.[6]

Three Whittier players were selected as first-team players on the 1961 All-SIAC football team: junior back Dick Skinner; junior end Stan Sanders; and senior guard Dave Okura.[7]

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 16San Diego*
W 27–0[8]
September 23at UC Santa Barbara*W 20–0[9]
September 30UC Davis*
  • Hadley Field
  • Whittier, CA
W 20–8[10]
October 7vs. Pepperdine*
  • Sentinel Field
  • Inglewood, CA
W 28–11[11]
October 14vs. Cal Western*
  • Hadley Field
  • Whittier, CA
W 46–12[12]
October 21at OccidentalEagle Rock, CAW 28–8[13]
November 4Pomona
  • Hadley Field
  • Whittier, CA
W 25–0[14]
November 11at Claremont-MuddClaremont, CAW 40–13[15]
November 18Redlands
  • Hadley Field
  • Whittier, CA
W 24–6[16]
November 25at Linfield*McMinnville, OR (NAIA semifinal)L 7–18[17]
  • *Non-conference game

Redlands

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1961 Redlands Bulldogs football
ConferenceSouthern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Record6–4 (3–1 SIAC)
Head coach
Seasons
← 1960
1962 →

The 1961 Redlands Bulldogs football team represented University of Redlands of Redlands, California. In their third year under head coach Ted Runner, the Bulldogs compiled a 6–4 record (3–1 against SCIAC opponents) and finished second the SCIAC.

Four Redlands players were selected as first-team players on the 1961 All-SCIAC football team: senior quarterback Roger Chaney; senior tackle Myron Tarkanian; senior guard Marshall Nixon; and senior center Rollin Grider.[7]

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 16vs. Cal Western*
  • Point Loma High School
  • San Diego, CA
W 31–0[18]
September 23Nevada*
  • U.R. stadium
  • Claremont, CA
W 25–03,000[19]
September 30at Arizona State–Flagstaff*L 10–133,500–4,450[20][21]
October 7Cal Poly Pomona*
  • U.R. stadium
  • Claremont, CA
L 14–355,200[22]
October 14San Diego State*
  • U.R. stadium
  • Claremont, CA
L 20–324,200[23]
October 21Pomona 
  • U.R. stadium
  • Claremont, CA
W 38–214,500[24]
October 28at Claremont-Mudd
  • Claremont Field
  • Claremont, CA
W 26–7[25]
November 4at OccidentalEagle Rock, Los AngelesW 27–195,000[26]
November 11LaVerne*
  • U.R. stadium
  • Claremont, CA
W 40–284,000[27]
November 18at Whittier
  • Hadley Field
  • Whittier, CA
L 6–24[16]
  • *Non-conference game
  •  Homecoming

Occidental

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1961 Occidental Tigers football
ConferenceSouthern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Record6–3 (2–2 SIAC)
Head coach
Seasons
← 1960
1962 →

The 1961 Occidental Tigers football team represented Occidental College of Eagle Rock, Los Angeles. In their second year under head coach Vic Schwenk, the Tigers compiled a 6–2 record (2–2 against SCIAC opponents) and finished third in the SCIAC.

Three Occidental players were selected as first-team players on the 1961 All-SIAC team: junior back John Whitney; junior end Jerry Greenwalt; and senior tackle Mike Lewis.[7]

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 23Hamilton AFB*L 14–20[28]
September 30at Cal Western*San Diego, CAW 21–2[29]
October 7at Santa Clara*Santa Clara, CAW 36–28[30]
October 13Claremont-Mudd
  • Patterson Field
  • Eagle Rock, Los Angeles
W 61–0[31]
October 21WhittierEagle Rock, CAL 8–28[13]
October 28at UC Santa Barbara*
W 14–136,000[32]
November 4Redlands
  • Patterson Field
  • Eagle Rock, Los Angeles
L 19–275,000[26]
November 10Caltech*
  • Patterson Field
  • Eagle Rock, Los Angeles
W 47–8300[33]
November 18at Pomona
  • Alumni Field
  • Pomona, CA
W 7–0[34]
  • *Non-conference game

Pomona

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1961 Pomona Sagehens football
ConferenceSouthern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Record5–4 (1–3 SIAC)
Head coach
Seasons
← 1960
1962 →

The 1961 Pomona Sagehens football team represented Pomona College of Claremont, California. In their third year under head coach Chuck Mills, the Sagehens compiled a 5–4 record (1–3 against SCIAC opponents) and finished fourth in the SCIAC. Senior back Pete Rodi was a first-team selection on the 1961 All-SCIAC team.

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 23La Verne*
  • Alumni Field
  • Pomona, CA
L 28–37[35]
September 30Azusa*Claremont, CAW 29–6[36]
October 7Claremont-MuddClaremont, CAW 8–6[37]
October 14Caltech*Claremont, CAW 53–7[38]
October 21RedlandsL 21–384,500[24]
October 28at UC Riverside*Riverside, CAW 32–8[39]
November 4Whittier
L 0–25[14]
November 11vs. Southern California College*
  • Newport Beach High School
  • Newport Beach, CA
W 40–0[40]
November 18Occidental
  • Alumni Field
  • Pomona, CA
L 0–7[34]
  • *Non-conference game

Claremont-Mudd

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1961 Claremont-Mudd Stags football
ConferenceSouthern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Record3–6 (0–4 SIAC)
Head coach
Seasons
← 1960
1962 →

The 1961 Claremont-Mudd Stags football team represented Claremont College and Harvey Mudd College of Claremont, California. In their first year under head coach Jim Williams, the Stags compiled a 3–6 record (0–4 against SCIAC opponents) and finished last in the SCIAC.

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 23El Toro MarinesClaremont, CAL 20–27[41]
September 30La Verne*Claremont, CAL 12–28[42]
October 7PomonaClaremont, CAL 6–8[37]
October 13at OccidentalL 0–61[31]
October 21UC RiversideClaremont, CAW 21–14[43]
October 28Redlands
  • Claremont Field
  • Claremont, CA
L 7–26[25]
November 4Cal Western*Claremont, CAW 20–12[44]
November 11WhittierClaremont, CAL 13–40[15]
November 18at CaltechW 60–8[45]
  • *Non-conference game

All-conference selections

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At the end of the season, the conference coaches selected the best players at each position to their 1961 all-SIAC football team.

First team

  • Quarterback - Roger Chaney, senior, Redlands
  • Backs - John Whitney, junior, Occidental; Pete Rodi, senior, Pomona; Dick Skinner, junior, Whittier
  • Ends - Jerry Greenwalt, junior, Occidental, and Stan Sanders Jr., Whittier
  • Tackles - Myron Tarkanian, senior, Redlands; Mike Lewis, senior, Occidental
  • Guards - Dave Okura, senior, Whittier; Marshall Nixon, senior, Redlands
  • Center - Rollin Grider, senior, Redlands

[7]

References

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  1. ^ "College Grid Standings". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. November 21, 1961. p. 72. Retrieved November 28, 2020 – via Newspapers.com  .
  2. ^ "Linfield Third As Whittier Fourth; Pittsburg Top Team". Humboldt Standard. November 22, 1961. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Kansas School Nabs Small College Honor". The Lawton Constitution. Lawton, Oklahoma. November 23, 1961. p. 26. Retrieved January 25, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. 
  4. ^ "HSC 16th In Final UPI Small College Grid Poll". Eureka Humboldt Standard. Eureka, California. November 22, 1961. p. 10. Retrieved February 15, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. 
  5. ^ "Brief Summary of Cumulative Football Statistics (Whittier)". NCAA. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  6. ^ "Poets Possess Smallest QB Sensation". Pasadena Independent. November 6, 1961. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b c d "Six Bulldogs on All-Conference". Redlands Daily Facts. November 21, 1961. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Whittier Blanks San Diego U, 27-0". THe Fresno Bee. September 17, 1961. p. 5S – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Poets Stomp Gauchos; Cal Aggies Saturday Foe". The Daily News. September 25, 1961. p. II-1 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Two Blocked Punts Aid Poets' Third Win In Row". The Daily News. October 2, 1961. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Poets Engulf Waves For 4th Win; Western Next". The Daily News. October 9, 1961. p. II-1 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Poets Host Cal Western At Hadley". The Daily News. Whittier, California. October 14, 1961. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ a b "Poets Smash Occidental For Sixth Straight Win". The Daily News. October 23, 1961. p. II-1 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ a b "Advertisement - Whittier football". The Daily News. Whittier, California. October 17, 1961. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ a b "Undefeated Poets Nail Stubborn CMC-Mudd, 40-13". Progress-Bulletin. November 12, 1961. p. III-2 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ a b "Potent Whittier Poets defeated Bulldogs 24 to 6". Redlands Daily Facts. November 20, 1961. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ Ron Blankenbaker (November 26, 1961). "Linfield Wins NAIA Playoff Berth". Oregon Statesman. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Strong UR BUlldog team downs Cal Western 31-0". Redlands Daily Facts. September 18, 1961. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Chaney guides U.R. to 25-0 win over Nevada". Redlands Daily Facts. September 25, 1961. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Lumberjacks Dump Redlands 13-10". Arizona Daily Sun. October 2, 1961. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  22. ^ "Cal Poly passing defeats UR 35-14". Redlands Daily Facts. October 9, 1961. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ Johnny McDonald (October 15, 1961). "Aztecs Rally Trips Redlands, 32-20". The San Diego Union. San Diego, California. p. G-1.
  24. ^ a b "Chaney leads U.R. to 38-21 win over Sagehens". Redlands Daiy Facts. October 23, 1961. p. 8.
  25. ^ a b Gordon Verrell (October 29, 1981). "Stags Fall, 26-7: Bulldogs Prevail". Progress-Bulletin. p. III-2 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ a b Bill Bruns (November 5, 1961). "Bulldogs Shock Tigers, 27-19". THe San Bernardino Sun. p. D1 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ "Bulldogs, trailing 28-8 at half, rally to win". Redlands Daily Facts. November 13, 1961. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ "Oxy Gridders Bow". Los Angeles Times. September 24, 1961. p. H6 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ^ "Oxy Triumphs". Los Angeles Times. October 1, 1961. p. H10 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ "Oxy Defeats Santa Clara". The Fresno Bee. October 8, 1961. p. 4S – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ a b "Oxy Thrashes Stags, 61-0". Progress-Bulletin. October 14, 1961. p. 7.
  32. ^ Philip Patton (October 29, 1961). "Gauchos Lose, 14-13 As Gun Ends Contest". Santa Barbara News-Press. pp. B1, B2 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ^ Don Johnson (November 11, 1961). "Oxy Trips Caltech by 47-8". Pasadena Independent. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ^ a b "Occidental Downs Pomona Grids, 7-0". Independent Star-NEws. November 19, 1961. p. A2 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. ^ Gordon Verrell (September 24, 1961). "Leos Nip Pomona". Progress-Bulletin. p. III-1 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. ^ Don Vogt (October 1, 1961). "Sagehens Triumph Over Azusa". Progress-Bulletin. p. III-1 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ^ a b Gordon Verrell (October 8, 1961). "Hens Nip Stags". Progress-Bulletin. p. III-1 – via Newspapers.com.
  38. ^ "Caltech Crushed, 53-7". Los Angeles Times. October 15, 1961. p. H6 – via Newspapers.com.
  39. ^ "Hens CLobber UC Riverside". Progress-Bulletin. October 29, 1961. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
  40. ^ "Pomona Sagehens Trounces So. Calif. College, 40-0". Progress-Bulletin. November 12, 1961. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
  41. ^ "El Toro Gets 27-20 Victory Over Stags". Progress-Bulletin. September 24, 1961. p. II-3 – via Newspapers.com.
  42. ^ "La Verne Romps Past Stags, Scores Second Straight Win". Progress-Bulletin. October 1, 1961. p. III-2 – via Newspapers.com.
  43. ^ "Stags Gain First Win, Club Riverside 21-14". Progress-Bulletin. October 22, 1961. p. II-5 – via Newspapers.com.
  44. ^ "Bob Ellis Sparks 20-12 CMC Win Over Cal Western". Progress-Bulletin. November 5, 1961. p. III-2 – via Newspapers.com.
  45. ^ "Claremont-Mudd Mauls Tech 60-8". Progress-Buletin. November 19, 1961. p. III-1 – via Newspapers.com.