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1961 Baylor Bears football team

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American college football season

1961 Baylor Bears football
Gotham Bowl champion
Gotham Bowl, W 24–9 vs. Utah State
ConferenceSouthwest Conference
Record6–5 (2–5 SWC)
Head coach
CaptainRonald Stanley, Bill Hicks, Bobby Lane
Home stadiumBaylor Stadium
Seasons← 19601962 →
1961 Southwest Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 3 Texas + 6 – 1 – 0 10 – 1 – 0
No. 9 Arkansas + 6 – 1 – 0 8 – 3 – 0
Rice 5 – 2 – 0 7 – 4 – 0
Texas A&M 3 – 4 – 0 4 – 5 – 1
TCU 2 – 4 – 1 3 – 5 – 2
Baylor 2 – 5 – 0 6 – 5 – 0
Texas Tech 2 – 5 – 0 4 – 6 – 0
SMU 1 – 5 – 1 2 – 7 – 1
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1961 Baylor Bears football team was an American football team that represented Baylor University as a member of the Southwest Conference (SWC) during the 1961 college football season. In their third year under head coach John Bridgers, the Bears compiled a 6–5 record (2–5 in conference games), tied for sixth place in the Big 8, and outscored opponents by a total of 188 to 164. Baylor played in the first Gotham Bowl, defeating the previously undefeated Utah State Aggies, 24–9.

Senior halfback Ronnie Bull led the team in rushing (441 yards), scoring (48 points), and pass receptions (19). Center Bill Hicks and guard Herbie Adkins received first-team honors on the 1961 All-Southwest Conference football team:

The team played its home games at Baylor Stadium in Waco, Texas.

Schedule

DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 23Wake Forest*W 31–028,000
September 30at Pittsburgh*W 16–1341,194
October 14ArkansasNo. 9
  • Baylor Stadium
  • Waco, TX
L 13–2334,000
October 21at Texas TechL 17–1932,500
October 28at Texas A&ML 0–2329,000
November 4TCUW 28–1423,000
November 11at No. 1 TexasL 7–3362,000
November 18Air Force*
  • Baylor Stadium
  • Waco, TX
W 31–722,000
November 25SMU
  • Baylor Stadium
  • Waco, TX
W 31–617,000
December 2at No. 17 RiceL 14–2630,000
December 9vs. No. 10 Utah State*W 24–915,123
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Statistics

During the regular season, the 1961 Baylor team outscored opponents by a total of 188 to 164. They outgained opponents by a total of 2,867 yards to 2,486. In the air, they outgained opponents by 1,314 yards to 927.

Senior halfback Ronnie Bull led the team in both rushing (441 yards on 91 carries, 4.8-yard average), scoring (48 points), and pass receptions (19 receptions for 199 yards). Claude Pearson led the team in receiving yards with 217 yards on 18 receptions.

The team's passing leaders were Bobby Ply (39-for-86, 468 yards, six touchdowns, four interceptions), Ronnie Stanley (44-for-84, 451 yards, four touchdowns, eight interceptions), and Don Trull (26-for-56, 359 yards, four touchdowns, four interceptions).

Awards and honors

Three Baylor players were honored on the 1961 All-Southwest Conference football team: center Bill Hicks (AP-1); guard Herby Adkins (AP-2, UPI-1); and halfback Ronnie Bull (AP-2).

Personnel

Players

  • Herbie Adkins, guard
  • Ronnie Bull, halfback/fullback
  • Robert Burk, guard
  • John Frongillo, tackle
  • Ronnie Goodwin, halfback
  • Herbert Harlan, end
  • Bill Hicks, center
  • Dalton Hoffman, fullback
  • James Ingram, end
  • Johnny Jessup, tackle
  • Bobby Lane, end
  • Robert Mankin, guard
  • Butch Maples, center
  • Jon Markham, tackle
  • Tommy Minter, halfback
  • Bobby Moore, tackle
  • Pete Nicklas, tackle
  • Bobby Norvell, halfback
  • Jim Oldham, halfback, senior
  • Claude Pearson, end
  • Ted Plumb, end
  • Bobby Ply, quarterback
  • Ronny Rogers, guard
  • Ronnie Stanley, quarterback
  • Bert Tate, halfback
  • Don Trull, quarterback
  • Sonny Whorton, fullback

Coaches and administration

Head coach John Bridgers
  • Head coach: John Bridgers
  • Athletic director: John Bridgers
  • Assistant coaches: Walt Hackett, Charles Driver, Purvis Chuck, Harris Wayne,
  • Trainers: Weaver Jordan, Herb Zimmerman

References

  1. ^ "1961 Baylor Bears Schedule and Results". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
  2. Dave Campbell (September 24, 1961). "Bears' One-Two Punch Belts Deacons, 31-0: 28,000 Watch Bruins Smother Visitors". Waco Tribune-Herald. pp. B1, B3 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Bears pin 31–0 defeat on Deacons". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. September 24, 1961. Retrieved January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. Jimmy Jordan (October 1, 1961). "Baylor Stalls Pitt, Hangs on for 16-13 Victory: Last-Quarter Panther Drive Stopped on 8". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. pp. 1, 5 (section 3) – via Newspapers.com.
  5. Dave Campbell (October 15, 1961). "Quick-Hitting Razorbacks Get Revenge, Smother Bruins in 23-13 Rockslide". Waco Tribune-Herald. p. 2B – via Newspapers.com.
  6. Jim Montgomery (October 22, 1961). "Raiders Deal Deadly Blow to Bruins, 19-17: Tech Soph Kicks BU Lights Out". Waco Tribune-Herald. pp. 1B, 2B – via Newspapers.com.
  7. Jim Trinkle (October 29, 1961). "Aggies Blister Baylor, 23-0: A&M Dads Watch as Bears Suffer Third SWC Defeat". Fort Worth. pp. 1, 4 (section 3) – via Newspapers.com.
  8. Dave Campbell (November 5, 1961). "Bruins Blitz Frogs, Leave Old Grads Grinning; New Scoring Punch Blasts TCU, 28-14". Waco Tribune-Herald. pp. 1B, 2B – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Top-ranked Longhorns hand Baylor 33–7 spanking". The Marshall News Messenger. November 12, 1961. Retrieved April 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. Jim Montgomery (November 19, 1961). "Bruins Clout Falcons, 31-7". Waco Tribune-Herald. pp. 1B, 2B – via Newspapers.com.
  11. Dave Campbell (November 26, 1961). "Bruins Explode Early, Bury Mustangs; Stanley Sets Air Mark in 31-6 Romp". Waco Tribune-Herald. pp. 1B, 2B – via Newspapers.com.
  12. Dave Campbell (December 3, 1961). "Owls Step Over Bears Into Bluebonnet; Blume Triggers Victory Assault, 26-14". Waco Tribune-Herald. p. 2B – via Newspapers.com.
  13. "Ballhawking Baylor Defeats Aggies 24-9 in Bowl Game: Bears Capitalize on Fumbles; Only 15,000 Fans See Contest". Ogden Standard-Examiner. December 10, 1961. p. 2B – via Newspapers.com.
  14. 2016 Baylor Football Media Guide. p. 142.
  15. "SWC Statistics". The Waco Times-Herald. December 5, 1961. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "1961 Baylor Bears Stats". SR/College Football. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  17. "Saxton, Alworth Lead Coaches' All-Southwest Conference Teams". Corsicana Daily Sun. December 4, 1961. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  18. "UPI All-Southwest Conference". The Bryan Daily Eagle. December 3, 1961. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. The Round-Up 1962 (Baylor University yearbook), pp. 193, 195.
  20. The Round-Up 1962 (Baylor University yearbook), pp. 222-223.
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