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1961 Miami Hurricanes football team

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American college football season

1961 Miami Hurricanes football
Liberty Bowl, L 14–15 vs. Syracuse
ConferenceIndependent
Ranking
CoachesNo. 19
Record7–4
Head coach
Home stadiumMiami Orange Bowl
Seasons← 19601962 →
1961 Southern college football independents records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Washington and Lee   –   9 – 0 – 0
Tampa   –   8 – 1 – 0
Mississippi College   –   8 – 1 – 0
Mississippi Southern   –   8 – 2 – 0
Memphis State   –   8 – 2 – 0
Delta State   –   7 – 2 – 1
Howard (AL)   –   7 – 2 – 0
South Carolina Trade   –   6 – 2 – 0
Maryville (TN)   –   6 – 2 – 0
Sewanee   –   5 – 2 – 1
Miles   –   5 – 2 – 0
Navy   –   7 – 3 – 0
Arlington State   –   7 – 3 – 0
Louisville   –   6 – 3 – 0
Miami (FL)   –   7 – 4 – 0
McMurry   –   6 – 4 – 0
Houston   –   5 – 4 – 1
Livingstone   –   5 – 4 – 0
Southwestern (TN)   –   4 – 4 – 0
Emory & Henry   –   4 – 4 – 0
Florida State   –   4 – 5 – 1
Norfolk State   –   3 – 4 – 0
Abilene Christian   –   4 – 6 – 0
Chattanooga   –   4 – 6 – 0
Georgetown (KY)   –   2 – 3 – 1
Arkansas State   –   3 – 6 – 0
Austin   –   2 – 7 – 0
Trinity (TX)   –   2 – 7 – 0
Millsaps   –   1 – 5 – 2
Centre   –   1 – 7 – 0

The 1961 Miami Hurricanes football team was an American football team that represented the University of Miami as an independent during the 1961 college football season. In their 14th year under head coach Andy Gustafson, the Hurricanes compiled a 7–4 record, outscored opponents by a total of 146 to 85, and were ranked No. 19 in the final UPI poll. They defeated Penn State (25–8), Georgia (32–7), and Florida (15–6) in the regular season and lost to Syracuse (14–15) in the 1961 Liberty Bowl.

The team was led on offense by quarterback George Mira (896 passing yards), end Bill Miller (637 receiving yards), and fullback Jim Vollenweider (472 yards). Miller was a consensus first-team pick on the 1961 All-America college football team.

The team played its home games at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida.

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 16PittsburghL 7–1033,292
September 23at KentuckyW 14–735,000
September 29No. 8 Penn State
  • Orange Bowl
  • Miami, FL
W 25–845,657
October 6Navy
  • Orange Bowl
  • Miami, FL
L 6–17
October 13Colorado
  • Orange Bowl
  • Miami, FL
L 7–940,393–40,397
October 27North Carolina
  • Orange Bowl
  • Miami, FL
W 10–029,671
November 3Georgia
  • Orange Bowl
  • Miami, FL
W 32–738,210
November 11at TulaneW 6–015,000
November 24Northwestern
  • Orange Bowl
  • Miami, FL
W 10–646,282
December 2at FloridaW 15–642,000
December 16vs. No. 14 SyracuseL 14–1515,712
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Statistics

Miami players led the State of Florida in passing, total offense, rushing, and receiving:

  • Quarterback George Mira led in passing, completing 74 of 151 passes for 896 yards. Mira also led the state in total offense with 1,075 yards.
  • Miami's ends took first and second place in the state in receiving: Bill Miller with 43 receptions for 637 yards and Larry Wilson with 18 receptions for 257 yards.
  • Fullback Jim Vollenweider led in rushing with 472 yards on 101 carries. Vollenweider's rushing yardage also qualified him for fifth place in the state in total offense. He also tied for fourth in the state with 18 points scored.

Awards and honors

End Bill Miller was a consensus first-team pick on the 1961 All-America college football team, receiving first-team honors from the Associated Press (AP), United Press International (UPI), and the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), among others.

Miller and quarterback George Mira were unanimous picks on the 1961 all-state football team selected in a poll of 12 Florida sports writers. Guard Bob Eggert and halfback Nick Ryder were also named to the first team. Five Miami players were named to the second team: end Larry Wilson; tackle Billy Watts; guard Jerry Reynolds; center Charley Livingston; and fullback Jim Vollenweider.

Personnel

Players

  • John Bahen (#30), halfback, 175 pounds
  • John Bennett (#12), quarterback, 202 pounds
  • James Bruno (#25), fullback, 188 pounds
  • Dan Conners (#74), tackle, 225 pounds
  • Bob Dentel (#56), center, 222 pounds
  • Bill Diamond (#61), guard, 225 pounds
  • Bob Eggert (#68), guard, 190 pounds
  • Sam Fernandez (#46), fullback, 195 pounds
  • Foster (#83), punter
  • Ron Fritzsche (#23), halfback, 193 pounds
  • Leo Lillimagi (#52), center, 212 pounds
  • Charles Livingston (#75), center and kicker, 231 pounds
  • Stan Maluty (#78), tackle, 218 pounds
  • Bill Miller (#82), end, 192 pounds
  • George Mira (#10), quarterback, sophomore, 176 pounds
  • Jim O'Mahoney (#64), guard, 202 pounds
  • Frank Reinhart (#89), end, 205 pounds
  • Jerry Reynolds (#63), guard, 196 pounds
  • Ben Rizzo (#81), end, 198 pounds
  • Nick Ryder (#36), halfback, 190 pounds
  • Joe Smerdel (#67), tackle, 215 pounds
  • Nick Spinelli (#20), halfback, 176 pounds
  • Jim Vollenweider (#33), fullback, 197 pounds
  • Bill Watts (#77), tackle, 231 pounds
  • Bobby Weaver, quarterback
  • B. Wilson (#86), kicker
  • Larry Wilson (#85), end, 198 pounds

Coaches

References

  1. Tommy Fitzgerald (September 17, 1961). "Martha Strikes Hard, Soaks Hurricanes, 10-7". The Miami News. pp. 1C, 7C – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Ailing passer turns Tide for Miami". The Sunday Courier & Press. September 24, 1961. Retrieved October 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. Luther Evans (September 30, 1961). "Roaring Hurricanes Chop Up Penn State With 25-8 Lacing". The Miami Herald. p. 16A – via Newspapers.com.
  4. Luther Evans (October 14, 1961). "Colorado Stands Off Hurricanes' Tardy Comeback Bid to Escape with 9-7 Verdict". The Miami Herald. pp. 19A, 21A – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Colorado Football 2023 Record Book" (PDF). University of Colorado Boulder. p. 30. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  6. Luther Evans (October 28, 1961). "Hurricanes 'Rain' as Mira and Company Shower Tar Heels With 10 to 0 Soaking". The Miami Herald. pp. 1D, 4D – via Newspapers.com.
  7. Gene Warren (October 28, 1961). "Miami Defeats Carolina 10-0 In Rain-Swept Battle: Mira Sparks Hurricanes To Late TD". Greensboro Daily News. pp. B2, B4 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Miami beats Georgia, 32–7; Mira scores two". The Warren County Observer. November 4, 1961. Retrieved October 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Miami squeaks past fumbling Tulane, 6–0". The Miami Herald. November 12, 1961. Retrieved September 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. Tommy Fitzgerald (November 25, 1961). "A Night Of Records For Mira And Miller". The Miami News. pp. 1B, 4B – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "Mira cranks up, Miami gets win". The Nashville Tennessean. December 3, 1961. Retrieved October 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. John Dell (December 17, 1961). "Syracuse Shades Miami in 2d Half, 15-14". The Philadelphia Inquirer. pp. 1S, 8S – via Newspapers.com.
  13. "1961 Football Schedule". Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on October 5, 2015. Retrieved October 27, 2016.
  14. "Mira Leads State". The Miami Herald. December 7, 1961. p. 7D – via Newspapers.com.
  15. "Football Award Winners" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). 2016. p. 9. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  16. "Mira, Miller Top Team of All-State Gridders". The Bradenton Herald. December 10, 1961. p. 1D – via Newspapers.com.
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