1961 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team

American college football season

1961 Minnesota Golden Gophers football
Rose Bowl champion
Rose Bowl, W 21–3 vs. UCLA
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 6
AP	No. 6
Record	8–2 (6–1 Big Ten)
Head coach	Murray Warmath (8th season)
MVP	Sandy Stephens
Captain	John Mulvena
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium
Seasons← 1960 1962 →

1961 Big Ten Conference football standings
v t e	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 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.

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.

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.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance
September 30	Missouri*		Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN	L 0–6	58,840
October 7	Oregon*		Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN	W 14–7	50,499
October 14	at Northwestern		Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL	W 10–3	41,251
October 21	at Illinois		Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL	W 33–0	52,247
October 28	Michigan		Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN (Little Brown Jug)	W 23–20	63,898
November 4	No. 1 Michigan State		Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN	W 13–0	59,941
November 11	at Iowa	No. 5	Iowa Stadium Iowa City, IA (rivalry)	W 16–9	60,100
November 18	No. 7 Purdue	No. 5	Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN	W 10–7	67,081
November 25	Wisconsin	No. 3	Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN (rivalry)	L 21–23	66,232
January 1	vs. No. 16 UCLA*	No. 6	Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA (Rose Bowl)	W 21–3	98,214
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Awards

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

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).

Statistical leaders

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).

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).

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.

Roster

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

References

"1961 Minnesota Golden Gophers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
"Champion vote goes to Alabama". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. Associated Press. December 5, 1961. p. 2B.
Joyce, Dick (December 5, 1961). "Alabama No. 1 football team in final UPI poll". Bend Bulletin. Oregon. UPI. p. 3.
^ "1961 Minnesota Golden Gophers Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF), p. 160
Dick Gordon (October 1, 1961). "Missouri Tips Gophers 6-0". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune. pp. 1S, 10S – via Newspapers.com.
Dick Gordon (October 8, 1961). "Gophers Whip Oregon 14-7". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune. pp. 1, 2 (sports) – via Newspapers.com.
Dick Gordon (October 15, 1961). "Gophers Stun Wildcats 10-3". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune. pp. 1, 2 (sports) – via Newspaper.com.
Dick Gordon (October 22, 1961). "Gophers Bomb Illinois 33-0". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune. pp. 1, 2 (sports) – via Newspapers.com.
Fred Young (October 22, 1961). "Illinois Bows To Minnesota". The Pantagraph. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
Dick Gordon (October 29, 1961). "Gopher Rally Nips Michigan 23-20". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune. pp. 1, 2 (sports) – via Newspapers.com.
"Fumble Wrecks U-M, 23-20". Detroit Free Press. October 29, 1961. p. D1, D3 – via Newspapers.com.
Dick Gordon (November 5, 1961). "Gophers Shock Spartans 13-0". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune. pp. 1, 2 (sports) – via Newspapers.com.
George S. Alderton (November 5, 1961). "State Dreams Dimmed in Gopherland". Lansing State Journal. pp. 55, 56 – via Newspapers.com.
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.
Dick Gordon (November 19, 1961). "Gophers Whip Purdue 10-7". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune. pp. 1, 2 (sports) – via Newspapers.com.
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.
Dick Gordon (November 26, 1961). "Badgers Spoil 'U' Title Hopes: Gophers Beaten 23-21". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune. pp. 1, 2 (sports) – via Newspapers.com.
"Warmath, Gopher Football Vindicated". The Minneapolis Star. January 2, 1961. p. 13B – via Newspapers.com.
"Gophers' Stephens 'MV' in Big Ten". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune. December 17, 1961. p. 1 (Sports) – via Newspapers.com.
"1961 Heisman Trophy Voting". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
"Stephens, Bell Unanimous Choices on All-Big Ten". St. Cloud Times. November 28, 1961. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
"Stephens, Bell, Hall on UPI Big Ten First Team". The Minneapolis Star. November 28, 1961. p. 12B – via Newspapers.com.
^ BillMcGrane (September 10, 1961). "Here Are Profiles of Football Gophers". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune. pp. 31, 32 – via Newspapers.com.

v t e Minnesota Golden Gophers football
Venues	Athletic Park (1892–1898) University of Minnesota Armory (1892–1898) Northrop Field (1899–1923) Memorial Stadium (1924–1981) Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome (1982–2008) Huntington Bank Stadium (2009–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Iowa Michigan: Little Brown Jug Nebraska Penn State: Governor's Victory Bell Wisconsin
Culture & lore	Goldy Gopher Marching band Spirit squad "Minnesota Rouser" "Minnesota March" "Go Gopher Victory" "Minnesota Fight" "Our Minnesota" "Hail! Minnesota" "Battle Hymn of the Republic" Minnesota shift T formation Smith of Minnesota
People	Head coaches Annual awards NFL draftees Statistical leaders
Seasons	1882 1883 1884–1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
National championship seasons in bold

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