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1961 Virginia Cavaliers football
Conference	Atlantic Coast Conference
Record	4–6 (2–4 ACC)
Head coach	Bill Elias (1st season)
Captains	Louis Martig Ron Gassert
Home stadium	Scott Stadium
Seasons← 19601962 →

The 1961 Virginia Cavaliers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Virginia as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) during the 1961 college football season. In their first year under head coach Bill Elias, the Cavaliers compiled a 4–6 record (2–4 in conference games), were outscored by a total of 190 to 123, and finished in eighth place out of eight teams in the ACC. Despite the last place finish, Elias was named ACC Coach of the Year, becoming the second in conference history to win the award in a coach's first year at the school. Elias, who had been the Southern Conference Coach of the Year the previous season at George Washington, snapped Virginia's 28-game losing streak by beating William & Mary in the first game of the season. Their win against South Carolina snapped an 18-game losing streak against ACC foes.

The team's statistical leaders included junior quarterback Gary Cuozzo (382 passing yards) and sophomore halfback Doug Thomson (294 rushing yards).

The team played its home games at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Schedule

Statistics

Gary Cuozzo and Stanford Fischer both saw significant action at quarterback. Cuozzo completed 42 of 93 passes (45.2%) for 382 yards with five touchdowns, three interceptions, and a 91.0 quarterback rating. Fischer completed 27 of 69 passes (39.1%) for 361 yards with one touchdown, eight interceptions, and a 64.7 quarterback rating.

The Cavaliers had six players who rushed for over 100 yards, led by Doug Thomson (294 yards, 70 carries, 4.2-yard average); Tony Ulehla (190 yards, 54 carries, 3.5-yard average); Bobby Freeman (187 yards, 62 carries, 3.0-yard average); and Ted Rzempoluch (162 yards, 48 carries, 3.4-yard average).

The leading receivers were Carl Kuhn (six receptions, 87 yards) and Tony Ulehla (nine receptions, 85 yards).

Awards and honors

Though Virginia finished in last place in the ACC, Bill Elias was selected by the ACC Sportswriters Association as the ACC Coach of the Year. He was credited with turning the Virginia football program around after a 28-game losing streak dating back to 1958.

Senior guard Louis Martig and senior tackle Ron Gassert were selected as the team co-captains. Gassert was selected by the Associated Press and United Press International as a second-team player on the 1961 All-Atlantic Coast Conference football team.

Personnel

Players

• Dennis Andrews (#80), end, junior, 6'5", 208 pounds, Huntington, Long Island, NY
• Gary Cuozzo (#11), quarterback, junior, 6'1", 187 pounds, Glen Ridge, NJ
• Stanford Fischer, quarterback, junior, 6'0", Kempsville, VA
• Bobby Freeman, halfback, junior, 5'11", 182 pounds, Richmond, VA
• Ron Gassert (#77), tackle and co-captain, senior, 6'3", 235 pounds, Mt. Holly, NJ
• Dave Graham (#76), tackle, 235 pounds
• Tom Griggs, fullback, junior, 6'0", 190 pounds, Richmond, VA
• John Hepler (#40), halfback, sophomore, 5'11", 175 pounds, Winchester, VA
• William Kanto, tackle, senior, 6'1", 220 pounds, Norton, VA
• Joe Kehoe, end, junior, 6'2", 187 pounds, Wharton, NJ
• Carl Kuhn (#42), halfback, junior, 5'11", 177 pounds, Lancaster, PA
• Louis Martig, guard and co-captain, senior, 5'10", 202 pounds, Pittsburgh, PA
• Myron McWilliams, end, sophomore, 6'1", 200 pounds, Blades, DE
• Edward Menzer (#85), end, senior, 6'1", 197 pounds, Memphis, TN
• Andy Moran (#51), center, 6'0", 210 pounds, Syracuse, NY
• Robert Rowley (#62), guard, junior, 6'1", 210 pounds, Cumberland, MD
• Ted Rzempoluch (#21), halfback, junior, 6'1", 182 pounds, Cliffside Park, NJ
• Terry Sieg, halfback, sophomore, 6'1", 185 pounds, Rumson, NJ
• Emory Thomas (#68), guard, senior, 6'0", 200 pounds, Richmond, VA
• Doug Thomson, halfback, sophomore, 5'11", 186 pounds, Baltimore, MD
• Tony Ulehla, halfback, senior, 6'0", 188 pounds, Belcamp, MD
• Willis Williams (#38), fullback, junior, 5'10", 180 pounds, Elmira, NY

Coaches and administration

• Head coach: Bill Elias
• Assistant coaches: Bill Neal, Al Carapella, Hayden Buckley, Ralph Humphreys, Zeke Fantino
• Athletic director: Gus Tebell

References

1. "1961 Atlantic Coast Conference Year Summary". sports-reference.com. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
2. "2016 ACC Football Media Guide" (PDF). p. 122.
3. "Virginia's Bill Elias ACC Coach of Year". The Washington Post. December 5, 1961. p. A23.
4. "Virginia wins first since '58". The Lima Citizen. September 24, 1961. Retrieved October 24, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Blue Devils take to air, smash Cavaliers by 42–0". Richmond Times-Dispatch. October 1, 1961. Retrieved January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "New running attack helps N.C. State get first win". The Birmingham News. October 8, 1961. Retrieved January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Fischer leads U. Va. in win over VMI". The Virginian-Pilot. October 15, 1961. Retrieved January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Techmen take stunning 20–0 Harvest Bowl win". Kingsport Times-News. October 22, 1961. Retrieved January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Riley throws 2 touchdowns to pace Wake Forest over Virginia, 21 to 15". Kingsport Times-News. October 29, 1961. Retrieved January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Cavaliers surprise S.C." The Daily News Leader. November 5, 1961. Retrieved January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Sai's heroics push Navy past Virginia". The Charlotte Observer. November 19, 1961. Retrieved January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Virginia apparently knocks Maryland out of a bowl, 28–16". Florence Morning News. November 26, 1961. Retrieved January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
13. Harry W. Lloyd (December 3, 1961). "Farris, Elliott Lead UNC to 24-0 Grid Win: Heels Finish Season 2nd In Conference". The Daily Tar Heel. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
14. Joe Tiede (December 3, 1961). "Tar Heels Close Play By Blanking Virginia". The News and Observer. pp. 1, 4 (section II) – via Newspapers.com.
15. "1961 Virginia Cavaliers Schedule and Results". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
16. "All-Time Virginia Box Score Game Statistics". Virginia Cavaliers Official Athletic Site. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
17. ^ "1961 Virginia Cavaliers Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
18. "Virginia Mentor Elias Is ACC's Coach Of Year". Durham Morning Herald. December 5, 1961. p. 3B – via Newspapers.com.
19. "2017 Cavalier Football Fact Book" (PDF). Virginia Cavaliers Athletics. p. 120. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 28, 2017. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
20. Ken Alyta (November 30, 1961). "Terps' Gary Collins Is All-ACC Lineman; Gabriel of NC State Chosen". The Morning Herald (MD).
21. "Gabriel Leads All-ACC Club". Statesville Record & Landmark. December 1, 1961. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
22. "Elias Hopeful For Winning Season With Good UVA Team". The News-Virginian. September 14, 1961. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
23. "U. Va. Choice Today". The Virginian-Pilot. October 14, 1961. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
24. 1962 University of Virginia yearbook, p. 96.

• 1961 Atlantic Coast Conference football season
• Virginia Cavaliers football seasons
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