1961 Missouri Tigers football team

American college football season August 2023 January 2026 1961 Missouri Tigers football Big Eight Conference Big 8 11 11 7–2–1 5–2 Dan Devine 4th Paul Henley Memorial Stadium The 1961 Missouri Tigers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Missouri in the Big Eight Conference (Big 8) during the 1961 college football season. In their fourth year under head coach Dan Devine, the Tigers compiled a 7–2–1 record (5–2 in conference games), finished in a tie for second place in the Big 8, and outscored opponents by a total of 124 to 57.https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/missouri/1961-schedule.html 1961 Missouri Tigers Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football November 11, 20162016 Mizzou Football Media Guide University of Missouri 158 November 11, 2016 http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/mutigers.com/documents/2016/7/13/16_fb_media_guide.pdf November 10, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20161110235532/http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/mutigers.com/documents/2016/7/13/16_fb_media_guide.pdf dead Two games were decided based on Missouri's attempts for two-point conversions in the closing minutes: On October 7, the Tigers trailed, 14–6, in the closing minutes against California. They scored a touchdown with 7:36 remaining, and Daryl Krugman scrambled for a two-point conversion to tie the game.Missouri Tied by California, 14 to 14: Two-Point Conversion Saves Day for Tigers in Last-Quarter Rally St. Louis Post-Dispatch October 8, 1961 1F, 6F https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-missouri-tied-by/153148126/ Newspapers.com Four weeks later, they trailed, 7–0, to Colorado. Missouri scored a touchdown with 6:14 remaining. Seeking to take the lead, halfback Mike Hunter overthrew Conrad Hitchler on the two-point attempt. Missouri lost, 7–6.Missouri Gamble Fails, Colorado Wins, 7-6 St. Louis Post-Dispatch Dave Lipman November 5, 1961 1F, 6F https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-missouri-gamble/153147229/ Newspapers.com Senior tackle Ed Blaine was selected as a first-team All-American. The team's statistical leaders included fullback Andy Russell with 412 rushing yards and quarterback Ron Taylor with 428 passing yards and 514 yards of total offense.2014 Mizzou Football Records Book University of Missouri 26–27 November 11, 2016 http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/miss/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2014-15/misc_non_event/14-records-book.pdf September 28, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180928041623/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/miss/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2014-15/misc_non_event/14-records-book.pdf dead The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Missouri. Schedule 1961 AP September 23 w y Washington State Memorial Stadium Columbia, MO 28–6 37,000 Air-Minded Missouri Dazzles Washington State, 28-6 St. Louis Post-Dispatch Bob Broeg September 24, 1961 1F https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-air-minded-misso/153146152/ Newspapers.com September 30 w y y Minnesota Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN 6–0 58,840 Missouri Tips Gophers 6-0 Minneapolis Sunday Tribune Dick Gordon October 1, 1961 1, 10 (sports) https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-missouri-tips-gophers-6-0/153147632/ Newspapers.com October 7 t y California Memorial Stadium Columbia, MO 14–14 42,000 October 14 w y Oklahoma State Lewis Field Stillwater, OK 10–0 18,500 MU Slips by Pokes, 10-0 Stillwater News-Press October 15, 1961 6 https://www.newspapers.com/article/stillwater-news-press-mu-slips-by-pokes/153148503/ Newspapers.com October 21 w y Iowa State Clyde Williams Field Ames, IA rivalry 13–7 21,932 Missouri Hits Iowa State, 13-7; Hoppmann Contained In Defeat Council Bluffs Nonpareil October 22, 1961 1C https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-nonpareil-missouri-hits-iowa-s/153164803/ Newspapers.com October 28 w Nebraska<hc> Memorial Stadium Columbia, MO rivalry 10–0 42,000 Missouri Stays Unbeaten By Defeating Nebraska Columbia Missourian Taylor Pensoneau October 29, 1961 1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/columbia-missourian-missouri-stays-unbea/153164137/ Newspapers.com November 4 l y 10 Colorado 8 Folsom Field Boulder, CO 6–7 43,000 November 11 l 10 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Columbia, MO rivalry 0–7 45,164 Missouri Upset by Oklahoma's Tough Defense St. Louis Post-Dispatch Dave Lipman November 12, 1961 1F, 6F https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-missouri-upset-b/153146902/ Newspapers.com November 18 w Kansas State Memorial Stadium Columbia, MO 27–9 29,000 Missouri Ends Scoring Slump, Beats Kansas State, 27-9 St. Louis Post-Dispatch Dave Lipman November 19, 1961 1E, 7E https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-missouri-ends-sc/153148889/ Newspapers.com November 25 w y Kansas 10 Memorial Stadium Lawrence, KS Border War 10–7 40,500 Missouri Line Puts Clamps on K.U. The Kansas City Star William E. Richardson November 26, 1961 1B, 2B https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kansas-city-star-missouri-line-puts/153146576/ Newspapers.com Awards Senior tackle Ed Blaine was selected as a first-team All-American by the Football Writers Association of America for Look magazine.'Look' Names Blaine To All-America Team Columbia Missourian December 3, 1961 11 https://www.newspapers.com/article/columbia-missourian-look-names-blaine/153135463/ Newspapers.comFarmington's Ed Blaine Wins All-American Spot from Grid Scribes The Daily St. Francois County Journal Mike Qualls December 6, 1961 1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-journal-farmingtons-ed-blaine/153135179/ Newspapers.com Blaine was also chosen as a second-team All-American by the Associated Press (AP).Blaine Named to Second Team of AP All-America Columbia Missourian December 8, 1961 7 https://www.newspapers.com/article/columbia-missourian-blaine-named-to-seco/153135581/ Newspapers.com Five Missouri players were recognized on the 1961 All-Big Eight Conference football team: Blaine (AP-1, UPI-1); end Conrad Hitchler (AP-1, UPI-1); tackle Bill "Bucky" Wegener (AP-2, UPI-2); guard Paul Garvis (AP-2); and guard Paul Henley (UPI-2).Hitchler, Blaine Named to UP All-Big Eight Columbia Missourian December 6, 1961 6 https://www.newspapers.com/article/columbia-missourian-hitchler-blaine-nam/153137313/ Newspapers.comBlaine, Hitchler Win All-Big Eight Honors Columbia Missourian Skipper Patrick November 29, 1961 6 https://www.newspapers.com/article/columbia-missourian-blaine-hitchler-win/153137532/ Newspapers.com Team awards were presented to tackles Bucky Wegener and Ed Blaine as the outstanding linemen, and to quarterback Ron Taylor and halfback Normal Beal as the outstanding senior backs.Fans, Squad Cheer Pledge At Banquet Columbia Daily Tribune November 29, 1961 10, 11 https://www.newspapers.com/article/columbia-daily-tribune-fans-squad-cheer/153156655/ Newspapers.com Statistics Missouri averaged 177.6 rushing yards, 67.7 passing yards, and 12.4 points per game. On defense, they gave up an average of 107.8 rushing yards, 69.2 passing yards, and 5.7 points per game.1961 Missouri Tigers Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football August 12, 2024 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/missouri/1961.html The team's rushing leaders were Andy Russell (412 yards, 100 carries), Norman Beal (287 yards, 57 carries), Bill Tobin (236 yards, 87 carries), and Paul Underhill (177 yards, 42 carries). The team's passing leaders were Ron Taylor (31 of 62, 428 yards, zero touchdowns, six interceptions) and Mike Hunter (9 of 20, 162 yards, four touchdowns, one interception). The team's receiving leaders were Conrad Hitchler (8 receptions, 124 yards) and Andy Russell (7 receptions, 100 yards). The scoring leaders were Ron Taylor (24 points) and Bill Tobin (18 points). Players At the end of the 1961 season, the following 31 players received varsity letters for their participation on the football team. 30em Norm Beal, halfback, 5-11, 171 pounds, senior Ed Blaine, tackle, 6-2, 217 pounds, senior Carl Crawford, halfback, 5-11, 186 pounds, junior Paul Garvis, guard, 5-9, 201 pounds, senior Mack Gilchrist, fullback, 5-11, 198 pounds, sophomore Paul Henley, guard, 6-0, 215 pounds, senior Thomas Hertz, guard, 5-10, 216 pounds, junior Conrad Hitchler, end, 6-3, 206 pounds, junior Mike Hunter, halfback, 6-1, 194 pounds, junior Jim Johnson, quarterback, 6-3, 213 pounds, junior Daryl Krugman, halfback, 5-9, 190 pounds, sophomore Bill McCartney, center, 6-1, 206 pounds, senior Larry Nichols, end, 6-2, 200 pounds, junior Gene Oliver, guard, 6-0, 191 pounds, sophomore Jackie Palmer, end, 6-0, 194 pounds, junior Roger Phillips, center, 5-11, 193 pounds, junior Andy Russell, fullback, 6-2, 201 pounds, junior Fred Schueler, guard, 6-0, 205 pounds, senior George Seals, tackle, 6-2, 235 pounds, sophomore John Sevcik, end, 6-1, 214 pounds, sophomore Bill Siekierski, tackle, 6-2, 223 pounds, junior Thomas Smith, guard, 5-11, 202 pounds, senior Gerald Stevenson, halfback, 6-3, 192 pounds, sophomore Ron Taylor, quarterback, 5-8, 174 pounds, senior Bill Tobin, fullback, 5-11, 193 pounds, junior Vince Turner, halfback, 5-10, 177 pounds, sophomore Paul Underhill, halfback, 6-0, 202 pounds, sophomore James Vermillion, center, 5-10, 184 pounds, junior Don Wainwright, end, 6-2, 200 pounds, junior Jerome Wallach, tackle, 6-2, 205 pounds, junior William "Bucky" Wegener, tackle, 5-10, 225 pounds, senior Twenty other players were named provisional letter winners, "pending their performance in spring football drills."Grid Letters Are Awarded To 31 Tigers Columbia Missourian November 29, 1961 7 https://www.newspapers.com/article/columbia-missourian-grid-letters-are-awa/153138246/ Newspapers.com References Missouri Category:Missouri Tigers football seasons Missouri Tigers football