1961 Rice Owls football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1961 Rice Owls football 1961 Rice Owls football team.png 285 1961 team portrait from The Campanile Southwest Conference SWC 7–4 5–2 Jess Neely 22nd Les "Butch" Blume Ray Alborn John Burrell Roland Jackson Rice Stadium Bluebonnet Bowl L 7–33 vs. Kansas The 1961 Rice Owls football team was an American football team that represented Rice University as a member of the Southwest Conference (SWC) during the 1961 college football season. In their 22nd year under head coach Jess Neely, the Owls compiled a 7–3 record (5–2 in conference games), finished in third place in the SWC, and outscored opponents by a total of 176 to 125. They concluded their season with a 33–7 loss to Kansas in the 1961 Bluebonnet Bowlhttps://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/rice/1960-schedule.html 1960 Rice Owls Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football August 2, 2018 Halfback Butch Blume scored 74 points to break Rice's single-season scoring record, and fullback Roland Jackson led the team with 415 rushing yards. Jackson, end John Burrell, and tackle Robert Johnston received first-team honors on the 1961 All-Southwest Conference football team. The Owls were ranked No. 7 in the AP writers poll early in the season, but dropped out of the rankings following their September 30 loss to Georgia Tech. They have not been ranked in the AP poll since that time. The Owls played their home games at Rice Stadium in Houston, Texas. Schedule 1961 AP September 23 w y LSU 5 Rice Stadium Houston, TX 16–3 73,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-american-cox-pass-shoe-stabs/133235264/ The American-Statesman Cox' pass shoe stabs LSU, 16–3 September 24, 1961 October 10, 2023 Newspapers.com September 30 l y y 7 Georgia Tech Grant Field Atlanta, GA 0–24 43,501 https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-yellow-jackets/133246412/ Fort Worth Star-Telegram Yellow Jackets chill Rice, 24–0 October 1, 1961 October 10, 2023 Newspapers.com October 14 w y Florida Rice Stadium Houston, TX 19–10 32,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-owl-pass-thefts/133247445/ Fort Worth Star-Telegram Owl pass thefts, power runs rip Florida by 19–10 October 14, 1961 October 10, 2023 Newspapers.com October 21 w SMU Rice Stadium Houston, TX rivalry 10–0 37,000 Owls Score in First Half To Beat Mustangs, 10-0 Fort Worth Star-Telegram Paul Brookshire October 22, 1961 3 (section 2) https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-owls-score-in-f/155316847/ Newspapers.com October 28 l y Texas 3 Memorial Stadium Austin, TX rivalry 7–34 62,310 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123814910/texas-smears-rice-347/ The Tyler Courier-Times-Telegraph Texas smears Rice, 34–7 October 29, 1961 April 30, 2023 Newspapers.com November 4 w y Texas Tech Jones Stadium Lubbock, TX 42–7 34,000 November 11 l Arkansas Rice Stadium Houston, TX 0–10 43,000 Razorbacks Sink Owls, 10-0, in Mud Fort Worth Star-Telegram Jim Trinkle November 12, 1961 1, 4 (section 2) https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-razorbacks-sink/155324544/ Newspapers.comBlume, Jackson Pace Rice To 42-7 Victory Over Tech Corpus Christi Times Associated Press November 5, 1961 1C https://www.newspapers.com/article/corpus-christi-times-blume-jackson-pace/155246638/ Newspapers.com November 18 w Texas A&M Rice Stadium Houston, TX 21–7 53,000 Rice Shells Aggies, 21-7, With Passes Fort Worth Star-Telegram Jim Trinkle November 19, 1961 3 (section 2) https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-rice-shells-agg/155099927/ Newspapers.com November 25 w y TCU Amon G. Carter Stadium Fort Worth, TX 35–16 22,000 Rice Defeats Giant Killers, 35-16: Owls Roll to 35-0 Lead, Outlast Frogs' Aerials Fort Worth Star-Telegram Bill Van Fleet November 26, 1961 1, 6 (section 2) https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-rice-defeats-gi/155088153/ Newspapers.com December 2 w Baylor Rice Stadium Houston, TX 26–14 30,000 Owls Step Over Bears Into Bluebonnet; Blume Triggers Victory Assault, 26-14 Waco Tribune-Herald Dave Campbell December 3, 1961 2B https://www.newspapers.com/article/waco-tribune-herald-owls-step-over-bears/155088468/ Newspapers.com December 16 l y y Kansas Rice Stadium Houston, TX Bluebonnet Bowl CBS 7–33 52,000 Jayhawks Submerge Rice, 33-7 Fort Worth Star-Telegram Jim Trinkle December 17, 1961 1 (section 4) https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-jayhawks-submer/155087532/ Newspapers.comhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yv8xAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_-QFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6891%2C5925453 Lawrence Daily Journal-World Kansas Mayer Bill Dedicated, jubilant Hawks throw off bad effects and end season on strong note December 18, 1961 16 Statistics right|thumb|175px|Halfback and MVP Les "Butch" Blume The 1961 Owls gained an average of 174.0 rushing yards and 90.3 passing yards per game. On defense, they gave up an average of 175.6 rushing yards and 118.7 passing yards per game. Rice halfback Les "Butch" Blume, a 5'9" clarinetist from LaGrange, Texas, scored 74 points in the regular season to win the 1961 Southwest Conference scoring championship. His point tally included six field goals and broke Dicky Moegle's Rice scoring record of 72 points in 1954.Blume-Led Owls Drop Bears, 26-14 Fort Worth Star-Telegram Jim Trinkle December 3, 1961 1 (section 2) https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-blume-led-owls/155088921/ Newspapers.com Fullback Roland Jackson led the team with 415 rushing yards on 88 carries in 10 regular season games for an average of 4.7 yards per game. Other leading rushers included Butch Blume (308 yards, 44 carries, 5.6-yard average) and Randall Kerbow (249 yards, 72 carries, 3.5-yards average).https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/rice/1961.html 1960 Rice Owls Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football September 11, 2024 The team's passing leaders were quarterbacks Randall Kerbow (37-for-79, 505 yards, three touchdowns, six interceptions) and Billy Cox (23-for-52, 287 yards, five touchdowns, one interception). The leading receivers were Johnny Burrell (seven catches, 133 yards) and Gene Raesz (eight catches, 112 yards). Awards and honors The team's tri-captains were tackle Ray Alborn, end John Burrell, and fullback Roland Jackson.The Campanile 1962, p. 336. Halfback Les "Butch" Blume won the George Martin Award as the team's most valuable player. Three Rice players received first-team honors from the Associated Press (AP) or the United Press International (UPI) on the 1961 All-Southwest Conference football team: Roland Jackson at fullback (AP-1, UPI-1); John Burrell at end (AP-1); and Robert Johnston at tackle (AP-1).Saxton, Alworth Lead Coaches' All-Southwest Conference Teams Corsicana Daily Sun December 4, 1961 10 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3071930/1961_ap_all_swc/ Newspapers.comUPI All-Southwest Conference The Bryan Daily Eagle December 3, 1961 12 https://www.newspapers.com/image/43468776/ Newspapers.com Personnel Players The principal players featured in The Campanile yearbook were: 40em Ray Alborn, tackle, senior, 6'1", 220 pounds, Houston, TX Larry Anthony, guard, senior, 6'0", 223 pounds, Lamesa, TX Les "Butch" Blume, halfback, junior, 5'9", 170 pounds, LaGrange, TX Mike Bowen, back, senior, 6'0", 190 pounds, Houston, TX Spencer Brown, back, senior, 6'0", 180 pounds, Kerryville, TX Johnny Burrell, end, senior, 6'3", 185 pounds, Fort Worth, TX Lonnie Caddell, back, senior, 6'2", 203 pounds, Dallas, TX Jerry Candler, halfback, junior, 6'0", 186 pounds, Ballinger, TX Johnny Cole, center, junior, 6'2", 202 pounds, Ft. Worth, TX John Cornett, tackle, senior, 6'4", 242 pounds, Alice, TX Billy Cox, quarterback, junior, 5'11", 188 pounds, Galena Park, TX Mike Fritsch, tackle, sophomore, 6'3", 241 pounds, Lockhart, TX Pat Gerald, center, junior, 6'0", 178 pounds, Sweetwater, TX Roland Jackson, fullback, senior, 6'0", 203 pounds, Ruston, LA Robert Johnston, tackle, 6'4", 217 pounds, Pine Bluff, AR George Karam, tackle, senior, 6'1", 210 pounds, McAllen, TX Jerry Kelly, end, sophomore, 6'0", 187 pounds, Eunice, NM Randall Kerbow, quarterback, junior, 6'0", 183 pounds, Pasadena, TX Dan Malin, center, junior, 6'3", 221 pounds, Temple, TX John Mims, tackle, sophomore, 6'3", 240 pounds, Mission, TX Johnny Nicols, guard, sophomore, 5'11", 200 pounds, Galena Park, TX Gary Poage, back, senior, 6'1", 185 pounds, Happy, TX Gene Raesz, end, junior, 6'1", 197 pounds, Taylor, TX Tommy Rees, end, junior, 6'4", 210 pounds, Big Lake, TX Ronny Schultz, end, senior, 6'3", 201 pounds, Austin, TX Kenny Simmons, guard, junior, 6'0", 194 pounds, Colorado City, TX John Sylvester, end, sophomore, 6'1", 175 pounds, Baytown, TX Bob Wayt, back, senior, 6'0", 178 pounds, White Oak, TX Dickie Woods, guard, senior, 5'11", 205 pounds, Sweetwater, TX The Campanile 1962, pp. 338-347.Rice Roster The Austin American September 7, 1961 39 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-american-rice-roster/155091249/ Newspapers.com Coaching staff Head coach: Jess Neely Director of Athletics: Jess Neely Assistant coaches: Cecil B. Grigg, Charles E. Moore, A.M. "Red" Bale, Joe W. Davis, Bo Hagen Freshman football coach: Nick Lanza Trainer: Eddie Wojecki The Campanile 1962, p. 335. Gallery References Rice Category:Rice Owls football seasons Rice Owls football