1961 Langston Lions football team

American college football season February 2026 January 2025 1961 Langston Lions football 1961 Langston Lions football team.png 285 1961 team portrait from The Lion yearbook Oklahoma Collegiate Conference OCC 8–2 6–1 Tim Crisp 4th Edison Harrington Robert Phillips Anderson Field OCC co-champion All Sports Bowl L 14–28 vs. Panhandle A&M The 1961 Langston Lions football team was an American football team that represented Langston University as a member of the Oklahoma Collegiate Conference (OCC) during the 1961 college football season. In their fourth year under head coach Tim Crisp, the Lions compiled an 8–2 record (6–1 in conference games), sharded the OCC title with the 1961 Central State Bronchos, and outscored opponents by a total of 287 to 109. Lions Finish In First With Central State https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49961616/durant-daily-democrat/ The Durant Daily Democrat Durant, Oklahoma United Press International November 20, 1961 7 April 30, 2020 Newspapers.com Langston led the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in both total defense (81.2 yards per game) and passing defense (23.6 yards per game) and ranked second in total offense (468.8 per game). Quarterback Donald Lee Smith led the NAIA in individual total offense with an average of 235.3 yards per game and was selected as a second-team player on the 1961 Little All-America college football team. Langston was one of the first historically black universities to compete in a previously segregated football conference. The Lions joined the OCC in 1958 and won conference championships in 1959 and 1960. The team played most of its home games in nearby Guthrie, Oklahoma, and its homecoming game at Anderson Field in Langston, Oklahoma. Schedule y y September 16 Panhandle A&M Guthrie, OK W 33-14 5,000 Langston Lashes Panhandle The Daily Oklahoman Frank Boggs September 17, 1961 3 (Sports) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-oklahoman-langston-lashes-panh/152244848/ Newspapers.comPanhandle Enters OCC Play, Finds Champ Langston Rough Tulsa World September 20, 1961 22 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tulsa-world-panhandle-enters-occ-play-f/152244564/ Newspapers.com September 23 Central Oklahoma Guthrie, OK L 13-14 6,000 Bronchos Shade Langston, 14-13 The Daily Oklahoman Ray Soldan September 24, 1961 4E https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-oklahoman-bronchos-shade-langs/152911609/ Newspapers.com September 30 at 1961 East Central Tigers East Central Norris Stadium Ada, OK W 32-6 Langston Blitz Strikes East Central Team, 32-6 The Ada Evening News October 1, 1961 10 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ada-evening-news-langston-blitz-stri/154944664/ Newspapers.com October 7 Texas College<ncg> Farrington Field Fort Worth, TX W 45-7 3,746 Passes Carry Langston Past Steers, 45-7 Fort Worth Star-Telegram October 8, 1961 2 (section 4) https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-passes-carry-la/154969639/ Newspapers.com October 14 1961 Southeastern Oklahoma State Savages Southeastern Oklahoma State Guthrie, OK W 38-0 Langston Larrups Southeastern, 38-0 The Lawton Constitution-Morning Press October 15, 1961 12 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-lawton-constitution-and-morning-pres/154969387/ Newspapers.com October 21 1961 Northeastern State Redmen Northeastern State Guthrie, OK W 20-7 Langston Lions Larrup NSC Redmen 20-7 Muskogee Daily Phoenix & Times Democrat October 22, 1961 12 https://www.newspapers.com/article/muskogee-daily-phoenix-and-times-democra/154945141/ Newspapers.com November 4 1961 Northwestern Oklahoma State Rangers Northwestern Oklahoma State Alva, OK W 27-7 1,000 Langston Swamps Rangers Here, 27-0 The Alva Review-Courier Jim Zin November 5, 1961 1, 21 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-alva-review-courier-langston-swamps/154944756/ Newspapers.com November 11 at 1961 Southwestern Oklahoma State Bulldogs Southwestern Oklahoma State Weatherford, OK W 26-20 Langston Edges Bulldogs, 26-20 The Daily Oklahoman November 12, 1961 6E https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-oklahoman-langston-edges-bulld/154944887/ Newspapers.com November 18 1961 Lincoln Blue Tigers Lincoln (MO)<ncg><hc> Anderson Field Langston, OK W 39-6 Langston Jolts Lincoln, 39-6 The Daily Oklahoman November 19, 1961 5E https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-oklahoman-langston-jolts-linco/154944972/ Newspapers.com December 9 vs Panhandle A&M Taft Stadium Oklahoma City, OK (All Sports Bowl) L 14-28 8,500 Panhandle Stuns Lions, 28-14: Aggies Rally To Win Bowl Before 8,500 The Daily Oklahoman Frank Boggs December 10, 1961 1E, 3E https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-oklahoman-panhandle-stuns-lion/152235561/ Newspapers.com Statistics Langston set a new National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) record, allowing opponents to gain an average of only 81.2 yards per game. The Lions also led the NAIA in pass defense, giving up only 23.6 passing yards per game.Panhandle Sets New NAIA Team Rushing Mark in '61 Season Seminole Producer December 7, 1961 6 https://www.newspapers.com/article/seminole-producer-panhandle-sets-new-nai/154945269/ Newspapers.comBowlward Trek Starts Early, Teams US Tops Guymon Daily Herald December 7, 1961 1, 5 https://www.newspapers.com/article/guymon-daily-herald-bowlward-trek-starts/154990307/ Newspapers.com Langston's opponents completed only 35 of 123 passes for 213 yards. Langston's rushing defense ranked fifth in the NAIA, as the team allowed only 518 rushing yards, an average of 57.5 yards per game. Langston also ranked second in the NAIA with 4,025 yards of total offense (468.8 per game), consisting of 1,946 rushing yards and 2,079 passing yards. Quarterback Donald Lee Smith led the NAIA in individual total offense with an average of 235.3 yards per game (2,118 yards on 233 plays).Donald Lee Smith Wins Offense Title The Guthrie Daily Leader December 7, 1961 4 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guthrie-daily-leader-donald-lee-smit/154945418/ Newspapers.com Smith ranked fourth in the NAIA in passing, completing 87 of 171 passes (54.0%) for an average of 172.9 passing yards per game. Smith also had an 80-yard touchdown run against Panhandle A&M that was the fifth longest run in the NAIA during the 1961 season. Langston also had two of the top receivers in the NAIA. Senior end DeWitt Anderson ranked ninth in the NAIA with 37 catches for 661 yards, an average of 73.4 yards per game. Sophomore end Randolph Furch ranked 13th with 37 catches for 587 yards, an average of 65.2 yards per game. Backup quarterback Marvin Williamson handled punting duties for the team and ranked fourth in the NAIA with an average of 43.6 yards per punt. Awards and honors Quarterback Donald Lee Smith was selected by the Associated Press as a second-team player on the 1961 Little All-America college football team.Annual Little All-Americans -- Small College Stars Selected The Shreveport Journal Harold Claassen December 6, 1961 17 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88758261/annual-little-all-americans-small/ Newspapers.com Smith was also named back of the year in the OCC, and five Langston players received first-team honors on the 1961 All-OCC team: Smith at back; DeWitt Anderson and Randolph Furch at end; Roosevelt Nivens at offensive tackle; and Edison Harrington at defensive tackle.Five Lions Make All Star Team The Guthrie Daily Leader December 7, 1961 4 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guthrie-daily-leader-five-lions-make/154945369/ Newspapers.com Personnel Players 30em Leroy Adams, end, sophomore, 196 pounds DeWitt Anderson, end, senior, 173 pounds John Bates Gene Batson George C. Brown Donald Butler Joe Butler, center, senior, 170 pounds Don Crockett James Cummings, guard, junior, 195 pounds Theodis Fipp Randolph Furch, end, sophomore, 198 pounds Silas Goree, center, junior, 195 pounds Edison Harrington (#66), guard, tackle and captain, senior, 220 pounds Ed Hurd Ralph Hurd Billy Hurte, halfback, senior, 165 pounds Archie Jones, halfback, junior, 170 pounds Fred Jones Jacob Knight Ovid Lacey Wilbur Law, tackle, senior, 190 pounds Leroy Mack Silver McQuarters, fullback, junior, 200 pounds Henry Moore, halfback, senior, 196 pounds Odell Nathaniel Roosevelt Nivens, tackle, senior, 220 pounds James Petit, end, junior, 172 pounds Robert Phillips Jimmy Pugh, guard, junior, 225 pounds Grover Quinn, tackle, junior, 202 pounds Charles Reed Richard Robinson Eddie Shegog Donald Lee Smith (#10), quarterback, senior, 175 pounds Billy Joe Snoody, halfback, senior, 165 pounds Charles Threat Roy Thurston, guard, senior, 180 pounds Marcellus Wade, tackle, senior, 215 pounds Ronnie Watson Eddie West, fullback, senior, 180 pounds Marvin Williamson, quarterback, sophomore, 175 pounds Charles Yokley The Lion 1962 (Langston University yearbook), pp. 154-155.Tigers Host Langston For Collegiate Headliner The Ada Evening News September 29, 1961 8 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ada-evening-news-tigers-host-langsto/154974610/ Newspapers.com Gallery Coaches Head coach: T. J. "Tim" Crisp Assistant coaches: Ray Johnson (line coach), Bernard Crowell (backfield coach) References Langston Category:Langston Lions football seasons Category:Oklahoma Collegiate Conference football champion seasons Langston Lions football