1961 Duke Blue Devils football team

American college football season August 2023 January 2026 1961 Duke Blue Devils football 1961 Duke Blue Devils football team.png 300px Team portrait from 1962 Chanticleer Atlantic Coast Conference ACC 14 20 7–3 5–1 Bill Murray 11th Dean Wright Jack Wilson Duke Stadium ACC champion The 1961 Duke Blue Devils football team was an American football team that represented Duke University as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) during the 1961 college football season. In their eleventh year under head coach Bill Murray, the Blue Devils compiled a 7–3 record (5–1 in conference games), won the ACC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 183 to 106. In non-conference games, they defeated Navy and Notre Dame but lost to Georgia Tech and Michigan.https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/duke/1961-schedule.html 1961 Duke Blue Devils College Football at Sports-Reference.com They were ranked No. 14 in the final UPI coaches poll and No. 20 in the final AP writers poll.UPI Puts Bama 1st; Duke 14th The Herald-Sun Joe Sargis December 5, 1961 13 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-sun-upi-puts-bama-1st-duke-1/153863240/ Newspapers.com The Blue Devils led the ACC in total defense, giving up 224.1 yards per game, and also led the conference in passing offense with 140.9 passing yards per game. Quarterback Walt Rappold led the team in passing (54-for-96 for 830 yards), and halfback Mark Leggett led the team in rushing (318 yards on 86 carries).1961 Duke Blue Devils Stats Sports Reference LLC SR College Football August 22, 2024 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/duke/1961.html Tackle Art Gregory and guard Jean Berry were consensus first-team picks on the 1961 All-Atlantic Coast Conference football team. Duke played its home games at Duke Stadium in Durham, North Carolina. Schedule September 23 w y South Carolina Carolina Stadium Columbia, SC 7–6 35,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-and-democrat-duke-scores-in-la/139129411/ The Times and Democrat Duke scores in last 2 minutes, edges USC September 24, 1961 January 19, 2024 Newspapers.com September 30 w y Virginia City Stadium Richmond, VA Tobacco Bowl 42–0 20,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/richmond-times-dispatch-blue-devils-take/139129549/ Richmond Times-Dispatch Blue Devils take to air, smash Cavaliers by 42–0 October 1, 1961 January 19, 2024 Newspapers.com October 7 w Wake Forest Duke Stadium Durham, NC rivalry 23–3 20,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/asheville-citizen-times-rappold-hurls-du/139129643/ Asheville Citizen-Times Rappold hurls Duke over Wake Forest, 23–3 October 8, 1961 January 19, 2024 Newspapers.com October 14 l y y Georgia Tech Grant Field Atlanta, GA 0–21 44,015 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune-gann-leads-tech-to-21/133246497/ The Tampa Tribune Gann leads Tech to 21–0 win over Duke October 15, 1961 October 10, 2023 Newspapers.com October 21 l y Clemson Duke Stadium Durham, NC 7–17 30,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/johnson-city-press-clemson-topples-duke/139129760/ Johnson City Press-Chronicle Clemson topples Duke, 17–7, in ACC contest October 22, 1961 January 19, 2024 Newspapers.com October 28 w y NC State Riddick Stadium Raleigh, NC rivalry 17–6 21,800 https://www.newspapers.com/article/kingsport-times-news-duke-tops-nc-stat/139129853/ Kingsport Times-News Duke tops N.C. State by 17–6 October 29, 1961 January 19, 2024 Newspapers.com November 4 l y y Michigan Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI 14–28 56,488 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-journal-times-wolverines-wallop-duke/139129981/ Racine Sunday Bulletin Wolverines wallop Duke's Blue Devils 28–14 in intersectional football clash November 6, 1961 January 19, 2024 Newspapers.com November 11 w y y Navy Foreman Field Norfolk, VA Oyster Bowl 30–9 32,000–32,127 https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-lauderdale-news-devils-pin-loss-on/139130085/ Fort Lauderdale News Devils pin loss on Navy November 12, 1961 January 19, 2024 Newspapers.com November 18 w North Carolina Duke Stadium Durham, NC Victory Bell 6–3 41,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/florence-morning-news-duke-topples-north/139130180/ Florence Morning News Duke topples North Carolina, 6–3 November 19, 1961 January 19, 2024 Newspapers.com December 2 w y Notre Dame Duke Stadium Durham, NC 37–13 35,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-terre-haute-tribune-duke-roars-back/139130287/ The Terre Haute Tribune-Star Duke roars back to beat Notre Dame, 37–13 December 3, 1961 January 19, 2024 Newspapers.com Statistics Duke ranked second in the ACC in total offense (307.5 yards per game) and led the conference in passing offense (140.9 yards per game). On defense, the Blue Devils ranked first in total defense (giving up 224.1 yards per game).Gabriel ACC's Individual Offense, Passing Champion The Herald-Sun December 7, 1961 33 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-sun-gabriel-accs-individual/153858330/ Newspapers.com Quarterback Walt Rappold led the team in passing, completing 54 of 96 passes (.563 completion) for 830 yards with seven touchdowns and five interceptions for a 142.5 quarterback rating.1961 Duke Blue Devils Stats Sports Reference LLC SR College Football August 22, 2024 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/duke/1961.html He ranked fourth in the ACC in total offense (1,012 yards) but led the conference in average gain per pass thrown (8.6 yards) and in average gain per play of total offense (7.2 yards).Another Gabirel Title: ACC 'King Of Offense' News and Record December 7, 1961 33 https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-another-gabirel-title-a/153863976/ Newspapers.com Quarterback Gil Garner also contributed to Duke's passing offensecompleted 56 of 86 passes for 576 yards. Garner ranked 10th in the ACC with 617 yards of total offense. Duke's leading rushers were Mark Leggett (318 yards, 86 carries, 3.7-yard average), Dean Wright (251 yards, 68 carries, 3.7-yard average), Dave Burch (220 yards, 49 carries, 4.5-yard average), Walt Rappold (182 yards, 45 carries, 4.0-yard average), and Joel Arrington (170 yards, 51 carries, 3.3-yard average). The team's leading receivers were Stan Crisson (241 yards, 20 receptions, 2 touchdowns), Jay Wilkinson (208 yards, 12 receptions, 2 touchdowns), Mark Leggett (185 yards, 12 receptions, 2 touchdowns), Pete Widener (182 yards, 17 receptions, 1 touchdown), Jack Wilson (168 yards, 9 receptions, 1 touchdown), and Dean Wright (131 yards, 15 receptions, 0 touchdowns). Three players tied for the team's leadership in scoring. Billy Futrell, Dave Burch, and Mark Leggett each had 18 points on three touchdowns. Awards Tackle Art Gregory received the annual ACC Jacobs Blocking Trophy presented byt the Atlantic Coast Sports Writers Association (ACSWA). Head coach Bill Murray called Gregory "the best blocker I have ever had at Duke."Gregory, LeCompte Cop Award The Herald-Sun December 7, 1961 33 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-sun-gregory/153857922/ Newspapers.com Four Duke players were recognized by the Associated Press (AP), United Press International (UPI), and/or the Atlantic Coast Sports Writers Association (ACSWA) on the 1961 All-Atlantic Coast Conference football team: tackle Art Gregory (AP-1, UPI-1, ACSWA-1); guard Jean Berry (AP-1, UPI-1, ACSWA-1); halfback Mark Leggett (UPI-1, AP-2); and quarterback Walt Rappold (AP-2).Terps' Gary Collins Is All-ACC Lineman; Gabriel of NC State Chosen Ken Alyta The Morning Herald (MD) November 30, 1961 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3449609/1961_all_acc_football_team/Collins Paces Writers' Vote For All-ACC Daily Press December 1, 1961 29 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107358076/collins-paces-writers-vote-for-all-acc/ Newspapers.com Personnel Players 30em Joel Arrington, halfback, senior, 6'1", 190 pounds Paul Bengel, center, junior, 6'1", 198 pounds Jean Berry, guard, junior, 6'0", 212 pounds Dave Burch, fullback, senior, 6'0", 188 pounds Randy Clark, quarterback, senior, 6'1", 185 pounds Dave Condon, tackle, junior, 6'1", 212 pounds Stan Crisson, swing-end, sophomore, 6'2", 194 pounds Gil Garner, quarterback, junior, 6'0", 175 pounds Dan Gelbert, end, senior, 6'0", 191 pounds Art Gregory, tackle, junior, 6'3", 212 pounds Dick Havens, tackle, junior, 5'11', 203 pounds Mark Leggett, halfback, junior, 5'10", 169 pounds Johnny Markas, guard, junior, 5'11", 196 pounds Fred McCollum, tackle, junior, 6'2", 207 pounds Walt Rappold, quarterback, junior, 6'3", 202 pounds John Tinnell, fullback, senior, 6'3", 207 pounds Dave Unser, alternate captain and end, senior, 5'10", 185 pounds Pete Widener, swing-end, junior, 6'2", 189 pounds Jay Wilkinson, swing-end, sophomore, 6'1", 180 pounds (son of Bud Wilkinson) Ken Williams, center, junior, 5'11", 192 pounds Jack Wilson, captain and halfback, senior, 6'1", 183 pounds Dean Wright, halfback, senior, 5'11", 186 pounds The Chanticleer 1962, pp. 236-245.Duke Talent Makes Murray Grin Winston-Salem Journal September 18, 1961 12 https://www.newspapers.com/article/winston-salem-journal-duke/153857267/ Newspapers.com Gallery Coaches Head coach - Bill Murray Assistant coaches Ace Parker - offensive backfield coach Ted Youngling - offensive line coach Marty Pierson - offensive end coach Carmen Falcone - defensive backfield coach Herschel Caldwell - defensive ends coach Doug Knotts - defensive line coach Bob Cox - freshman football coach Head trainer - Bob Chambers The Chantileer 1962 Duke University 234-236 https://archive.org/details/chanticleerseria1962duke/page/235/mode/1up?q=football Newspapers.com Gallery References Duke Category:Duke Blue Devils football seasons Category:Atlantic Coast Conference football champion seasons Duke Blue Devils football