1961 North Carolina Tar Heels football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1961 North Carolina Tar Heels football 1961 North Carolina Tar Heels football team.png 285 1961 team portrait from The Yackety Yack yearbook Atlantic Coast Conference ACC 5–5 4–3 Jim Hickey 3rd Bob Elliott Jim LeCompte Kenan Memorial Stadium The 1961 North Carolina Tar Heels football team was an American football team that represented the University of North Carolina (now known as University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) during the 1961 college football season. In their third year under head coach Jim Hickey, the Tar Heels compiled a 5–5 record (4–3 in conference games), finished second in the ACC, and were outscored by a total of 141 to 121.1961 North Carolina Tar Heels Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football September 9, 2024 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/north-carolina/1961-schedule.html Quarterback Ray Farris broke North Carolina single-season records for passes attempted and completed and became the third player in ACC history to complete two years with 1,000 yards of total offense. Gib Carson led the team, and ranked second in the ACC, with 406 rushing yards and also ranked second in the ACC with 311 yards on kick returns. The team played its home games at Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Schedule 1961 AP Eastern September 30 2:00 p.m. w NC State Kenan Memorial Stadium Chapel Hill, NC rivalry 27–22 44,000 Bruising Carolina Attack Whips State, 27-22 The News and Observer Raleigh, North Carolina Dick Herbert October 1, 1961 1, 3 (section II) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-bruising-carolina/155050098/ Newspapers.com October 7 2:00 p.m. l Clemson Kenan Memorial Stadium Chapel Hill, NC 0–27 26,000 Tigers Rout UNC: Fiery Tigers Humble tar Heels, 27-0 The News and Observer Raleigh, North Carolina October 8, 1961 1, 4 (section II) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-tigers-rout-unc-f/155050469/ Newspapers.comhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-clemson-whips-carolina-2/139134552/ Greensboro Daily News Clemson whips Carolina 27–0 October 8, 1961 January 19, 2024 Newspapers.com October 14 2:00 p.m. w y Maryland 10 Byrd Stadium College Park, MD 14–8 27,000 Carolina Upsets Maryland; Tar Heels Use Breaks To Win, 14-8 The News and Observer Raleigh, North Carolina Woody Upchurch October 15, 1961 1, 4 (section II) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-carolina-upsets-ma/155051267/ Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/article/kingsport-times-news-terps-take-first-lo/139133708/ Kingsport Times-News Terps take first loss October 15, 1961 January 19, 2024 Newspapers.com October 21 2:00 p.m.https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/791559783/ The Durham Sun from Durham, North Carolina 21 October 1961 w y South Carolina Carolina Stadium Columbia, SC rivalry 17–0 16,000 Tar Heels Win Ho-Hum Game From USC, 17-0: Gamecocks Clobbered The State Bob Talbert October 22, 1961 1B, 5B https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-state-tar-heels-win-ho-hum-game-from/155011138/ Newspapers.comhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greenville-news-addison-carson-spea/155011223/ Addison, Carson Spearhead Tar Heels 17-0 Win The Greenville News Greenville, South Carolina Wilt Browning October 22, 1961 Newspapers.comhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-sun-tarheels-pin-gamecocks-1/139135860/ Durham Morning Herald Tarheels pin Gamecocks, 17–0 October 22, 1961 January 19, 2024 Newspapers.com October 27 Friday 8:15 p.m. l y y Miami (FL) Miami Orange Bowl Miami, FL 0–10 29,612–29,671 Hurricanes 'Rain' as Mira and Company Shower Tar Heels With 10 to 0 Soaking The Miami Herald Luther Evans October 28, 1961 1D, 4D https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-hurricanes-rain-as-mi/155010936/ Newspapers.comMiami Defeats Carolina 10-0 In Rain-Swept Battle: Mira Sparks Hurricanes To Late TD Greensboro Daily News Gene Warren October 28, 1961 B2, B4 https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-miami-defeats-carolina-1/155010866/ Newspapers.com November 4 2:00 p.m. w y Tennessee Kenan Memorial Stadium Chapel Hill, NC 22–21 35,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99703537/tars-stun-vols-2221-in-final-15-seconds/ The Greenville News Tars stun Vols 22–21 in final 15 seconds November 5, 1961 April 13, 2022 Newspapers.com November 11 2:00 p.m. l y LSU 4 Kenan Memorial Stadium Chapel Hill, NC 0–30 28,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-state-lsu-tigers-wallop-unc/133236046/ The State LSU Tigers wallop UNC November 12, 1961 October 10, 2023 Newspapers.com November 18 2:00 p.m. l y Duke Duke Stadium Durham, NC Victory Bell 3–6 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 November 25 2:00 p.m. l y Wake Forest Bowman Gray Stadium Winston-Salem, NC rivalry 14–17 11,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-state-wake-forest-defeats-unc/139133067/ The State Wake Forest defeats UNC November 26, 1961 January 19, 2024 Newspapers.com December 2 2:00 p.m. w Virginia Kenan Memorial Stadium Chapel Hill, NC South's Oldest Rivalry 24–0 28,000 Farris, Elliott Lead UNC to 24-0 Grid Win: Heels Finish Season 2nd In Conference The Daily Tar Heel Harry W. Lloyd December 3, 1961 4 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-tar-heel-farris-elliott-lead/155010696/ Newspapers.comTar Heels Close Play By Blanking Virginia The News and Observer Joe Tiede December 3, 1961 1, 4 (section II) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-tar-heels-close-pl/155010741/ Newspapers.com Statistics thumb|right|165px|Quarterback Ray Farris thumb|right|165px|Jim Hickey with 1961 co-captains LeCompte and Elliott The 1961 Tar Heels gained an average of 137.5 rushing yards and 88.0 passing yards per game. On defense, they gave up 147.4 rushing yards and 95.7 passing yards per game.1961 North Carolina Tar Heels Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football September 9, 2024 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/north-carolina/1961.html Quarterback Ray Farris completed 71 of 159 passes (44.7%) for 875 yards with two touchdowns, 11 interceptions, and an 81.2 quarterback rating. His 71 completions and 159 attempts both broke North Carolina single-season records.Jack Horner's Sports Corner Durham Morning Herald December 8, 1961 D1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-sun-ray-farris/155010177/ Newspapers.com Farris also tallied 153 rushing yards to lead the team with 1,028 yards of total offense. He ranked second in the ACC, behind Roman Gabriel, in total offense.Gabriel Leads ACC In Offense Winston-Salem Journal December 7, 1961 12 https://www.newspapers.com/article/winston-salem-journal-gabriel-leads-acc/155010277/ Newspapers.com Farris closed his playing career in 1961 as the third player in ACC history to complete two years with 1,000 yards of total offense, the other two being Norm Snead and Roman Gabriel.Duke's Rappold Leads ACC In Average Gain Per Play The Durham Sun December 7, 1961 D1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-durham-sun-dukes-rappold-leads-acc/155010439/ Newspapers.com Gib Carson led the team, and ranked second in the ACC, with 406 rushing yards on 116 carries, a 3.5-yard average. Carson also ranked second in the ACC in kick-returning with 311 yards on 15 returns.Jay Wilkinson Breaks ACC's Punt-Return Mark By 100 Yards The Durham Sun December 8, 1961 3B https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-durham-sun-jay-wilkinson-breaks-acc/155010538/ Newspapers.com Fullback Bob Elliott ranked second on the team, and fifth in the ACC, with 361 rushing yards on 98 carries, a 3.7-yard average. Jim Addison tallied 265 yards on 86 carries for a 3.1-yard average. The leading receivers were Roger Smith (9 catches, 170 yards), Bob Lacey (10 catches, 161 yards), Gib Carson (15 catches, 147 yards), Ward Marslender (nine receptions, 121 yards), and Jim Addison (16 catches, 110 yards). Junior Edge led the team, and ranked second in the conference, with seven interceptions. Awards and honors Jim LeCompte and Bob Elliott were selected as the team captains. Five North Carolina players were honored by the AP, UPI, or Atlantic Coast Sports Writers Association (ACSWA) on the 1961 All-Atlantic Coast Conference football team: fullback Bob Elliott (AP-1, UPI-1, ACSWA-1); guard Jim LeCompte (AP-1, UPI-1, ACSWA-1); halfback Gib Carson (AP-1); back Ray Farris (AP-2, UPI-2); center Joe Carver (AP-2, UPI-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 References North Carolina Category:North Carolina Tar Heels football seasons North Carolina Tar Heels football