1961 Miami Hurricanes football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1961 Miami Hurricanes football Independent 19 7–4 Andy Gustafson 14th Miami Orange Bowl Liberty Bowl L 14–15 vs. Syracuse The 1961 Miami Hurricanes football team was an American football team that represented the University of Miami as an independent during the 1961 college football season. In their 14th year under head coach Andy Gustafson, the Hurricanes compiled a 7–4 record, outscored opponents by a total of 146 to 85, and were ranked No. 19 in the final UPI poll. They defeated Penn State (25–8), Georgia (32–7), and Florida (15–6) in the regular season and lost to Syracuse (14–15) in the 1961 Liberty Bowl. The team was led on offense by quarterback George Mira (896 passing yards), end Bill Miller (637 receiving yards), and fullback Jim Vollenweider (472 yards). Miller was a consensus first-team pick on the 1961 All-America college football team. The team played its home games at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. Schedule 1961 AP September 16 l Pittsburgh Orange Bowl Miami, FL 7–10 33,292 Martha Strikes Hard, Soaks Hurricanes, 10-7 The Miami News Tommy Fitzgerald September 17, 1961 1C, 7C https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-news-martha-strikes-hard-soak/153600350/ Newspapers.com September 23 w y Kentucky McLean Stadium Lexington, KY 14–7 35,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/evansville-press-ailing-passer-turns-tid/133299031/ The Sunday Courier & Press Ailing passer turns Tide for Miami September 24, 1961 October 11, 2023 Newspapers.com September 29 w Penn State 8 Orange Bowl Miami, FL 25–8 45,657 Roaring Hurricanes Chop Up Penn State With 25-8 Lacing The Miami Herald Luther Evans September 30, 1961 16A https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-roaring-hurricanes-chop/153640799/ Newspapers.com October 6 l Navy Orange Bowl Miami, FL 6–17 53,182 October 13 l Colorado Orange Bowl Miami, FL 7–9 40,393–40,397 Colorado Stands Off Hurricanes' Tardy Comeback Bid to Escape with 9-7 Verdict The Miami Herald Luther Evans October 14, 1961 19A, 21A https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-colorado-stands-off-hur/154193691/ Newspapers.com Colorado Football 2023 Record Book https://static.cubuffs.com/custompages/football/2023_Info_Guide/2023_Info_Guide.pdf University of Colorado Boulder 30 October 23, 2023 October 27 w North Carolina Orange Bowl Miami, FL 10–0 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 3 w Georgia Orange Bowl Miami, FL 32–7 38,210 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-warren-county-observer-miami-beats-g/133300382/ The Warren County Observer Miami beats Georgia, 32–7; Mira scores two November 4, 1961 October 11, 2023 Newspapers.com November 11 w y Tulane Tulane Stadium New Orleans, LA 6–0 15,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85675288/miami-squeaks-past-fumbling-tulane-60/ The Miami Herald Miami squeaks past fumbling Tulane, 6–0 November 12, 1961 September 20, 2021 Newspapers.com November 24 w Northwestern Orange Bowl Miami, FL 10–6 46,282 A Night Of Records For Mira And Miller The Miami News Tommy Fitzgerald November 25, 1961 1B, 4B https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-news-a-night-of-records-for-mi/154367423/ Newspapers.com December 2 w y Florida Florida Field Gainesville, FL rivalry 15–6 42,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-mira-cranks-up-miami-get/133247786/ The Nashville Tennessean Mira cranks up, Miami gets win December 3, 1961 October 10, 2023 Newspapers.com December 16 l y Syracuse 14 Philadelphia Municipal Stadium Philadelphia, PA Liberty Bowl 14–15 15,712 Syracuse Shades Miami in 2d Half, 15-14 The Philadelphia Inquirer John Dell December 17, 1961 1S, 8S https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-syracuse-shade/155568082/ Newspapers.com 1961 Football Schedule Sports Reference LLC October 27, 2016 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/miami-fl/1961-schedule.html live https://web.archive.org/web/20151005000751/http://www.sports-reference.com:80/cfb/schools/miami-fl/1961-schedule.html 2015-10-05 Schedule/Results (1961 Miami) https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/174170 National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA Statistics May 10, 2025 Statistics Miami players led the State of Florida in passing, total offense, rushing, and receiving: Quarterback George Mira led in passing, completing 74 of 151 passes for 896 yards. Mira also led the state in total offense with 1,075 yards. Miami's ends took first and second place in the state in receiving: Bill Miller with 43 receptions for 637 yards and Larry Wilson with 18 receptions for 257 yards. Fullback Jim Vollenweider led in rushing with 472 yards on 101 carries. Vollenweider's rushing yardage also qualified him for fifth place in the state in total offense. He also tied for fourth in the state with 18 points scored. Mira Leads State The Miami Herald Dec 7, 1961 7D https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-mira-leads-state/155571463/ Newspapers.com Awards and honors End Bill Miller was a consensus first-team pick on the 1961 All-America college football team, receiving first-team honors from the Associated Press (AP), United Press International (UPI), and the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), among others.Football Award Winners National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) 2016 October 21, 2017 9 http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2016/awards.pdf Miller and quarterback George Mira were unanimous picks on the 1961 all-state football team selected in a poll of 12 Florida sports writers. Guard Bob Eggert and halfback Nick Ryder were also named to the first team. Five Miami players were named to the second team: end Larry Wilson; tackle Billy Watts; guard Jerry Reynolds; center Charley Livingston; and fullback Jim Vollenweider.Mira, Miller Top Team of All-State Gridders The Bradenton Herald December 10, 1961 1D https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bradenton-herald-mira-miller-top-te/155573891/ Newspapers.com Personnel Players 40em John Bahen (#30), halfback, 175 pounds John Bennett (#12), quarterback, 202 pounds James Bruno (#25), fullback, 188 pounds Dan Conners (#74), tackle, 225 pounds Bob Dentel (#56), center, 222 pounds Bill Diamond (#61), guard, 225 pounds Bob Eggert (#68), guard, 190 pounds Sam Fernandez (#46), fullback, 195 pounds Foster (#83), punter Ron Fritzsche (#23), halfback, 193 pounds Leo Lillimagi (#52), center, 212 pounds Charles Livingston (#75), center and kicker, 231 pounds Stan Maluty (#78), tackle, 218 pounds Bill Miller (#82), end, 192 pounds George Mira (#10), quarterback, sophomore, 176 pounds Jim O'Mahoney (#64), guard, 202 pounds Frank Reinhart (#89), end, 205 pounds Jerry Reynolds (#63), guard, 196 pounds Ben Rizzo (#81), end, 198 pounds Nick Ryder (#36), halfback, 190 pounds Joe Smerdel (#67), tackle, 215 pounds Nick Spinelli (#20), halfback, 176 pounds Jim Vollenweider (#33), fullback, 197 pounds Bill Watts (#77), tackle, 231 pounds Bobby Weaver, quarterback B. Wilson (#86), kicker Larry Wilson (#85), end, 198 pounds Coaches References Miami Category:Miami Hurricanes football seasons Miami Hurricanes football