1961 Ole Miss Rebels football team

American college football season August 2023 January 2026 1961 Ole Miss Rebels football Southeastern Conference SEC 5 5 9–2 5–1 Johnny Vaught 15th Hemingway StadiumMississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Cotton Bowl Classic L 7–12 vs. Texas The 1961 Ole Miss Rebels football team was an American football team that represented the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 1961 college football season. In their 15th year under head coach Johnny Vaught, the Rebels compiled a 9–2 record (5–1 in conference games), finished third in the SEC, shut out five opponents, and outscored all opponents by a total of 326 to 40. The Rebels finished the season ranked No. 5 in both the AP writers poll and UPI coaches poll and lost to No. 3 Texas, 12–7, in the 1962 Cotton Bowl. Having won national championships in 1959 and 1960, Ole Miss was favored in every game throughout the 1961 season. The team scored an average of 29.6 points and gained an average of 487.1 yards of total offense per game. On defense, they held opponents to 3.6 points and 161.4 yards per game. Fullback Billy Ray Adams led the team in rushing (575 yards) and was a first-team pick on the 1961 All-America college football team. Quarterback Doug Elmore led the team in total offense (1,086 yards) and was selected as a first-team All-American by the Central Press. The team played its home games at Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi. Schedule 1961 AP September 23 w y 9 Arkansas Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Jackson, MS rivalry 16–0 46,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/lubbock-avalanche-journal-ole-miss-rolls/133245269/ Lubbock Avalanche-Journal Ole Miss rolls over touted Porkers, 16–0 September 24, 1961 October 10, 2023 Newspapers.com September 30 w y 2 Kentucky McLean Stadium Lexington, KY 20–6 33,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-journal-ole-miss-shoots-down/133245394/ The Atlanta Journal & Constitution Ole Miss shoots down eager Wildcats, 20–6 October 1, 1961 October 10, 2023 Newspapers.com October 7 w y 2 Florida State Hemingway Stadium Oxford, MS 33–0 12,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/clarion-ledger-ole-miss-scalps-seminoles/133245473/ The Clarion-Ledger Ole Miss scalps Seminoles, 33–0 October 8, 1961 October 10, 2023 Newspapers.com October 14 w y y 1 Houston Crump Stadium Memphis, TN 47–7 15,610 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-commercial-appeal-slow-starting-rebe/133245572/ The Commercial Appeal Slow-starting Rebels smash Houston, 47–7 October 15, 1961 October 10, 2023 Newspapers.com October 21 w 2 Tulane rivalry Memorial Stadium Jackson, MS 41–0 40,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85674831/rebs-mangle-tulane-greenies-410-for-5th/ The Clarion-Ledger Rebs mangle Tulane Greenies 41–0 for 5th straight victory October 22, 1961 September 20, 2021 Newspapers.com October 28 w y 2 Vanderbilt Dudley Field Nashville, TN rivalry 47–0 25,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-huntsville-times-ole-miss-smashes-pa/133245667/ The Huntsville Times Ole Miss smashes past Vandy, 47–0 October 29, 1961 October 10, 2023 Newspapers.com November 4 l y 2 LSU 6 Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA rivalry 7–10 68,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-knoxville-news-sentinel-lsu-does-it/133235960/ The Knoxville News-Sentinel LSU does it again! Ole Miss goes down November 5, 1961 October 10, 2023 Newspapers.com November 11 w y 7 Chattanooga Hemingway Stadium Oxford, MS 54–0 10,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85112100/ole-miss-rebs-maul-chattanooga-by-540/ The Clarion-Ledger Ole Miss Rebs maul Chattanooga by 54–0 November 12, 1961 September 10, 2021 Newspapers.com November 18 w 6 y Tennessee rivalry Crump Stadium Memphis, TN 24–10 32,428 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99703916/powerful-ole-miss-belts-vols-2410/ The Jackson Sun Powerful Ole Miss belts Vols, 24–10 November 1912 1961 April 13, 2022 Newspapers.com December 2 w y 5 Mississippi State Scott Field Starkville, MS Egg Bowl 37–7 34,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-rebs-close-out-in-po/133245889/ The Birmingham News Rebs close out in power show December 3, 1961 October 10, 2023 Newspapers.com January 1 l y y 5 Texas 3 Cotton Bowl Dallas, TX Cotton Bowl Classic 7–12 75,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123816519/longhorn-interceptions-help-kill-rebels/ The Clarion-Ledger Longhorn interceptions help kill Rebels, 12–7 January 2, 1962 April 30, 2023 Newspapers.com1961 Ole Miss Rebels Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football October 10, 2023 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/mississippi/1961-schedule.htmlDeLassus David Mississippi Yearly Results: 1960–1964 College Football Data Warehouse http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/sec/mississippi/yearly_results.php?year=1960 March 22, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20121020184203/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/sec/mississippi/yearly_results.php?year=1960 October 20, 2012 dead Statistics thumb|right|140px|Quarterback Doug Elmore The Rebels averaged 262.8 rushing yards and 224.3 passing yards per game. On defense, they gave up an average of only 89.3 rushing yards and 72.1 passing yards per game.1961 Ole Miss Rebels Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football October 4, 2024 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/mississippi/1961.html The Rebels had three quarterbacks who had quarterback ratings over 147: Glynn Griffing completed 46 of 91 passes (50.5%) for 785 yards with 10 touchdown passes, two interceptions and a 154.9 quarterback rating. Doug Elmore completed 50 of 84 passes (59.5%) for 741 yards with six touchdowns, four interceptions, and a 147.7 quarterback rating. Elmore also tallied 345 rushing yards for a team-high total of 1,086 yard of total offense. Perry Lee Dunn completed 13 of 27 passes (48.1%) for 301 yards with three touchdowns, two interceptions, and a 163.6 quarterback rating. The Rebels also had ten backs who tallied at least 99 rushing yards. They were led by Billy Ray Adams (575 yards, 91 carries, 6.3 yards per carry), Doug Elmore (345 yards, 77 carries, 4.5 yards per carry), Buck Randall (200 yards, 48 carries, 4.2 yards per carry), Art Doty (182 yards, 35 carries, 5.2 yards per carry), and Perry Lee Dunn (175 yards, 39 carries, 4.5 yards per carry). The team also had ten players with at least 100 receiving yards. The group was led by Catfish Smith (14 receptions, 254 yards), Billy Ray Adams (11 receptions 198 yards), Wesley Sullivan (nine receptions, 163 yards), Willis Dabbs (seven receptions, 155 yards), and A.J. Holloway (14 receptions, 148 yards). Billy Ray Adams led the team in scoring with 54 points on nine touchdowns. Awards and honors thumb|right|140px|Fullback Billy Ray Adams Four Ole Miss players were recognized on the 1961 All-America college football team: Fullback Billy Ray Adams was named to the first-team by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), to the second-team by the Associated Press (AP) and to the third team by the United Press International (UPI). Quarterback Doug Elmore was named to the first team by the Central Press. Guard Bookie Bolin was named to the first team by Time magazine. Tackle Jim Dunaway was named to the second team by the UPI. 1962 Ole Miss (University of Mississippi yearbook), p. 146. Six players were honored on the 1961 All-SEC football team: fullback Billy Ray Adams (AP-1 [halfback], UPI-1 [halfback]); tackle Jim Dunaway (AP-1, UPI-1); end Ralph Smith (AP-2, UPI-2); quarterback Doug Elmore (AP-2, UPI-2); guard Bookie Bolin (UPI-2); and guard Billy Ray Jones (AP-3, UPI-3).https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=950&dat=19611205&id=a0hQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=IVcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2203,778860&hl=en The Evening Independent December 5, 1961 Trammell, Neighbors, Fracchia Picked From Bama To All-SEChttps://www.newspapers.com/clip/2576453/the_monroe_newsstar/ AP's All-SEC The Monroe News-Star December 5, 1961 8 Newspapers.com June 8, 2015 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2576490/the_delta_democrattimes/ The Delta Democrat-Times UPI All-Southeastern November 29, 1961 12 Newspapers.com June 8, 2015 Personnel Players Billy Ray Adams, fullback, 210 pounds Bookie Bolin, guard, 222 pounds Jerry Brown, tackle, 226 pounds Woody Dabbs, end, 200 pounds Art Doty, halfback, 185 pounds Jim Dunaway, tackle, 250 pounds Doug Elmore, quarterback, 187 pounds Glynn Griffing, quarterback Louis Guy, halfback, 181 pounds Whaley Hall, tackle Billy Ray Jones, guard, 212 pounds Walt Kinnebrew, halfback Fred Lentjes, center, senior, 212 pounds Sam Owen, guard Richard Ross, center Ralph Smith, end, 200 pounds Coaches and administrators thumb|right|145px|Johnny Vaught Head coach: Johnny Vaught Assistant coaches: Wes "Doc" Knight, Johnny Cain, Junie Hovious, Bruiser Kinard, J. W. "Wobble" Davidson, Ray Poole, Tom Swayze, Roland Dale, Buster Poole, B. L. Graham Athletic director: Tad Smith References Ole Miss Category:Ole Miss Rebels football seasons Ole Miss Rebels football