1961 Maine Black Bears football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 football 1961 Maine Black Bears Yankee Conference Yankee Maine Intercollegiate Athletic Association MIAA 8–0–1 5–0 2–0–1 Harold Westerman 11th Robert Kinney Dave Cloutier Alumni Field Yankee Conference championLewis O. Barrows Trophy (MIAA champion) The 1961 Maine Black Bears football team was an American football team that represented the University of Maine as a member of the Yankee Conference and Maine Intercollegiate Athletic Association during the 1961 college football season. In its 11th season under head coach Harold Westerman, the Black Bears compiled an 8–0–1 record (5–0 in Yankee Conference and 2–0–1 in MIAA games) and won the Yankee Conference championship. They also compiled a 2–0–1 record in Maine State Series competition to win the Lewis O. Barrows Trophy. The team was led by quarterback Manchester Wheeler (715 passing yards), halfback Dave Cloutier (42 points scored), and end Dick Kinney (171 receiving yards). All three were selected as first-team players on the 1961 All-Yankee Conference team. Kinney and Cloutier were also the team captains.2019 Maine Football Media Guide University of Maine 2019 86 https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/umaine.sidearmsports.com/documents/2019/8/17/2019_Maine_Football_Media_Guide.pdf September 22, 2021 September 23, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210923194140/https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/umaine.sidearmsports.com/documents/2019/8/17/2019_Maine_Football_Media_Guide.pdf dead The team played its home games at Alumni Field in Orono, Maine. Schedule y y September 23 Army B team<ncg> Alumni Field Orono, ME W 21–6 4,800 Maine Passing Whips Army's B Team, 21–6 The Boston Globe September 24, 1961 87 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85840339/maine-passing-whips-armys-b-team-21-6/ Newspapers.com September 30 at Rhode Island Meade Stadium Kingston, RI W 22–20 3,500 U-M Edges Rhody; Bears Tip RI 22–20 The Bangor Daily News October 2, 1961 13 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85840711/u-m-edges-rhody/ Newspapers.com October 7 Vermont Alumni Field Orono, ME W 34–14 4,600–5,000 Maine Stuns Vt.; 4 TDs By Cloutier The Boston Globe October 8, 1961 79 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85840087/maine-stuns-vt-4-tds-by-cloutier/ Newspapers.comhttps://www.newspapers.com/clip/79152093/maine-wallops-vermont-eleven-3414/ The Bangor Daily News Maine wallops Vermont eleven, 34–14 October 9, 1961 June 7, 2021 Newspapers.com October 14 at New Hampshire Cowell Stadium Durham, NH (Battle for the Brice–Cowell Musket) W 7–6 7,500–8,500 Maine Tips UNH: Win 7–6 For 4th Victory Bangor Daily News October 16, 1961 14 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bangor-daily-news-maine-tips-unh-wi/154833524/ Newspapers.com Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (New Hampshire) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/469/stats/12865 National Collegiate Athletic Association December 26, 2022 October 21 Connecticut Alumni Field Orono, ME W 2–0 8,000 Maine Nips UConn To Stay Unbeaten Bangor Daily News Owen Osborne October 23, 1961 16 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bangor-daily-news-maine-nips-uconn-t/154834004/ Newspapers.com October 28 at 1961 Bates Bobcats Bates Garcelon Field Lewiston, ME T 15–15 4,500-8,500+ Maine Comeback Ties Bates: 'Cat Defense Contains Favored Bruins, 15–15 The Lewiston Daily Sun Harry Olum October 30, 1961 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-lewiston-daily-sun-maine-bates/154817133/ Newspapers.com November 4 at 1961 Colby Mules Colby Seaverns Field Waterville, ME W 14–0 5,000 Maine Blanks Colby: U-M Thrashes Mules, 14-0 Portland Press Herald Woody Bigelow November 5, 1961 1B, 2B https://www.newspapers.com/article/portland-press-herald-maine-blanks-colby/154816824/ Newspapers.com November 11 1961 Bowdoin Polar Bears Bowdoin<ncg> Alumni Field Orono, ME W 13–8 9,000 Maine Tips Bowdoin To Win Lid: UM Bears Retire Barrows Trophy The Bangor Daily News Bud Leavitt November 13, 1961 17 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bangor-daily-news-maine-tips-bowdoin/154814549/ Newspapers.com November 22 UMass Alumni Field Orono, ME W 10–7 4,500 Triple Accomplishment By U of Maine Footballers, Two Titles And Undefeated Record: Field Goal By Boucher Swings Finale To Bears The Lewiston Daily Sun Ted Taylor November 23, 1961 18 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-lewiston-daily-sun-triple-accomplish/154814465/ Newspapers.com Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Maine) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/380/stats/12865 National Collegiate Athletic Association December 25, 2022 Statistics The 1961 Black Bears tallied 2,242 yards of total offense (249.1 per game), consisting of 1,482 rushing yards (164.7 per game) and 760 passing yards (84.4 per game). On defense, they gave up 1,618 yards (179.8 per game) with 761 rushing yards (84.6 per game) and 857 passing yards (95.2 per game). Fullback Dale Curry led the team in rushing with 291 yards on 82 carries. Halfback Dave Cloutier ranked second with 230 yards on 50 carries. Cloutier led the team in scoring with 42 points on seven touchdowns. Quarterback Manchester Wheeler complete 43 of 96 passes for 715 yards with 11 interceptions and eight touchdowns. The leading receivers were end Richard Kinney (10 receptions, 171 yards, two touchdowns) and halfback Dave Cloutier (seve receptions, 161 yards, three touchdowns). Honors and awards Three Maine players were selected by the conference coaches as first-team players on the 1961 All-Yankee Conference football team: Manchester Wheeler at quarterback; Dave Cloutier at halfback; and Dick Kinney at end.Wheeler, Cloutier, Kinney On Y-C All-Star Unit; Stackpole Also Pick Portland Press Herald December 7, 1961 25 https://www.newspapers.com/article/portland-press-herald-wheeler-cloutier/154841072/ Newspapers.com Cloutier was also selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the 18th round, 242nd overall pick, of the 1962 NFL draft.https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1962/draft.htm 1962 NFL Draft Listing Pro-Football-Reference.com January 1, 2024 References Maine Category:Maine Black Bears football seasons Category:Yankee Conference football champion seasons Category:College football undefeated seasons Maine Black Bears football