1961 UCLA Bruins football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1961 UCLA Bruins football 285 Mike Haffner, Bill Barnes, Bobby Smith, 1961 Athletic Association of Western Universities AAWU 16 7–4 3–1 Bill Barnes 4th Ron Hull Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum AAWU champion Rose Bowl L 3–21 vs. Minnesota The 1961 UCLA Bruins football team was an American football team that represented the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) as a member of the Athletic Association of Western Universities (AAWU), commonly known at the time as the Big 5 Conference, during the 1961 college football season. In their fourth year under head coach Bill Barnes, the Bruins compiled a 7–4 record (3–1 in conference games), won the AAWU championship, outscored opponents by a total of 182 to 121, and were ranked No. 16 in the final Associated Press writers poll. They closed the season with a 21–3 loss to Minnesota in the 1962 Rose Bowl.1961 UCLA Bruins Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football December 17, 2015 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/ucla/1961-schedule.html Ron Hull, who played at center on offense and linebacker on defense, was the team captain and a first-team All-American. The team's offensive leaders were Bobby Smith with 305 passing yards and 60 points scored; Mike Haffner with 696 rushing yards; and Kermit Alexander with 271 receiving yards.1961 UCLA Bruins Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football December 17, 2015 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/ucla/1961.html The team played its home games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles. Schedule 1961 AP Pacific September 23 w y y Air Force DU Stadium Denver, CO 19–6 27,500 Curran J. Bruins' bobby smith (3 TDs) ruins Air Force, 19–6 https://www.proquest.com/docview/167989404 Los Angeles Times September 24, 1961 167989404 September 30 l y y 9 Michigan Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI 6–29 73,019 U-M, MSU Open with Bang: UCLA Ripped, 29 to 6 Detroit Free Press Lyall Smith Lyall Smith October 1, 1961 D1, D3 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15570153/um_msu_open_with_bang_ucla_ripped/ Newspapers.com October 7 l y y Ohio State 8 Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH 3–13 82,992 https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-sophs-spark-buc/189649998/ Fort Worth Star-Telegram Sophs spark Bucks over UCLA by 13–3 October 8, 1961 January 23, 2026 Newspapers.com October 14 w y Vanderbilt Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 28–21 23,704 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-idaho-statesman-fighting-uclans-edge/133301367/ The Idaho Statesman Fighting Uclans edge still Vanderbilt 11 October 15, 1961 October 10, 2023 Newspapers.com October 21 w y Pittsburgh Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 20–6 27,688 Bruins' Defense Rescues Offense, Beats Pitt, 20–6 The Los Angeles Times Jamie Curran October 22, 1961 1, 2 (section H) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-bruins-defense-re/153599925/ Newspapers.com October 28 w y Stanford Stanford Stadium Stanford, CA 20–0 35,000 'Sleeping' Bruins strike late, fast for 20–0 win The Los Angeles Times Jamie Curran October 29, 1961 1, 4 (sports) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-sleeping-bruins/154495214/ Newspapers.com November 4 w California Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA rivalry 35–15 33,792 Smith Stars as Bruins 'Fight' to Win The Los Angeles Times Jamie Curran November 5, 1961 1, 4 (section H) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-smith-stars-as-bru/154520872/ Newspapers.com November 10 w y TCU Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 28–7 29,236 https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-ucla-takes-to-ai/189650241/ St. Louis Post-Dispatch UCLA takes to air, beats TCU November 11, 1961 January 23, 2026 Newspapers.com November 18 l Washington Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 13–17 33,969 Bruins lose in 'give-away' duel, 17–13: Mitchell ignites Huskies The Los Angeles Times Paul Zimmerman November 19, 1961 1, 4 (section H) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-bruins-lose-in-gi/154482049/ Newspapers.com November 25 w y USC Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA Victory Bell 10–7 57,580 UCLA sloshes to bowl over USC, 10–7: Rain pelts 57,580 at big battle The Los Angeles Times Paul Zimmerman November 26, 1961 1, 5 (sports) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-ucla-sloshes-to-bo/153895203/ Newspapers.com January 1 l y y Minnesota 16 6 Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA Rose Bowl 3–21 98,214 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sioux-city-journal-redeeming-gophers/189650517/ The Sioux City Journal Redeeming Gophers wreck U.C.L.A. hopes, 21–3 January 2, 1962 January 23, 2026 Newspapers.com Schedule/Results (1961 UCLA) https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/214670 National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA Statistics January 23, 2025 2015 UCLA Bruins Football Media Guide Year-by-Year Results http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/uclabruins.com/documents/2015/8/13/FB_15MG_96_100.pdf December 19, 2016 December 20, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20161220211707/http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/uclabruins.com/documents/2015/8/13/FB_15MG_96_100.pdf dead Awards Ron Hull was on the field for 350 of 600 minutes during the 1961 regular season, playing at center on offense and at linebacker on defense.Hull Key Figure As Bruin Center Progress-Bulletin December 19, 1961 2 (section 3) https://www.newspapers.com/article/progress-bulletin-hull-key-figure-as-bru/153174763/ Newspapers.com He was selected by the Football Writers Association of America (for Look magazine) as the first-team center on the 1961 All-America team.UCLA's Hull Named on Look All-America Los Angeles Times December 4, 1961 IV-2 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-uclas-hull-named/153173663/ Newspapers.com Hull also received second-team All-America honors from the Associated Press (AP). At the end of the season, the AP released a 1961 All-Pacific Coast football team, and the AAWU released its own all-conference list limited to AAWU teams. Nine UCLA players received honors one or both: Hull (AP-1, AAWU-1); halfback Bobby Smith (AP-1, AAWU-1); quarterback/halfback Mike Haffner (AP-2, AAWU-2); tackle Foster Andersen (AP-2, AAWU-2); end Kermit Alexander (AAWU-2); end Don Vena (AAWU-2); guard Frank Macri (AAWU-2); guard Tom Paton (AAWU-2); and tackle Marshall Shirk (AAWU-2).3 Repeat on AP All-Coast Long Beach Independent December 7, 1961 E3 https://www.newspapers.com/article/independent-3-repeat-on-ap-all-coast/153169773/ Newspapers.comSmith, Beathard Top All-Big Five Evening Vanguard December 7, 1961 7 https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-vanguard-smith-beathard-top-all/153169333/ Newspapers.com Statistics The Bruins gained an average of 218.5 rushing yards and 68 passing yards per game and scored an average of 16.5 points a game. On defense, the team held opponents to 144.2 rushing yards and 78.9 passing yards and 11.0 points per game.UCLA Bruins Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football August 12, 2024 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/ucla/1961.html The team's individual statistical leaders were: Rushing - Mike Haffner (696 yards, 107 carries), Bobby Smith (631 yards, 166 carries), Almose Thompson (370 yards, 93 carries), and Kermit Alexander (165 yards, 30 carries). Passing - Bobby Smith (16 of 33, 305 yards, one touchdown, three interceptions) and Mike Haffner (14 of 34, 231 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions). Receiving - Kermit Alexander (11 receptions, 271 yards) and Don Vena (nine receptions, 103 yards). Scoring - Bobby Smith (60 points) and Mike Haffner (48 points). Personnel Roster 30em Kermit Alexander, right halfback, 187 pounds, No. 33 Dick Allen, guard Foster Andersen, tackle, 235 pounds, No. 74 Joe Bauwens, guard/tackle Steve Bauwens, tackle Jim Bergman, quarterback Walt Dathe, guard Mitch Dimkich, fullback Carmen DiPoalo, halfback Tony Fiorentino, tackle Al Geverink, end Mel Gibbs, end Tom Gutman, right end, No. 80 Mike Haffner, left halfback, sophomore, No. 11Stardom Comes as Surprise to UCLA Soph Los Angeles Times Jamie Curran H5 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-stardom-comes-as-s/153186800/ Newspapers.com Bill Hauck, right halfback Gale Hickman, end Chuck Hicks, right end, 191 pounds, No. 88 Ron Hull, center and captain, 205 pounds, No. 50 Keith Jensen, halfback Bob Jones, tackle John LoCurto, quarterback Frank Macari, guard, 235 pounds, No. 43 Phil Oram, tackle, 221 pounds, No. 77 Tom Paton, guard, 215 pounds, No. 68 Mel Profit, defensive end, No. 84Injured Profit Most Important Bruin Long Beach Independent Jerome Hall December 29, 1951 21 https://www.newspapers.com/article/independent-injured-profit-most-importan/153175147/ Newspapers.com Herb Quincy, guard Joe Rosenkrans, halfback Gary Scrivens, center Marshall Shirk, tackle Ezell Singleton, halfback, No. 20 Bob Smith, right halfback Bobby Smith, left halfback, 193 pounds, No. 19 Bob Stevens, quarterback, 194 pounds, No. 41 Dave Stout, guard Almose Thompson, fullback, 198 pounds, No. 24 Steve Truesdell, center Don Vena, left end, 205 pounds, No. 82 Andy Von Sonn, center John Walker, quarterback Bob Weeden, tackle/edn Joe Zeno, fullback, No. 28 Trojans, Bruins Lineups Los Angeles Evening Citizen November 24, 1961 14 https://www.newspapers.com/article/los-angeles-evening-citizen-news-trojans/153175590/ Newspapers.com Coaching staff Bill Barnes, head coach, fourth year Deke Brackett, senior assistant coach Bob Bergdahl, assistant coach Sam Boghosian, assistant coach (line) Jim Dawson, assistant coachBruin Assistant In Line For Head Coach's Job Valley Times December 25, 1961 9 https://www.newspapers.com/article/valley-times-jim-dawson/153186480/ Newspapers.com Johnny Johnson, assistant coach Dan Peterson, assistant coach References UCLA Category:UCLA Bruins football seasons Category:Pac-12 Conference football champion seasons UCLA Bruins football UCLA Bruins football