1961 Utah State Aggies football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1961 Utah State Aggies football Skyline Conference Skyline 10 10 9–1–1 5–0–1 John Ralston 3rd Romney Stadium Skyline co-champion Gotham Bowl L 9–24 vs. Baylor The 1961 Utah State Aggies football team was an American football team that represented Utah State University as a member of the Skyline Conference during the 1961 college football season. In their third year head coach John Ralston, the Aggies compiled a 9–1–1 record (5–0–1 in conference games), tied with Wyoming for the Skyline championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 387 to 78. They were ranked No. 10 in the final AP and UPI polls.Aggies Climb Up To Number 10 Rating In Nation The Herald Journal December 5, 1951 4 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-journal-aggies-climb-up-to-nu/153804791/ Newspapers.com The Aggies were undefeated in the regular season, having scored an average of 37.8 points per game while holding opponents to 5.0 points per game. They then lost to Baylor, 24–9, in the 1961 Gotham Bowl in New York City.1961 Utah State Aggies Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football August 20, 2024 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/utah-state/1961-schedule.html Utah State did not play in another bowl game until 1993. Tom Larscheid led the team in both rushing (773 yards) and scoring (78 points). Tackle Merlin Olsen won the Outland Trophy and was a consensus All-American. The team played its home games at Romney Stadium in Logan, Utah. Schedule 1961 AP September 16 w y Texas Western Romney Stadium Logan, UT 21–6 9,231 https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-daily-star-utags-thump-twc/169819495/ The Arizona Daily Star Utags thump TWC September 17, 1961 February 8, 2026 Newspapers.com September 23 w Montana Romney Stadium Logan, UT 54–6 8,122–8,123 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ScpOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fUkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5213%2C4641136 Deseret News Salt Lake City, Utah Ferguson George Aggies' rocket start dooms Montana, 54-6 September 25, 1961 B5 September 30 w y y Washington State Memorial Stadium Spokane, WA 34–14 13,000 Utah State Slams Cougars, 34-14 The Spokesman-Review October 1, 1961 1 (sports) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-spokesman-review-utah-state-slams-co/153651386/ Newspapers.com October 7 t y Wyoming War Memorial Stadium Laramie, WY rivalry 6–6 18,090 Pokes-Utags Knock Heads To Deadlock, 6-6 Casper Tribune-Herald & Star October 8, 1961 15 https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-star-tribune-pokes-utags-knock-he/154617495/ Newspapers.com October 14 w New Mexico Romney Stadium Logan, UT 41–7 8,051 Aggies Blast Lobos For 41-7 Victory The Herald Journal Val Hess October 15, 1961 6 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-journal-aggies-blast-lobos-fo/153607420/ Newspapers.com October 21 w y Colorado State Colorado Field Fort Collins, CO 49–3 10,700 Mighty Utah State Humbles CSU, 49 to 3 Fort Collins Coloradoan Dudley Cress October 22, 1961 13 https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-collins-coloradoan-mighty-utah-stat/153529968/ Newspapers.com October 28 w y Idaho Romney Stadium Logan, UT 69–0 6,934 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=a99iAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VTAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5395%2C4408289 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Associated Press Utags crush Vandals 69-0 October 29, 1961 10https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RgozAAAAIBAJ&sjid=w-cDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4996%2C4515806 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Utags crush Vandals, 69-0, in midst of raging blizzard Associated Press October 29, 1961 1, sportshttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TpNSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iUgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6646%2C6098285 Deseret News Salt Lake City, Utah Ferguson George Ag avalanche hits Idaho October 30, 1961 B-5 November 4 w y BYU Cougar Stadium Provo, UT rivalry 31–8 13,123 Ags Whip Cats 21-8; Long Gallops Feature BYU Homecoming Tilt The Sunday Herald (Provo, UT) Ray Schwartz November 5, 1961 1 (sports) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sunday-herald-ags-whip-cats-21-8-lo/153651195/ Newspapers.com November 11 w y y Western Michigan Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI 65–22 11,750–14,000 Ags Slay Broncos 65-22 In Michigan https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114841199/the-herald-journal/ The Herald Journal Logan, Utah United Press International November 12, 1961 6 December 18, 2022 Newspapers.com Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Western Michigan) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/774/stats/12865 National Collegiate Athletic Association December 18, 2022 November 18 w y Utah Ute Stadium Salt Lake City, UT rivalry 17–6 32,437 32,437 Watch Mighty Aggies Cuff Utes, 17-6: Record Crowd Fills Stadium Salt Lake Tribune John Mooney November 19, 1961 D1, D2 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-32437-watch-might/153651050/ Newspapers.com December 9 l y y 10 Baylor Polo Grounds New York, NY Gotham Bowl 9–24 15,123 Ballhawking Baylor Defeats Aggies 24-9 in Bowl Game: Bears Capitalize on Fumbles; Only 15,000 Fans See Contest Ogden Standard-Examiner December 10, 1961 2B https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ogden-standard-examiner-ballhawking/153650917/ Newspapers.com Utah State 2022 Football Media Guide https://utahstateaggies.com/documents/2022/7/19/2022CompleteGuide-Web.pdf Utah State University Department Of Athletics 197 December 18, 2022 Statistics Tom Larscheid led the team with 773 rushing yards on 121 carries (6.4-yard average). Larscheid also tallied 178 receiving yards and led the team in scoring with 78 points on 13 touchdowns.1961 Utah State Aggies Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football August 20, 2024 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/utah-state/1961.html He also had an 85-yard punt return versus Utah in 1961. The team averaged over 300 rushing yards per game. In addition to Larscheid, leading rushers included Ray Harward (390 yards on 57 carries, 6.8-yard average); Ron Prince (336 yards on 50 carries, 6.7-yard average); and Larry Bryan (277 yards, 41 carries (6.8-yard average). The team also had a strong quarterback group consisting of: Mel Montalbo led the group, completing 23 of 46 passes for 478 passing yards, seven touchdowns, one interception, and a 183.2 quarterback rating. Sophomore Bill Munson completed 23 of 53 passes (43.4%) for 323 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Munson broke the school's passing record with 1,699 passing yards in 1963 Utah State and later played 16 years in the National Football League (NFL). Jim Turner completed 15 of 33 passes for 292 yards. Turner later played for 16 years as a placekicker in the American Football League (AFL) and NFL. The team's leading receivers were Bill Dahme (248 yards, seven receptions), Tom Larscheid (178 yards, 10 receptions), and Carl Hunt (120 yards, five receptions). The scoring leaders were Larscheid (78 points), Ray Harward (30 points), and four players with 18 points each (Terry Cagaanan, Ron Prince, Bill Dahme, and Larry Bryan). Awards Tackle Merlin Olsen received numerous awards at the end of the 1961 season: Olsen won the Outland Trophy as the best guard or tackle during the 1961 college football season.Olsen Is Given Outland Trophy The Herald Journal December 5, 1961 4 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-journal-olsen-is-given-outlan/153803936/ Newspapers.com Olsen was a consensus All-American,Football Award Winners National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) 2016 October 21, 2017 9 http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2016/awards.pdf having received first-team designation by the Associated Press (AP),Merlin Named Member of AP All-America 11 The Herald Journal December 8, 1961 4 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-journal-merlin-named-member-o/153805553/ Newspapers.com United Press International (UPI),Olsen Chosen on UPI All-America The Salt Lake Tribune December 7, 1961 B3 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-olsen-chosen-on-up/153805132/ Newspapers.com Football Writers Association of America (FWAA),Merlin Olsen Gains Spot On Look All-Star Squad Daily Herald December 5, 1961 9 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-merlin-olsen-gains-spot/153803240/ Newspapers.com Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA), and Time magazine. Olsen was one of eight linemen to receive the National Football Foundation's annual scholar athlete of the year award, chosen on the basis of "high scholastic standing and achievement, football ability and dedictaion and all-around leadership."Olsen Snares Honor for Grid, Books The Salt Lake Tribune November 28, 1961 B5 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-olsen-snares-honor/153803700/ Newspapers.com Five Utah State players received first-team honors on the official 1961 All-Skyline Conference football team chosen by a vote of the league's players. The Utah State players receiving first-team honors were: halfback Tom Larscheid; end L. Aldridge; tackles Merlin Olsen and Clark Miller; and guard W. Redmond. Second-team honors went to Utah State's Bill Dahme at end; Bill Dickey at guard; and Ray Harward at fullback.Official All-Skyline Team Is Reported The Herald Journal December 5, 1961 4 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-journal-all-skyline/153804462/ Newspapers.com References External links Game program: Utah State vs. Washington State at Spokane – September 30, 1961 Utah State Category:Utah State Aggies football seasons Category:Mountain States Conference football champion seasons Utah State Aggies football