1961 Northern Michigan Wildcats football team

American college football season February 2026 July 2024 1961 Northern Michigan Wildcats football Independent 6–2 Frosty Ferzacca 5th Frank Novak Memorial Field The 1961 Northern Michigan Wildcats football team was an American football team that represented Northern Michigan College (later renamed Northern Michigan University) as an independent during the 1961 college football season. In their fifth season under head coach Frosty Ferzacca, the Wildcats compiled a 6–2 record and outscored opponents by a total of 252 to 69, and were ranked No. 7 in the final UPI small college poll.1961 - Northern Michigan College Football Data Warehouse June 18, 2024 http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/incomplete_data/game_by_game_current.php?teamid=2320&year=1961 September 10, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150910105847/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/incomplete_data/game_by_game_current.php?teamid=2320&year=1961 dead They had been ranked No. 1 in the UPI polls released on October 18 and October 25 and No. 2 in the poll released on November 8. Senior quarterback Frank Novak was chosen as the team's most valuable player. Novak completed 56 of 107 passes for 792 yards and 14 touchdowns during the 1961 season. Coach Ferzacca called Novak "a student of football with the poise, confidence and quick reaction of a great quarterback."Koski Is Named NMC Co-Captain Ironwood Daily Globe November 24, 1961 5 https://www.newspapers.com/article/ironwood-daily-globe-koski-is-named-nmc/151549253/ Newspapers.com Guard Al Sandona received third-team honors on the 1961 Little All-America college football team.Annual Little All-Americans -- Small College Stars Selected The Shreveport Journal Harold Claassen December 6, 1961 17 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88758261/annual-little-all-americans-small/ Newspapers.com End Wayne Sickler handled place-kicking and led all players in Michigan with 64 points (six touchdowns, 22 extra points, and two field goals) in eight games.Wayne Sickler Is Scoring Champion The Escanaba Daily Press November 28, 1961 12 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-escanaba-daily-press-wayne-sickler-i/151550222/ Newspapers.com Northern Michigan had the two top scorers among Michigan teams: Sickler with 64 points and Mike Mileski with 44 points.Sickler of NMC Holds Big Lead Ironwood Daily Globe November 8, 1961 14 https://www.newspapers.com/article/ironwood-daily-globe-sickler-of-nmc-hold/151739826/ Newspapers.com Northern Michigan's star back Gene "Mickey" Valesano was ruled ineligible after the fourth game of the season when it was discovered that he had played one year at Superior State before enrolling at Northern Michigan and was thus playing his fifth season of college football.Storm Brewing Over Northern's Valesano Battle Creek Enquirer October 24, 1961 14 https://www.newspapers.com/article/battle-creek-enquirer-valesano/151549463/ Newspapers.comNAIA Questions Eligibility Of Gene Valesano The Wakefield News October 26, 1961 1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-wakefield-news-naia-questions-eligib/151549413/ Newspapers.comLions Sign Ace Halfback From Northern Michigan Lansing State Journal December 1, 1961 30 https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-valesano/151549336/ Newspapers.com The Wildcats' 61–6 victory over rival Michigan Tech broke Northern Michigan single-game scoring record.Northern's Win Sets Score Mark The Herald-Press November 6, 1961 8 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-press-northerns-win-sets-sco/151549112/ Newspapers.com Schedule 1961 small college AP y y y September 9 vs Central Michigan Arthur Hill Stadium Saginaw, MI W 35-0 8,500 Chippewas Lose To Northern, 35-0 The Lansing State Journal September 11, 1961 16 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16711962/chippewas_lose_to_northern_350/ Newspapers.com Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Central Michigan) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/129/stats/12865 National Collegiate Athletic Association December 14, 2022 September 16 Minnesota–Duluth Memorial Stadium Marquette, MI W 35-6 5,000 N. Michigan Tops Duluth 35-6 Minneapolis Sunday Tribune September 17, 1961 8S https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-n-michigan-tops-duluth-35/151549993/ Newspapers.com Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Minnesota–Duluth) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/427/stats/12865 National Collegiate Athletic Association August 4, 2024 September 30 at Bradley Bradley Stadium Peoria, IL L 8-14 Bradley Pops Northern's Grid Balloon, 14 to 6: No. 1 Team Scuttled Lansing State Journal October 1, 1961 53 https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-bradley-pops-north/151549599/ Newspapers.com October 7 No. 2 Hillsdale 8 Memorial Stadium Marquette, MI W 24-3 5,500 Northern Rips 'Dales: Wildcats Grind Out 24-3 Win The Lansing State Journal October 8, 1961 55 https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-northern-rips-dal/151549640/ Newspapers.com October 14 at St. Norbert 6 Minahan Stadium De Pere, WI W 36-7 4,000 Burly Northern Michigan Whips Knights 36-7 Green Bay Press-Gazette Len Wagner October 15, 1961 1D https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette-burly-northern-m/151548687/ Newspapers.com October 21 Illinois State Normal<hc> 4 Memorial Stadium Marquette, MI W 47-6 Northern Michigan Whips ISNU: No. 1 Rated Team Rolls Past Redbirds, 47 to 6 The Pantagraph October 22, 1961 13 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph-northern-michigan-whips-i/151549827/ Newspapers.com November 4 Michigan Tech 4 Memorial Stadium Marquette, MI (rivalry) W 61-6 5,000 It's Northern, 61-6! Detroit Free Press November 5, 1961 D7 https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-its-northern-61-6/151550090/ Newspapers.com Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Michigan Tech) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/417/stats/12865 National Collegiate Athletic Association July 21, 2024 November 11 Tampa 4 Phillips Field Tampa, FL L 6-27 8,500–9,000 Tampa Upsets 4th-Ranked N. Michigan 27-6: Spartans Thrive On Mistakes The Tampa Tribune Larry Bush November 12, 1961 1C, 3C https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune-tampa-upsets-4th-ranke/151549744/ Newspapers.com Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Tampa) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/689/stats/12865 National Collegiate Athletic Association July 18, 2024 References Northern Michigan Category:Northern Michigan Wildcats football seasons Northern Michigan Wildcats football