1961 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1961 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football Joe Thorne, Ralph Ginn, Mike Sterner.png 180px Ralph Ginn with 1961 co-captains Thorne and Sterner North Central Conference NCC 8–2 5–1 Ralph Ginn 15th Joe Thorne Mike Sterner State Field NCC co-champion The 1961 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team was an American football team that represented South Dakota State University as a member of the North Central Conference during the 1961 college football season. In their 15th season under head coach Ralph Ginn, the Jackrabbits compiled an 8–2 record (5–1 in conference games), tied for the NCC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 376 to 97.2007 South Dakota State Football Media Guide South Dakota State University 2007 77 https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1055&context=football-guides April 24, 2019 Fullback Joe Thorne led the team in rushing (958 yards) and scoring (72 points) and received second-team honors on the 1961 Little All-America college football team. The team played its home games at State Field in Brookings, South Dakota. Schedule y y September 9 at 1961 Bemidji State Beavers Bemidji State<ncg> Bemidji, MN W 34-8 1,200 September 16 Colorado State–Greeley<ncg> Brookings, SD W 36-13 5,000 Rabbits Jolt Bears 36-13 Argus-Leader Craig Stolze September 17, 1961 4D https://www.newspapers.com/article/argus-leader-rabbits-jolt-bears-36-13/151333988/ Newspapers.com September 23 1961 St. Cloud State Huskies St. Cloud State<ncg> Brookings, SD W 73-0 2,500 State Bombards St. Cloud 73-0: Joe Thorne Scores Three For Rabbits Argus-Leader September 24, 1961 1D https://www.newspapers.com/article/argus-leader-state-bombards-st-cloud-73/154623509/ Newspapers.com September 30 at Montana State<ncg> Gatton Field Bozeman, MT L 12-17 4,500 Bobcats Rack Up Initial Conquest of Season https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86581223/great-falls-tribune/ Great Falls Tribune Great Falls, Montana October 1, 1961 19 October 5, 2021 Newspapers.com October 7 at 1961 Augustana (South Dakota) Vikings Augustana (SD) Howard Wood Field Sioux Falls, SD W 41-14 6,671 October 14 at North Dakota Memorial Stadium Grand Forks, ND L 13-14 7,800–7,963 Sioux Nip Jacks 14-13 Argus-Leader October 15, 1961 1D https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95209053/sioux-nip-jacks-14-13/ Newspapers.com Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (1961 North Dakota) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/494/stats/12865 National Collegiate Athletic Association October 15, 2022 October 21 South Dakota Brookings, SD (rivalry, Hobo Day) W 34-6 5,000–7,500 SDSC Socks Coyotes Argus-Leader Craig Stolze October 22, 1961 1D, 4D https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95266890/sdsc-socks-coyotes/ Newspapers.com Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (1961 South Dakota) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/650/stats/12865 National Collegiate Athletic Association October 15, 2022 October 28 North Dakota State State Field Brookings, SD (Dakota Marker) W 41-12 2,500 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86579338/jacks-stay-in-race/ Argus-Leader Jacks stay in race October 29, 1961 October 5, 2021 Newspapers.com November 4 1961 Morningside Maroon Chiefs Morningside Public Schools Stadium Sioux City, IA W 56-0 750 Humiliated, 56-0: Cold Night for Chiefs The Sioux City Journal Alex Stoddard November 5, 1961 D1, D4 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sioux-city-journal-humiliated-56-0/154623436/ Newspapers.com November 11 State College of Iowa State Field Brookings, SD W 36-13 4,700 State Wins, Shares Crown With Panthers Argus-Leader Craig Stolze November 12, 1961 1D https://www.newspapers.com/article/argus-leader-state-wins-shares-crown-wi/154623355/ Newspapers.com Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (1961 South Dakota State) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/649/stats/12865 National Collegiate Athletic Association October 15, 2022 Statistics The team tallied 4,061 yards of total offense (406.1 yards per game), consisting of 2,746 rushing yards (274.6 yards per game) and 1,315 passing yards (131.5 yards per game). On defense, South Dakota State gave up 1,944 yards (194.4 yards per game) with 1,219 rushing yards (121.9 yards per game) and 725 passing yards (72.5 yards per game). Quarterback Dean Koster led the team in passing, completing 68 of 118 passes for 1,147 yards with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also led the team with 1,175 yards of total offense. Fullback Joe Thorne led the team in rushing with 958 yards on 174 carries. Thorne was also the team's leading scorer with 72 points on 12 touchdowns and a two-point conversion run. Halfbacks Wayne Rasmussen and Jim Dwyer tied for second place in rushing, each with 387 rushing yards. End Roger Eischens was the team's leading receiver with 27 catches for 470 yards and four touchdowns. Awards and honors Fullback Joe Thorne received second-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 Thorne and halfback Dan Boals of State College of Iowa were selected by the Associated Press (AP) as the most valuable players in the North Central Conference (NCC). Six South Dakota State players were recognized by the AP or the United Press International (UPI) on the 1961 All-North Central Conference football team: Roger Eischens at end (AP-1, UPI-1); Mike Sterner at guard (AP-1, UPI-1); Thorne at fullback (AP-1, UPI-2); Ron Frank at tackle (AP-2, UPI-1); Dean Koster at quarterback (AP-1, UPI-honorable mention); and John Sterner at guard (AP-2, UPI-2).Rabbits Land Four on All-NCC Argus-Leader November 18, 1961 3 https://www.newspapers.com/article/argus-leader-rabbits-land-four-on-all-nc/154622577/ Newspapers.comSCI, Jacks Dominate All-Conference Team Star Tribune United Press International November 17, 1961 25 https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-sci-jacks-dominate-all-con/154622844/ Newspapers.com Personnel Players Jim Dwyer, halfback, Wessington Springs, SD Roger Eischens, end, junior, 6'0", 192 pounds, Canby, MN Ron Frank, tackle, senior, 6'6", 225 pounds, Milan, MN Casper Klucas, halfback, Watertown, SD Dean Koster, quarterback, junior, 5'10", 177 pounds, Lake Benton, MN Doug Peterson, Watertown, SD Wayne Rasmussen, halfback and punter, Howard, SD John Sterner, guard, senior, 5'9", 189 pounds, Sioux Falls, SD Mike Sterner, guard and co-captain, senior, 5'10", 193 pounds, Sioux Falls, SD Joe Thorne, fullback and co-captain, senior, 6'1", 190 pounds, Beresford, SD Darrell Tramp, end, Elk Point, SD Coaches and staff Head coach: Ralph Ginn Assistant coaches: Erv Huether (backfield coach), Stan Marshall (line coach), Warren Williamson (freshman coach) Trainer: Don Hanson Equipment manager: John A. Johnson NCC Champions Argus-Leader December 3, 1961 48 https://www.newspapers.com/article/argus-leader-ncc-champions/154622912/ Newspapers.com References South Dakota State Category:South Dakota State Jackrabbits football seasons Category:North Central Conference football champion seasons South Dakota State Jackrabbits football