1961 Southeastern Louisiana Lions football team

American college football season January 2025 February 2026 1961 Southeastern Louisiana Lions football Gulf States Conference GSC 8 (AP small college) 4 (UPI small college) 9–1 4–1 Stan Galloway 11th Strawberry Stadium GSC co-champion The 1961 Southeastern Louisiana Lions football team was an American football team that represented Southeastern Louisiana University as a member of the Gulf States Conference (GSC) during the 1961 college football season. In their 11th year under head coach Stan Galloway, the Lions compiled a 9–1 record (4–1 in conference games), tied for the GSC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 221 to 55. They were ranked No. 4 in the final United Press International coaches small college poll and No. 8 in the final Associated Press writers small college poll.Southern Ranked Third In Final UPI Rankings The Shreveport Journal November 22, 1961 10 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-shreveport-journal-upi-ratings/152614694/ Newspapers.comPittsburg Is First In Small College Lake Charles American Press November 22, 1961 12 https://www.newspapers.com/article/lake-charles-american-press-ap-poll/152615065/ Newspaper.com The team tallied 2,954 yards of total offense (295.4 yards per game), consisting of 2,339 rushing yards and 615 passing yards. On defense, the team gave up 1,860 yards (186.0 yards per game). The team's leading rushers were halfbacks Wilbur Derrick (581 yards on 116 carries) and Billy Ladner (502 yards on 95 carries). Ladner led the team with 66 points scored on 10 touchdowns and six extra points kicks. Quarterback Elbert Harris led the team with 592 yards of total offense, including 406 passing yards (20 of 49 passes completed with five touchdowns and one interception). Billy Ladner was selected as the GSC outstanding back of 1961. He had the two longest scoring plays in the GSC during the 1961 season: a 98-yard interception return against Florence State and a 95-yard kickoff return against Louisiana Tech.Poke-Southeastern Tilt Heads GSC Card Lake Charles American Press November 6, 1961 11 https://www.newspapers.com/article/lake-charles-american-press-poke-southea/152615750/ Newspapers.com Four Southeastern Louisiana players received first-team honors on the 1961 All-Gulf State Conference football teams selected by the coaches and writers. The honorees were: halfback Billy Ladner (coaches and writers); tackle Paul Alexander (coaches and writers); guard Sam Gourieer (coaches); and center Billy Johnson (coaches and writers). Others received second-team honors: end Monty Crook (coaches and writers); and halfback Wilbur Derrick (coaches and writers).Breaux, Bossier, Steed, Sestak Make All-GSC Lake Charles American Press December 12, 1961 11 https://www.newspapers.com/article/lake-charles-american-press-all-gsc/152615552/ Newspapers.comClayton, Slaughter, Sestak Head GSC Team Alexandria Daily Town Talk December 12, 1961 11 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-town-talk-clayton-slaughter-sestak/152615298/ Newspapers.com Southeastern Louisiana played its home games at Strawberry Stadium in Hammond, Louisiana. Schedule y y y 1961 small college AP September 16 Southwestern Louisiana Strawberry Stadium Hammond, LA (Cypress Mug) W 27-0 8,500 Bulldogs Fall To Lion Team The Advertiser September 17, 1961 28 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-advertiser-bulldogs-fall-to-li/152623186/ Newspapers.com September 23 at 1961 East Texas State Lions East Texas State<ncg> Memorial Stadium Commerce, TX W 20-6 4,000 Southeastern Lions Claw East Texas State, 20-6 Sunday News (Bogalusa, LA) September 24, 1961 8 https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-southeastern-lions-claw-east/152623339/ Newspapers.com September 29 1961 Corpus Christi Islanders Corpus Christi<ncg> Strawberry Stadium Hammond, LA W 39-0 5,000 October 6 1961 Pensacola Naval Air Station Goslings Pensacola NAS<ncg> Strawberry Stadium Hammond, LA W 7-5 5,000 SLC Squeaks By Goshawks, 7-5 The Shreveport Times October 7, 1961 8A https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-slc-squeaks-by-goshawks/152623594/ Newspapers.com October 14 at 1961 Florence State Lions Florence State<ncg> Municipal Stadium Florence, AL W 33-6 6,000 SE Louisiana Slaps Florence The Huntsville Times October 15, 1961 D3 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-huntsville-times-se-louisiana-slaps/152616565/ Newspapers.com October 21 at Northeast Louisiana State 3 Brown Stadium Monroe, LA W 7-0 3,000–4,250 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/68454148/lions-take-70-squeaker-over-fiery/ Monroe Morning World Lions take 7–0 squeaker over fiery Indians October 22, 1961 January 24, 2021 6B Newspapers.com Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Northeast Louisiana) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/498/stats/12865 National Collegiate Athletic Association August 2, 2024 October 28 Tampa<ncg> 4 Strawberry Stadium Hammond, LA W 27-3 6,500–8,000 SLC Speedsters Whip Tampa, 27-3 Sunday News (Bogalusa, LA) October 29, 1961 8 https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-slc-speedsters-whip-tampa-27/152616351/ Newspapers.com Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Tampa) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/689/stats/12865 National Collegiate Athletic Association February 27, 2023 November 4 Louisiana Tech 3 Strawberry Stadium Hammond, LA W 34-14 6,000–8,500 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80370476/lions-beat-tech/ The Daily Advertiser Lions beat Tech November 5, 1961 June 27, 2021 Newspapers.com November 11 at McNeese State 3 Wildcat Stadium Lake Charles, LA L 8-21 7,400 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119847518/mcneese-lists-upset-by-shocking-lions/ The Shreveport Times McNeese lists upset by shocking Lions November 12, 1961 February 27, 2023 Newspapers.com November 18 Northwestern State 9 Strawberry Stadium Hammond, LA (rivalry) W 19-0 6,500 Ladner Sparks SLC to 19-0 Victory Sunday News (Bogalusa, LA) November 19, 1961 9 https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-ladner-sparks-slc-to-19-0-vic/152616236/ Newspapers.com Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Southeastern Louisiana) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/655/stats/12865 National Collegiate Athletic Association August 3, 2024 References Southeastern Louisiana Category:Southeastern Louisiana Lions football seasons Category:Gulf States Conference football champion seasons Southeastern Louisiana Lions football