1961 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1961 Illinois Fighting Illini football 1961 Illinois Fighting Illini football team.jpg 285 Big Ten Conference Big Ten 0–9 0–7 Pete Elliott 2nd Tony Parrilli Gary Brown Memorial Stadium The 1961 Illinois Fighting Illini football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1961 Big Ten season. In their second year under head coach Pete Elliott, the Fighting Illini compiled a 0–9 record (0–7 in conference games), finished in last place in the Big Ten, and were outscored by a total of 289 to 53.1961 Illinois Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 26, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/1961-schedule.html Guard and middle linebacker Tony Parrilli was selected as the team's most valuable player and received first-team honors on the 1961 All-Big Ten Conference football team.Saimes and MacRae Selected on All-Big Ten Football Team The Holland, Michigan, Evening Sentinel November 29, 1961 16 https://www.newspapers.com/image/15943497/?terms=stephens%2B%2Bferguson%2Bsaimes%2Bcoaches Gary Brown was the team captain. The team's statistical leaders included senior quarterback Dave McGann (269 passing yards, 55.1% completion percentage), sophomore fullback Al Wheatland (230 rushing yards, 3.2 yards per carry), and senior end Dick Newell (16 receptions for 184 yards).Al Wheatland Leads Illini With 230 Yards Streator Times-Press November 30, 1961 18 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-al-wheatland-leads-illini/177632962/ Newspapers.com1961 Illinois Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 26, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/1962.html Center Dick Butkus was selected as captain of the freshmen team.Butkus Named Illini Co-Captain The Daily Calumet December 2, 1961 4 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-calumet-butkus/153901794/ Newspapers.com The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. Schedule 1961 AP September 30 l y Washington Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 7–20 41,319 Young Illini Lose To Huskies, 20-7: Washington's Ground Game Topples Illinois The Pantagraph Fred Young October 1, 1961 13 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph-young-illini-lose-to-husk/153937318/ Newspapers.com October 7 l Northwestern Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL rivalry 7–28 40,138 Wildcats Rip Illinois, 28-7: Northwestern Posts Victory in Big 10 The Pantagraph October 8, 1961 21 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph-wildcats-rip-illinois-28/153936757/ Newspapers.com October 14 l y Ohio State 7 Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH Illibuck 0–44 82,374 Ohio State Official Athletic Site - Football - Archives https://web.archive.org/web/20150402170256/http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/osu/graphics/pdf/m-footbl/1961/1961-3-Illinois.pdf 2015-04-02 . Retrieved March 30, 2015. October 21 l Minnesota Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 0–33 52,247 Gophers Bomb Illinois 33-0 Minneapolis Sunday Tribune Dick Gordon October 22, 1961 1, 2 (sports) https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-gophers-bomb-illinois-33-0/153049054/ Newspapers.comIllinois Bows To Minnesota The Pantagraph Fred Young October 22, 1961 13 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph/153049354/ Newspapers.com October 28 l y y USC Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 10–14 28,694 USC Fights Off Inspired Illini, 14-10: Game Ends on Troy's 8-Yd. Line Los Angeles Times Al Wolf October 29, 1961 1, 2 (section H) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-usc-fights-off-ins/153895407/ Newspapers.com November 4 l Purdue Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL rivalry 9–23 35,077 Purdue Beats Illini: 23 to 9 Loss 6th of Season for Illinois Chicago Tribune Maurice Shevlin November 5, 1961 1, 2 (part 2) https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-purdue-beats-illini-23/153685586/ Newspapers.com November 11 l Michigan Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL rivalry 6–38 40,179 Oh Brother! -- M Clobbers Illini, 38-6 Detroit Free Press Lyall Smith November 12, 1961 D1, D3 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15579792/oh_brother_m_clobbers_illini_386/ Newspapers.com November 18 l y Wisconsin Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 7–55 45,122 Wisconsin Crushes Illinois, 55-7: Richter Leads the Way in Record-Setting Spree Wisconsin State Journal Monte McCormick November 19, 1961 1, 4 (section 3) https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-wisconsin-crushe/153713017/ Newspapers.com November 25 l y Michigan State 8 Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 7–34 38,344 Spartans Outclass Illinois, 34 to 7 Lansing State Journal George S. Alderton November 26, 1961 57, 58 https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-spartans-outclass/153016430/ Newspapers.com Statistics The 1961 Illini gained an average of only 175.3 yards per game, consisting of 105.0 rushing yards and 70.3 passing yards. On defense, the Illini gave up an average of 364.7 yards per game, including 237.6 rushing yards.1961 Illinois Fighting Illini Stats Sports Reference LLC S/R College Football August 23, 2024 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/1961.html Dave McGann played little until the final two games, but led the Illini in passing, completing 27 of 49 for 269 yards and a .551 completion percentage.Al Wheatland Leads Illini With 230 Yards Streator Times-Press November 30, 1961 18 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times/153924662/ Newspapers.com The other leading passers were Mel Romani (16-for-47, 174 yards), and Paul Golaszewski (11-for-33, 94 yards). The rushing leaders were Al Wheatland (230 yards, 73 carries, 3.2-yard average), Ron Fearn (219 yards, 55 carries, 4.0-yard average), and Ken Zimmerman (185 yards, 50 carries, 3.7-yard average). The receiving leaders were ends Dick Newell (16 receptions, 184 yards) and Gary Hembrough (16 receptions, 170 yards). Doug Mills handled punting for the Illini, punting 54 times for a 37.1-yard average. Awards No Illinois players were named to the 1961 All-America college football team. Senior guard and middle linebacker Tony Parilli was selected by the United Press International as a first-team player, and by the Associated Press (AP) as a second-team player, on the 1961 All-Big Ten Conference football team.Stephens Unanimous Choice on Big Ten Pittsburgh Post-Gazette November 28, 1961 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=19611127&id=zm0xAAAAIBAJ&sjid=G2wDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7127,5722758Saimes and MacRae Selected on All-Big Ten Football Team The Holland, Michigan, Evening Sentinel November 29, 1961 16 https://www.newspapers.com/image/15943497/?terms=stephens%2B%2Bferguson%2Bsaimes%2Bcoaches Parrilli was also selected by his teammates as the most valuable player on the 1961 Illinois team. Tackle Gary Brown was the 1961 team captain.Parrilli MVP: Honor Illinois Gridders The Daily Illini November 28, 1961 1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-illini-parrilli-mvp-honor-ill/153917447/ Newspapers.com Personnel Players The following 38 players received varsity letters for their roles on the 1961 Illinois football team: 30em Neal Anderson (#60), guard, sophomore Gary Brown (#79), tackle and captain, senior, 228 pounds Dick Cast, guard, senior, 219 pounds Ken Chalcraft, senior Bob Cravens, sophomore Dick Deller (#63), guard, sophomore Chuck Dickerson, tackle, junior Mike Dundy (#41), halfback, sophomore Bob Easter, sophomore Ron Fearn (#11), quarterback, sophomore Todd Gabbett, sophomore Glenn Glauser, fullback, junior Paul Golaszewski, back, senior Denny Gould, fullback and center, senior Gary Hembrough (#86), end, senior, 208 pounds John Kruze, center, senior Frank Lollino, guard, senior Tom McCullum (#24), halfback, sophomore, 158 pounds Dave McGann, quarterback, senior Doug Mills, senior Joe Mota, fullback, senior Pat Murphy (#75), tackle, 214 pounds Dick Newell (#81), end, senior, 173 pounds Ron O'Neal, junior Jerry Parola, halfback, senior Tony Parrilli (#65), guard and middle linebacker, senior Bill Pasko, end, sophomore Jim Plankenhorn, kicker, junior Mel Romani (#10), defensive quarterback,Mel Romani Benched by Stomach Flu The News-Democrat of Belleville September 6, 1961 11 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-belleville-news-democrat-mel-romani/153905005/ Newspapers.com senior, 177 pounds Bob Scharbert, tackle, junior Mike Summers (#30), halfback/fullback, sophomore Steve Thomas, end, senior Thurman Walker (#83), end, junior Al Wheatland (#46), fullback, sophomore, 197 pounds Stan Yukevich (#53), center, senior 219 pounds Tony Zeppetella (#64), guard, senior, 208 pounds Ken Zimmerman (#20), halfback, junior, 178 pounds Cecil Young, halfback, sophomore Coaches Head coach - Pete Elliott Assistant coaches - Bob Herndon (freshman coach), Gene Stauber (defensive backfield coach), Burt Ingwersen, Bill Taylor (ends coach), Buck McPhail (backfield coach), Dee Andros (line coach), Lou Baker, Ralph Fletcher, Bill TateThe Illio 1962, p. 223. References Illinois Category:Illinois Fighting Illini football seasons Category:College football winless seasons Illinois Fighting Illini football