1961 Bowling Green Falcons football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1961 Bowling Green Falcons football Mid-American Conference MAC 8–2 5–1 Doyt Perry 7th University Stadium MAC champion Mercy Bowl L 6–36 vs. Fresno State The 1961 Bowling Green Falcons football team was an American football team that represented Bowling Green State University as a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 1961 college football season. In their seventh season under head coach Doyt Perry, the Falcons compiled an 8–2 record (5–1 against MAC opponents), won the MAC championship, and outscored opponents by a combined total of 194 to 78. On November 23, 1961, Bowling Green concluded its season with a 36–6 loss to Fresno State in the Mercy Bowl at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The game was Bowling Green's first bowl appearance and a fundraiser for the families of members of the Cal Poly Mustangs football team who died in a C-46 plane crash while returning home after a game at Bowling Green on October 29, 1960.Cal Poly's Players Honored at Halftime Los Angeles Times November 24, 1961 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/6808916/cal_polys_players_honored_at_halftime/ Schedule 1961 small college AP y y September 23 at Marshall Fairfield Stadium Huntington, WV W 40-0 6,500 Falcons Paste 40-0 Defeat On Marshall Green: Major College Debut Also 1st MAC Win The Daily Sentinel-Tribune Gene Welty September 25, 1961 10 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-sentinel-tribune-falcons-paste/153588991/ Newspapers.com Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (1961 Marshall) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/388/stats/12865 National Collegiate Athletic Association December 18, 2022 September 30 Dayton<ncg> University Stadium Bowling Green, OH W 28-11 8,451 Bee Gees Nab 28-11 Victory Over Dayton The Plain Dealer October 1, 1961 6C https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-bee-gees-nab-28-11-vict/151665595/ Newspapers.com October 7 Western Michigan University Stadium Bowling Green, OH W 21-0 8,000 Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (1961 Western Michigan) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/774/stats/12865 National Collegiate Athletic Association December 18, 2022 October 14 Toledo University Stadium Bowling Green, OH (rivalry) W 17-6 12,243 B-G Wins 4th, Sails by Toledo The Plain Dealer Hal Lebovitz October 15, 1961 1C, 6C https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-b-g-wins-4th-sails-by/154813952/ Newspapers.com October 21 at Kent State Memorial Stadium Kent, OH (rivalry) W 21-6 11,500 Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (1961 Kent State) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/331/stats/12865 National Collegiate Athletic Association December 18, 2022 October 28 Miami (OH) University Stadium Bowling Green, OH L 6-7 9,546 Miami Edges Bowling Green In Conference The Ironton Tribune October 29, 1961 B1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ironton-tribune-miami-edges-bowling/154857659/ Newspapers.com Summary Of Football Game Statistics – Visiting Team https://web1.ncaa.org/app_data/statsPDFArchive/MFB1/1961/414_V_71_19611028_7_6.pdf National Collegiate Athletic Association May 21, 2025 November 4 West Texas State<ncg> University Stadium Bowling Green, OH W 28-6 11,000–11,250 Pistol Pete 'Misfires,' Falcons Best Buffaloes: Bell, Weaver Score In BG's 28-6 Win The Daily Sentinel-Tribune Gene Welty November 6, 1961 8 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-sentinel-tribune-pistol-pete/154865893/ Newspapers.com November 11 at Ohio Peden Stadium Athens, OH W 7-6 Falcons Won't 'Kick' About 7-6 MAC Victory: Hepner, Elsea Tally; BG Ties For Crown The Daily Sentinel-Tribune Gene Welty November 13, 1961 8 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-sentinel-tribune-falcons-wont/154864288/ Newspapers.com November 18 at Southern Illinois<ncg> McAndrew Stadium Carbondale, IL W 20-0 7,000–7,500 Bowling Green Blanks Salukis 20-0 Southern Illinoisan Merle Jones November 19, 1961 1 (sports) https://www.newspapers.com/article/southern-illinoisan-bowling-green-blanks/154725182/ Newspapers.com November 23 vs No. 3 Fresno State Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA (Mercy Bowl) L 6-36 33,146 'Perfect' Bulldogs Leave Coliseum Imprint: FSC Puts On Dazzler In 36-6 Victory The Fresno Bee November 24, 1961 1B, 7B https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-fresno-bee-perfect-bulldogs-leave/154865451/ Newspapers.com Schedule/Results (1961 Bowling Green) https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/173979 National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA Statistics April 17, 2025 Statistics Classified for the first team in 1961 as a major college team, the Falcons ranked fourth in total defense, giving up an average of 161.8 yards per game. They also ranked sixth nationally in rushing defense (86.7 yards per game).Cuff Stuff Mansfield News-Journal Fred Tharp December 1, 1961 18 https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-journal-russ-hepner/154857119/ Newspapers.com Senior back Russ Hepner missed two games with a knee injury, but still led the team with 637 rushing yards (4.8 yards per carry). He also led the team in scoring (36 points) and completed five of ten passes, had 14 receptions for 187 yards, and returned eight punts for 80 yards. Awards and honors Three Bowling Green players received first-team honors on the 1961 All-MAC football team: senior Dick Newsome at end; senior Jerry Croft at tackle; and junior Gary Sheman at guard. Five other were placed on the second team: center Lou Youskievicz at center; junior Bob Reynolds at tackle; senior backs Jim Potts and Russ Hepner; and junior back Roger Reynolds.Bowling Green Gridders Dominate All-MAC Team The Plain Dealer December 10, 1961 3C https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-bowling-green-gridders/154843382/ Newspapers.com References Bowling Green Category:Bowling Green Falcons football seasons Category:Mid-American Conference football champion seasons Bowling Green Falcons football