1961 Washington State Cougars football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1961 Washington State Cougars football 1961 Washington State stars (Reed, Campbell, Melin).png 285 Fullback George Reed, end Hugh Campbell, quarterback Mel Melin Independent 3–7 Jim Sutherland 6th Rogers Field, Memorial Stadium The 1961 Washington State Cougars football team was an American football team that represented Washington State University as an independent during the 1961 college football season. In their sixth season under head coach Jim Sutherland, the Cougars compiled a 3–7 record and were outscored 213 to 163.1961 Washington State Cougars Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football October 25, 2016 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/washington-state/1961-schedule.html2016 Media Guide http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/wsu.sidearmsports.com/documents/2016/8/25/2016_Football_Media_Guide_Color.pdf WSUCougars.com Washington State Cougars Athletics October 25, 2016 76 October 21, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20161021004149/http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/wsu.sidearmsports.com/documents/2016/8/25/2016_Football_Media_Guide_Color.pdf dead End Hugh Campbell led the country with 53 receptions and won the W. J. Voit Memorial Trophy as the outstanding college football player on the Pacific Coast. Fullback George Reed led the team in rushing (489 yards) and scoring (48 points), and quarterback Mel Melin led the team in total offense (842 yards). Schedule 1961 AP September 23 l y Missouri Memorial Stadium Columbia, MO 6–28 37,000 Air-Minded Missouri Dazzles Washington State, 28-6 St. Louis Post-Dispatch Bob Broeg September 24, 1961 1F https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-air-minded-misso/153146152/ Newspapers.com September 30 l Utah State Memorial Stadium Spokane, WA 14–34 13,000 Utah State Slams Cougars The Spokesman-Review Harry Missildine October 1, 1961 1 (sports) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-spokesman-review-utah-state-slams-co/153125576/ Newspapers.com October 7 l y Texas 5 Memorial Stadium Austin, TX 8–41 40,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123813703/saxton-surs-longhorns-past-washington-st/ The Vernon Daily Record Saxton spurs Longhorns past Washington State October 8, 1961 April 30, 2023 Newspapers.com October 14 w Idaho Rogers Field Pullman, WA Battle of the Palouse 34–0 19,432 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-spokesman-review-cougars-clobber-van/153125648/ Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Cougars Clobber Vandals, 34-0 Missildine Harry October 15, 1961 1 (sports) Newspapers.comhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Xd9iAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VTAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5735%2C2298690 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Associated Press Cougars clip Vandals October 15, 1961 10 October 21 l y Indiana Seventeenth Street Stadium Bloomington, IN 7–33 23,307 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-indiana-snaps-8-game/189650964/ The Courier-Journal Indiana snaps 8-game skid, romps 33–7 October 22, 1961 January 23, 2026 Newspapers.com October 28 l San Jose State Memorial Stadium Spokane, WA 19–21 7,700 Speedy Spartans Shock Cougars The Spokesman-Review Harry Missildine October 29, 1961 1, 7 (sports) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-spokesman-review-speedy-spartans-sho/153125451/ Newspapers.com November 4 l y Oregon State Parker Stadium Corvallis, OR 6–14 16,716 https://www.newspapers.com/article/medford-mail-tribune-beavers-survive-wsc/189651133/ Medford Mail Tribune Beavers survive WSC aerial attack, win homecoming 14–6 November 5, 1961 January 23, 2026 Newspapers.com November 11 w Oregon Rogers Field Pullman, WA 22–21 10,200 Cougars Upend Ducks by 22 to 21 The Spokesman-Review November 12, 1961 1 (sports) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-spokesman-review-cougars-upend-ducks/153125332/ Newspapers.com November 18 w y Stanford Stanford Stadium Stanford, CA 30–0 21,000 Cal, Stanford Routed: Indians Inept, It's WSU, 30-0 The San Francisco Examiner Don Selby November 19, 1961 1, 5 (section III) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-cal-stanford/154495550/ Newspapers.com November 25 l y Washington Husky Stadium Seattle, WA rivalry 17–21 48,500 Late Husky Explosion Earns 21-17 Win Over Embattled Cougars Before 48,500 The Spokesman-Review Harry Missildine November 26, 1961 1, 7 (sports) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-spokesman-review-late-husky-explosio/153125202/ Newspapers.comUW Nips Cougars In 21-17 Thriller: Huskies Rally Late In Game Tri-City Herald Charlie Van Sickel November 26, 1961 15 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tri-city-herald-uw-nips-cougars-in-21-17/154464775/ Newspapers.com Schedule/Results (1961 Washington State) https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/174359 National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA Statistics January 23, 2025 Statistics Washington State ranked fifth nationally in passing offense with an average of 156.1 yards per game.Official Collegiate Football Record Book 1962 National Collegiate Athletic Association On the ground, they averaged 140.7 yards per game.1961 Washington State Cougars Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football August 11, 2024 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/washington-state/1961.html The team's passing leaders were quarterbacks Mel Melin (66 of 134 for 814 yards with seven touchdowns and eight interceptions) and Dave Mathieson (50 of 93 for 743 yards with three touchdowns and seven interceptions. Melin, a senior, broke Washington State's career records for total offense (3,135 yards) and pass attempts (452).Melin Broke Five Marks for Cougars The Spokesman-Review December 3, 1961 Sports 2 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-spokesman-review-melin/153123713/ Newspapers.com The team's rushing leaders were George Reed (489 yards, 131 carries), John Browne (245 yards, 45 carries), Louis Blakely (226 yards, 54 carries), and Ken Graham (178 yards, 47 carries). Reed scored three touchdowns against Oregon, tying a Washington State record for points scored in a single game. The team's receiving leaders were Hugh Campbell (53 receptions, 723 yards) and Jim Boylan (28 receptions, 412 yards). The team's scoring leaders were George Reed (48 points) and Hugh Campbell (30 points). The leaders in total offense were Mel Melin (842 yards) and Dave Mathieson (691 yards). Awards Junior end Hugh Campbell led the country with 53 receptions and ranked second with 723 receiving yards. He won the W. J. Voit Memorial Trophy as the outstanding college football player on the Pacific Coast.Hugh Campbell Coast grid player of year Los Gatos Times-Observer December 20, 1961 4 https://www.newspapers.com/article/los-gatos-times-saratoga-observer-hugh-c/153123281/ Newspapers.com Campbell was also the only unanimous first-team choice on the 1961 All-Pacific Coast football team.Hugh Campbell Unanimous All-Coast Pick The Tacoma News Tribune Jack Stevenson December 7, 1961 C13 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-hugh-campbell-unanimous/153123486/ Newspapers.com He was selected as a third-team All-American by both the Associated Press (AP) and United Press International (UPI). Fullback George Reed was named to the second team on the All-Pacific Coast team..Announce All-Pacific Coast Football All-Star Team Fairbanks Daily News-Miner December 7, 1961 12 https://www.newspapers.com/image/10477851/?terms=%22all%2Bpacific%22 Personnel Players 20em Mike Abbott, end Leroy Babbitt, guard Glenn Baker, tackle, 6'3", 225 pounds, sophomore Louis Blakely, fullback Jim Boylan, right halfback Al Branco, guard John Browne, left halfback Roy Busse, center Hugh Campbell, end, 6'1", 190 pounds, junior Jerry Campbell, left halfback Mike Carboin, end Lorin Christean, guard Bob Colleran, tackle, 6'0", 230 pounds, senior Jerry Conine, guard, 5'11", 205 pounds, junior Tim Connors, left halfback Bill Cook, end John Cooley, guard Pat Crook, guard Blain Eliot, guard Tom Erlandson, center George Foster, center Bill Gaydosh, left halfback Gery Gehrmann, guard Bob Giachino, guard Ken Graham, right halfback, 6'0", 200 pounds, sophomore Harold Haddock, left halfback Bob Hoien, tackle Bob James, end Jim Jensen, tackle Ralph Jones, end Dean Kalahar, center Dave Kerrone, left halfback Don Knight, quarterback Ron Langhans, end Gary Lewis, left halfback Mike Martin, tackle Dave Mathieson, quarterback, 6'1", 205 pounds, sophomore Herm McKee, fullback, 6'3", 210 pounds, sophomore Mel Melin, quarterback, 6'0", 195 pounds, senior George Reed, fullback, 5'10", 205 pounds, junior Larry Reisbig, end Mike Rowe, guard Paul Rushfeldt, fullback Pete Schenck, right halfback, 6'2", 195 pounds, sophomore Steve Simmons, tackle Wendell Wardell, tackle Harvey West, end John Wyffels, tackle John Zaring, right halfback Game program vs. Utah State September 30, 1961 18 https://content.libraries.wsu.edu/digital/collection/wsu_fb/id/3364 Coaches and administration 20em Jim Sutherland - head coach (6th year) Stan Bates - athletic director C. Clement French - university president Ray Blier - assistant coach Roy E. Carlson - assistant coach Chuck Chatfield - assistant coach Ed Cody - assistant coach Russ Hampton - assistant coach Game program vs. Utah State September 30, 1961 20 https://content.libraries.wsu.edu/digital/collection/wsu_fb/id/3366 Professional football draftees The following eight players from the 1961 Washington State team were selected in the professional football drafts: 1962 NFL/AFL drafts Mel Melin, picked 45th by the New York Titans in the 1962 AFL draft Pete Schenck, picked 128th by the Green Bay Packers in the 1962 NFL draft and 138th by the Denver Broncos in the 1962 AFL draft Mike Martin, picked 236th by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1962 NFL draft and 154th by the Denver Broncos in the 1962 AFL draft Herm McKee, picked 275th by the Baltimore Colts in the 1962 drafthttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HQ4zAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RPcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3139%2C821577 Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington Two Cougars chosen by both pro loops December 5, 1961 17 1963 NFL/AFL drafts Hugh Campbell picked 50th by the San Francisco 49ers in the 1963 NFL draft and 169th by the Oakland Raiders in the 1963 AFL draft Dave Mathieson, picked 81st by the Chicago Bears in the 1963 NFL draft and 172nd by the Denver Broncos in the 1963 AFL draft 1964 NFL/AFL drafts Kenny Graham, picked 162nd by the Baltimore Colts in the 1964 NFL draft and 104th by the San Diego Chargers in the 1964 AFL draft Glenn Baker, picked 178th by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1963 draft References External links Game program: Utah State vs. WSU at Spokane – September 30, 1961 Game program: Idaho at WSU – October 14, 1961 Game program: San Jose State vs. WSU at Spokane – October 28, 1961 Game program: Oregon at WSU – November 11, 1961 Washington State Category:Washington State Cougars football seasons Washington State Cougars football