1961 Wichita Shockers football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1961 Wichita Shockers football 1961 Wichita Shockers football team.png 285 Team portrait from Parnassus 1962 Missouri Valley Conference MVC 8–3 3–0 Hank Foldberg 2nd Veterans Field MVC champion Sun Bowl L 9–17 vs. Villanova The 1961 Wichita Shockers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Wichita (now known as Wichita State University) as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) during the 1961 college football season. In its second season under head coach Hank Foldberg, the team compiled an 8–3 record (3–0 against MVC opponents), won the MVC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 230 to 189. Wichita finished the season with a 17–9 loss to Villanova in the Sun Bowl.1961 Wichita State Shockers Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football April 9, 2019 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/wichita-state/1961-schedule.html The team played its home games at Veterans Field, now known as Cessna Stadium. Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells was a sophomore end on the team. Schedule September 16 w y y Toledo Glass Bowl Toledo, OH 12–7 9,200 Wichita Sneaks Past Toledo, 12-7 The Plain Dealer September 17, 1961 6C https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-wichita-sneaks-past-tol/154566796/ Newspapers.com September 23 l y y Arizona State Sun Devil Stadium Tempe, AZ 7–21 29,600–30,000 Sun Devils Beat Wichita 21-7 In Opener: McFalls Sparks Attack The Arizona Republic Arnott Duncan September 24, 1961 5 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic-sun-devils-beat-wic/154567090/ Newspapers.com September 30 w Cincinnati Veterans Field Wichita, KS 21–13 11,519 Shockers Leading Bearcats 12 to 7: Fumble, Aerial Build WU Lead The Wichita Eagle and Beacon October 1, 1961 1B https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-wichita-eagle-shockers-leading-bearc/154566137/ Newspapers.com October 7 w y y West Texas State Buffalo Bowl Canyon, TX 41–34 15,000 Wichita Hands Buffs First Defeat, 41-34 Fort Worth Star-Telegram October 8, 1961 4 (section 4) https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-wichita-hands-b/154567380/ Newspapers.com October 14 w y North Texas State Fouts Field Denton, TX 26–14 5,000 Wichita tromps North Texas 24–14; Keeps conference lead Great Bend Tribune October 15, 1961 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88232870/wichita-tromps-north-texas-2414-keeps/ November 2, 2021 Newspapers.com October 21 w y New Mexico State Veterans Field Wichita, KS 42–27 11,260 Wichita Thrashes Aggies 42-27: Shockers Gain Revenge for '60 Las Cruces Sun-News Abe Perilman October 22, 1961 10 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17350923/wichita_thrashes_aggies_4227_shockers/ Newspapers.com October 28 w Tulsa Veterans Field Wichita, KS 9–7 11,770 Air Attack Works for Shockers: Wichita Annexes Mo-Valley Crown The Wichita Eagle Bill Hodge October 29, 1961 1A, 1B https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-wichita-eagle-wichita-annexes-mo-val/154565818/ Newspapers.com November 4 w y Oklahoma State Veterans Field Wichita, KS 25–13 10,115 Shockers Drop OSU with 45-second 'Blitz': Wichita Cops 25-13 Victory Before 10,115 The Wichita Eagle Bill Hodge November 5, 1961 1A, 1B https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-wichita-eagle-shockers-drop-osu-with/154565530/ Newspapers.com November 11 w y Drake Veterans Field Wichita, KS 26–13 9,130 Late-rallying WU Drops Drake, 26-13 The Wichita Eagle Bill Hodge November 12, 1961 1A, 1B https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-wichita-eagle-late-rallying-wu-drops/151654690/ November 18 l y y Dayton Baujan Field Dayton, OH 12–23 UD Shocks Wichita In Finale, 23-12 Dayton Daily News Joe Burns November 19, 1961 IV-1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/dayton-daily-news-ud-shocks-wichita-in-f/151665200/ Newspapers.com December 30 l y y Villanova Kidd Field El Paso, TX Sun Bowl 9–17 15,000 Villanova Line Halts Wichita, 17-9: Heads Up Defense Key Factor El Paso Times Chuck Whitlock December 31, 1961 1A, 1D https://www.newspapers.com/article/el-paso-times-villanova-line-halts-wichi/154565124/ Newspapers.com Schedule/Results (1961 Wichita) https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/174374 National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA Statistics April 14, 2025 Statistics The team gained an average of 194.9 rushing yards and 156.0 passing yards per game. On defense, the Shockers gave up an average of 211.6 rushing yards and 95.4 passing yards.1961 Wichita State Shockers Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football September 2, 2024 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/wichita-state/1961.html Wichita's two quarterbacks, Alex Zyskowski and Bill Stangarone, ranked first and second in total offense in the Missouri Valley Conference.Zyskowski, Turner Earn Valley Titles The Wichita Evening Eagle and Beacon November 21, 1961 3B https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-wichita-beacon-zyskowski-turner-ear/154536383/ Newspapers.com Zyskowski led the conference with 1,038 passing yards. He completed 57 of 108 passes (52.%) with four touchdowns, nine interceptions, and a 129.1 quarterback rating. He also tallied 87 rushing yards for 1,125 yards of total offense. Stangarone, who played at both quarterback and halfback, tallied 701 yards of total offense. He completed 25 of 44 passes (56.8%) for 293 yards with three touchdowns, one interception, and a 130.7 quarterback rating. He also led the team in rushing with 408 rushing yards on 71 carries for a 5.7-yard average. Wichita also had four of the top six scorers in the Missouri Valley Conference. Stangarone tied for the conference scoring crown with 42 points on six touchdowns and six points after touchdown. Alvin LeBlanc ranked third in the conference with 34 points (five touchdowns, four points after touchdown); end Ron Turner ranked fourth with 26 points (four touchdowns, two points after touchdown); and Dick Stephens tied for fifth with 24 points (four touchdowns). Ron Turner was the conference's leading receiver with 24 catches for 341 yards and four touchdowns. Jim Maddox ranked second on the team and third in the conference with 16 receptions for 235 yards, an average of 14.7 yards per catch. Other receivers included J.R. Dumler (four receptions, 160 yards, 40.0-yard average) and Alvin LeBlanc (10 receptions, 140 yards, 14.0-yard average). Frank Butz was the team's punter, kicking 40 times for 1,406 yards, an average of 35.2 yards per punt. Alvin LeBlanc led the team with four interceptions returned for 63 yards, an average of 15.8 yards per return. Awards and honors Six Wichita players received first-team honors on the Associated Press 1961 All-Missouri Valley Conference football team: quarterbacks Zyskowski and Stangarone; ends Ron Turner and Jim Maddox; center Leroy Leep; and guard Charles Wright. Tackle Gene Dempsey was named to the second team. Alvin LeBlanc, Richard Stephens, and Adolph Wilson received honorable mention.6 WU Players On All-stars The Wichita Morning Eagle November 27, 1961 6B https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-wichita-eagle-6-wu-players-on-all-st/154537443/ Newspapers.com Players 30em Rich Ashcroft (#36), halfback, 170 pounds Jerry Crain (#75), tackle, senior, 215 pounds Gene Dempsey (#72), tackle, 205 pounds J.R. Dumler (#44), fullback, 180 pounds Alvin LeBlanc (#24), halfback, sophomore, 187 pounds Leroy Leep (#53), center, 190 pounds Jim Maddox, end Bill Parcells (#87), end, 205 pounds Bill Stangarone (#15), quarterback, 172 pounds Dick Stephens (#42), halfback, sophomore, 175 pounds Ron Turner (#83), end, 196 pounds Adolph Wilson (#34), fullback, junior, 188 pounds Charles Wright (#64), guard, 210 pounds Alex Zyskowski #12), quarterback, 185 pounds Loren Schomacker (#33), fullback, 190 Tentative 3-deep Lineups The Wichita Eagle September 15, 1961 20 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-wichita-eagle-tentative-3-deep-lineu/154528667/ Newspapers.com References Wichita Category:Wichita State Shockers football seasons Category:Missouri Valley Conference football champion seasons Wichita Shockers football