1961 Lenoir Rhyne Bears football team

American college football season February 2026 January 2025 1961 Lenoir Rhyne Bears football Carolinas Conference Carolinas 9 (AP small college) 8–1–1 6–1 Clarence Stasavich 16th Lenoir Rhyne College Field Carolinas Conference champion The 1961 Lenoir Rhyne Bears football team was an American football team that represented Lenoir Rhyne College (now known as Lenoir–Rhyne University) as a member of the Carolinas Conference during the 1961 college football season. In their 16th season under head coach Clarence Stasavich, the team compiled an 8–1–1 record (6–1 in conference games) and won the Carolinas Conference championship. The Bears were ranked No. 9 in the final Associated Press small college poll. The 1960 team won the NAIA national championship. Junior fullback Richard Kemp led the conference with 1,050 yards of total offense and 78 points scored, and was selected as the conference's most valuable player. The team played its home games at Lenoir Rhyne College Field in Hickory, North Carolina. Schedule y y September 16 1961 Wofford Terriers Wofford<ncg> Hickory, NC T 14-14 September 23 1961 Presbyterian Blue Hose Presbyterian<ncg> Hickory, NC W 28-8 September 30 1961 Newberry Indians Newberry Hickory, NC L 14-18 October 9 at Appalachian State American Legion Memorial Stadium Charlotte, NC W 19-6 10,025 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90397990/modgett-paces-lr196-win/ The Charlotte Observer Midgett paces LR 19–6 win October 8, 1961 December 11, 2021 Newspapers.com October 14 1961 Guilford Quakers Guilford Hickory, NC W 35-6 October 21 at 1961 Western Carolina Catamounts Western Carolina Cullowhee, NC W 24-14 October 28 at Wittenberg<ncg> Wittenberg Stadium Springfield, OH W 34-14 4,900 Lenoir Rhyne Stops Wittenberg, 34-14 Springfield News-Sun Dick Hibbett October 29, 1961 Sports 1, 2 https://www.newspapers.com/article/springfield-news-sun-lenoir-rhyne-stops/151422664/ Newspapers.com Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Wittenberg) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/806/stats/12865 National Collegiate Athletic Association August 2, 2024 November 4 at East Carolina College Stadium Greenville, NC W 24-19 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72422609/last-minute-lr-td-nips-ecc-2419/ The News and Observer Last minute L–R TD nips ECC, 24–19 November 5, 1961 March 1, 2021 Newspapers.com November 11 1961 Elon Fightin' Christians Elon Hickory, NC W 50-16 November 23 1961 Catawba Indians Catawba Hickory, NC W 9-7 1961 Football Schedule https://lrbears.com/sports/football/schedule/1961 Lenoir-Rhyne University Athletics August 3, 2024 Lenoir–Rhyne Football Record Book https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/sidearm.nextgen.sites/lenoirrhyne.sidearmsports.com/documents/2023/9/21/NewFBRecordBook22.pdf Lenoir-Rhyne University Athletics 18 August 3, 2024 Statistics Fullback Richard Kemp led the Carolinas Conference in total offense (1,050 yards), rushing (785 yards), and scoring (78 points). He also completed 18 of 21 passes for 265 yards.Kemp Wins 3 League Grid Titles Winston-Salem Journal November 30, 1961 36 https://www.newspapers.com/article/winston-salem-journal-kemp-wins-3-league/157000162/ Newspapers.comAthlete of the Week: Stas On Kemp: We Couldn't Have Done It Without Him Greensboro Daily News Tom Einstein November 28, 1961 B5 https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-kemp/156999330/ Newspapers.com Awards and honors Junior fullback Richard Kemp was selected in voting by sportscasters, sports writers and conference coaches as the most valuable player of the Carolinas Conference. He received 33 of 53 first-place votes.LR's Kemp Is Named MVP of '61 Winston-Salem Journal December 3, 1961 B3 https://www.newspapers.com/article/winston-salem-journal-lrs-kemp-is-named/157000583/ Newspapers.com Kemp and end Ronnie Frye were unanimous choices on the 1961 All-Carolinas Conference football team. Tackle Eddie Haupt, center Bill Isaacs, and guards Jim Edmiston and Ron Hardman were also named to the first team. Tackle Al Fusonie and backs Marcus Midgett and Odell White received honorable mention.Carolinas Squad Named: LR, Apps Dominate Selections Winston-Salem Journal November 29, 1961 10 https://www.newspapers.com/article/winston-salem-journal-carolinas-squad-na/156999831/ Newspapers.com Three Lenoir Rhyne players were chosen for the 1961 NAIA All-District 26 football team: end Ronnie Frye, tackle Eddie Haupt, and fullback Richard Kemp.Three Bears Selected On All-District Asheville Citizen-Times November 24, 1961 31 https://www.newspapers.com/article/asheville-citizen-times-three-bears-sele/157001571/ Newspapers.com References Lenoir Rhyne Category:Lenoir–Rhyne Bears football seasons Category:Carolinas Conference football champion seasons Lenoir-Rhyne Bears football