1961 Texas Longhorns football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1961 Texas Longhorns football Darrell Royal with 1961 captains Talbert and Cotten.png 190px Darrell Royal (center) with co-captains Don Talbert (left) and Mike Cotten (right) Southwest Conference SWC 4 3 10–1 6–1 Darrell Royal 5th Memorial Stadium SWC co-championCotton Bowl Classic champion Cotton Bowl Classic W 12–7 vs. Ole Miss The 1961 Texas Longhorns football team was an American football team that represented the University of Texas (now known as the University of Texas at Austin) as a member of the Southwest Conference (SWC) during the 1961 college football season. In their fifth year under head coach Darrell Royal, the Longhorns compiled a 10–1 record (6–1 in conference games) and tied with Arkansas for the SWC championship. The Longhorns defeated Arkansas (33–7) and Oklahoma (28–7), and were ranked No. 1 until they lost, 6–0, to unranked TCU on November 18. At the end of the regular season, the Longhorns were ranked No. 3 in the final AP poll and No. 4 in the final UPI poll. They concluded their season with a victory over No. 5 Ole Miss in the Cotton Bowl Classic.1961 Texas Longhorns Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football August 21, 2024 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/texas/1961-schedule.html Texas outscored all opponents by a total of 291 to 59. They were ranked fourth nationally in total offense (383.1 yards per game) and seventh nationally in total defense (176.1 yards per game). Consensus All-American Jimmy Saxton led the team with 846 rushing yards (7.9 yards per carry) and finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting. Tackle Don Talbert also received first-team All-American honors, and Darrell Royal was selected by the Football Writers Association of America as the 1961 "Coach of the Year". The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. Schedule 1961 AP Central September 23 3:30 p.m. w y y 4 California California Memorial Stadium Berkeley, CA 28–3 41,500 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123813141/bears-ripped-texas-halts-cal-28-to-3-in/ Oakland Tribune Bears ripped; Texas halts Cal 28 to 3 in opener September 24, 1961 April 30, 2023 Newspapers.com September 30 7:30 p.m. w 6 Texas Tech Memorial Stadium Austin, TX rivalry 42–14 43,500 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123813391/longhorns-slaughter-tech-in-opener-421/ Fort Worth Star-Telegram Longhorns slaughter Tech in opener, 42–14 October 1, 1961 April 30, 2023 Newspapers.com October 7 7:30 p.m. w y 5 Washington State Memorial Stadium Austin, TX 41–8 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 2:00 p.m. w y y 4 Oklahoma Cotton Bowl Dallas, TX rivalry ABC 28–7 75,504 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123814317/stampeding-steers-lower-boom-on-sooners/ The Marshall News Messenger Stampeding Steers lower boom on Sooners, 28–7 October 15, 1961 April 30, 2023 Newspapers.com October 21 2:00 p.m. w y 3 Arkansas 10 Razorback Stadium Fayetteville, AR rivalry 33–7 33,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123814615/texas-socks-hogs-takes-swc-lead/ The Nashville Tennessean Texas socks Hogs, takes SWC lead October 22, 1961 April 30, 2023 Newspapers.com October 28 7:30 p.m. w 3 Rice Memorial Stadium Austin, TX rivalry 34–7 62,310 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123814910/texas-smears-rice-347/ The Tyler Courier-Times-Telegraph Texas smears Rice, 34–7 October 29, 1961 April 30, 2023 Newspapers.com November 4 2:00 p.m. w y 3 SMU Cotton Bowl Dallas, TX 27–0 41,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123815464/saxton-puts-texas-by-smu/ The Victoria Advocate Saxton puts Texas by SMU November 5, 1961 April 30, 2023 Newspapers.com November 11 2:00 p.m. w 1 Baylor Memorial Stadium Austin, TX rivalry 33–7 62,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123815595/top-ranked-longhorns-hand-baylor-337-sp/ The Marshall News Messenger Top-ranked Longhorns hand Baylor 33–7 spanking November 12, 1961 April 30, 2023 Newspapers.com November 18 2:00 p.m. l 1 TCU Memorial Stadium Austin, TX rivalry 0–6 50,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123815787/inspired-tcu-stuns-powerful-texas-60/ The Corpus Christi Caller-Times Inspired TCU stuns powerful Texas, 6–0 November 19, 1961 April 30, 2023 Newspapers.com November 23 1:30 p.m. w y 4 Texas A&M Kyle Field College Station, TX rivalry ABC 25–0 42,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123816288/texas-whips-aggies-250-in-cotton-bowl/ Lubbock Avalanche-Journal Texas whips Aggies, 25–0; In Cotton Bowl November 24, 1961 April 30, 2023 Newspapers.com January 1 1:30 p.m. w y y 3 Ole Miss 5 Cotton Bowl Classic Cotton Bowl Dallas, TX CBS 12–7 75,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123816519/longhorn-interceptions-help-kill-rebels/ The Clarion-Ledger Longhorn interceptions help kill Rebels, 12–7 January 2, 1962 April 30, 2023 Newspapers.com Game summaries TCU Texas Longhorns 2; text-align:center collapsed TCU Horned Frogs (2–5–1) at #1 Texas Longhorns (8–0) November 18, 1961 TCU 0 6 0 0 Texas 0 0 0 0 Memorial Stadium, Austin, Texas 50,000 Cloudy, 60 F C Box Score First quarter No scoring Second quarter TCU – Buddy Iles 50-yard pass from Sonny Gibbs (kick failed), 9:20. TCU 6–0. Drive: 8 plays, 80 yards, 3:51. Third quarter No scoring Fourth quarter No scoring Top passers TCU UT – Mike Cotten – 3/6, 62 yards, INT Top rushers TCU UT – Jimmy Saxton – 17 rushes, 85 yards Top receivers TCU UT – Jimmy Saxton – 1 reception, 45 yards It's not what they eat and tote off, it's what they fall into and mess up that hurts. Darrell Royal, postgame comparing TCU to cockroaches Statistics thumb|right|150px|All-American halfback Jimmy Saxton Texas ranked fourth nationally in total offense, tallying 3,821 yards in ten regular-season games, an average of 383.1 yards per game. On defense, the Longhorns ranked seventh nationally, giving up 1,761 yards, an average of 176.1 yards per game.'Bama Eyes Triple Crown As Top Defensive Team The Waso Times-Herald November 29, 1961 5B https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-waco-times-herald-bama-eyes-triple/153766084/ Newspapers.com Texas had four of the top ten rushers in the Southwest Conference during the 1961 season. Jimmy Saxton led the conference with 846 yards on 107 carries for an average of 7.9 yards per carry. Jerry Cook ranked second in the conference with 527 yards on 96 carries (5.5-yard average). Tommy Ford ranked seventh with 415 yards on 83 carries (5.0-yard average). Ray Poage ranked ninth with 383 yards on 77 carries (5.1-yard average).SWC Statistics The Waso Times-Herald November 29, 1961 5B https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-waco-times-herald-bama-eyes-triple/153766084/ Newspapers.com Jimmy Saxton was also the team's total offense leader. Adding 46 passing yards to his 8846 rushing yards, he finished the regular season with 892 yards of total offense. Quarterback Mike Cotten led the Longhorns in passing, completing 44 of 77 passes (.574 completion percentage) for 500 yards with two interceptions and seven touchdown passes. End Bob Moses was the team's leading receiver, tallying 14 catches for 177 yards (12.6 yards per catch) and five touchdowns. Awards and honors thumb|right|155px|Coach of the Year Darrell Royal Head coach Darrell Royal was selected by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) as the 1961 "Coach of the Year".Longhorns' Darrell Royal Writers 'Coach of Year' Fort Worth Star-Telegram December 10, 1961 2 (section 5) https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-longhorns-darr/153767101/ Newspapers.com Halfback Jimmy Saxton received numerous honors and awards following the 1961 season, including Saxton was a consensus pick on the 1961 All-America college football team,Football Award Winners National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) 2016 October 21, 2017 9 http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2016/awards.pdf having received first-team honors from the Associated Press (AP),Saxton Named On AP's Team The Austin American December 8, 1961 39 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-american-saxton-named-on-aps/153764631/ Newspapers.com United Press International (UPI), American Football Coaches Association, and FWAA, among others. Saxton finished third in the voting for the 1961 Heisman Trophy, receiving 81 first-place votes and 551 points. His total yardage (846) and average yards per carry (7.9) were both higher than the Heisman winner Ernie Davis.1961 Heisman Trophy Voting Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football August 21, 2024 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/heisman-1961.html Saxton was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated on November 27, 1961, with the headline "Football's Fanciest Runner" Saxton was voted by his teammates as the most valuable player on the 1961 Texas team. Saxton was selected by the Texas Sports Writers Association as the top amateur athlete of 1961.Cactus 1962 (University of Texas yearbook) Texas Student Publications 1962 Rebecca Annette Wood 343 https://repositories.lib.utexas.edu/items/3ca7bb39-f6fa-4673-8d6f-c01ad649e4a9 Saxton was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1996.James Saxton National Football Foundation https://footballfoundation.org/hof_search.aspx?hof=1921 August 21, 2024 Tackle Don Talbert was selected by the FWAA as a first-team All-American.FWAA Selections: Saxton and Talbert Among Look Stars The Austin American December 5, 1961 A21 https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman-fwaa-selection/153765509/ Newspapers.com Six Texas players received first-team honors from the AP or the UPI on the 1961 All-Southwest Conference football team: Saxton (AP-1, UPI-1); Talbert (AP-1, UPI-1); quarterback Mike Cotten (AP-1, UPI-1); end Bob Moses (AP-1, UPI-1); guard Johnny Treadwell (AP-1, UPI-2); and center David Kristynik (UPI-1). Fullback Ray Poage received second-team honors from the UPI.Five Steers All-SWC The Austin American December 4, 1961 26 https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman-five-steers-al/153764765/ Newspapers.comFive Longhorns Make UPI Team: Saxton Unanimous The Austin American December 1, 1961 36 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-american-five-longhorns-make/153765100/ Newspapers.com Mike Cotten and Bob Moses were named the most valuable players of the Cotton Bowl. Personnel Players The following 37 players received varsity letters for their roles on the 1961 Texas team: 30em Scott Appleton (#70), tackle, sophomore George Bass (#68), guard, sophomore Clarence V. Bray (#53), sophomore George Brucks (#66), guard, sophomore Duke Carlisle (#11), quarterback, sophomore Jack Collins (#49), wingback, senior, 195 pounds Jerry Cook (#38), junior John Allen Cook (#38), junior Mike Cotten (#12), quarterback and co-captain, senior, 189 pounds Pat Culpepper (#31), linebacker, junior Staley Faulkner (#77), tackle, sophomore Ken Ferguson (#78), tackle, sophomore Tommy Ford (#24), sophomore, fullback, 185 pounds Bobby Gamblin (#65), guard, sophomore Johnny Genung (#14), quarterback, junior Deene Gott (#87), end, senior James Hejl, center, senior Ben House (#83), end, sophomore David Kristynik (#64), center, senior, 203 pounds Marvin Kubin (#55), guard, junior, 198 pounds Tommy Ray Lucas (#80), end, junior, 195 pounds David McWilliams (#50), center/linebacker, sophomore Perry McWilliams (#61), center, junior Eldon Moritz (#23), kicking specialist, senior Bob Moses (#88), end, senior, 195 pounds Bobby Nunis (#36), wingback, junior Derrell M. Oliver (#25), fullback, sophomore Eddie Padgett (#74), tackle, senior, 205 pounds Ray Poage (#33), fullback, junior, 201 pounds Gordon Roberts (#76), tackle, sophomore David Russell (#40), wingback, senior Walter Cayce Sands (#85), end, sophomore Jimmy Saxton (#10), halfback, senior, 5'11", 164 pounds Charles Talbert (#89), end, sophomore Don Talbert (#72), tackle and co-captain, senior, 220 pounds Johnny Treadwell (#60), guard, junior, 200 pounds Tommy York (#84), end, junior Cactus 1962, p. 341.Starting Lineups The Austin American September 30, 1961 1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman-starting-lineu/153779198/ Newspapers.com Coaches and administration Head coach - Darrell Royal Assistant coaches - James "T" Jones, Mike Campbell, Bill Ellington, Charles Shira, Bob Schulze, Jim Pittman, Russell CoffeeCactus 1962, p. 342. Athletic director - Edwin Werner ColeCactus 1962, p. 338. Chairman, Athletic Council - Myron Louis BegemanCactus 1962, p. 339. Trainer - Frank Edwin Medina Gallery References Texas Category:Texas Longhorns football seasons Category:Southwest Conference football champion seasons Category:Cotton Bowl Classic champion seasons Texas Longhorns football