1961 Fresno State Bulldogs football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1961 Fresno State Bulldogs football California Collegiate Athletic Association CCAA 5 (UPI small college) 3 (AP small college) 10–0 5–0 Cecil Coleman 3rd Ratcliffe Stadium CCAA champion Mercy Bowl W 36–6 vs. Bowling Green The 1961 Fresno State Bulldogs football team was an American football team that represented Fresno State College (now known as California State University, Fresno) as a member of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) during the 1961 college football season. In their third year head coach Cecil Coleman, the Bulldogs compiled a perfect 10–0 record (5–0 in conference games), won the CCAA championship for the fourth consecutive year, and outscored opponents by a total of 256 to 119. At the end of the season, Fresno State took part in a charity bowl game, the Mercy Bowl, against Bowling Green. The game was played as a fundraiser in memory of 16 Cal Poly Mustangs football players killed in a plane crash following a game against Bowling Green a year earlier.http://www.espn.com/los-angeles/ncf/story/_/id/7429287/los-angeles-last-bowl-game-1961-mercy-bowl-coliseum L.A.'s Last Bowl? 1961 Mercy Bowl 5 January 2012 January 4, 2017 The team played its home games at Ratcliffe Stadium on the campus of Fresno City College in Fresno, California. Schedule 1961 small college AP September 23 w y y Montana State Memorial Stadium Great Falls, MT 16–13 6,000–6,800 Bulldogs Squeeze Out 16-13 Win Over MSC https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86580871/great-falls-tribune/ Great Falls Tribune Great Falls, Montana September 24, 1961 15 October 5, 2021 Newspapers.com Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (1961 Montana State) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/440/stats/12865 National Collegiate Athletic Association October 15, 2022 September 30 w UC Santa Barbara Ratcliffe Stadium Fresno, CA 22–14 9,066–10,500 Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (1961 UC Santa Barbara) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/104/stats/12865 National Collegiate Athletic Association May 27, 2025 October 7 w y y Pacific (CA) Pacific Memorial Stadium Stockton, CA 20–19 9,500–10,000 October 14 w y Cal Poly Mustang Stadium San Luis Obispo, CA 42–13 6,000–7,250 Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (1961 Cal Poly) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/90/stats/12865 National Collegiate Athletic Association June 11, 2022 October 21 w 10 Los Angeles State Ratcliffe Stadium Fresno, CA 35–6 11,151–13,000 October 28 w 6 San Diego State Ratcliffe Stadium Fresno, CA rivalry 27–6 6,595–8,000 Fresno's Barrage Rips Aztecs The San Diego Union San Diego, California Howard Hagen October 29, 1961 B-1 November 3 w y 6 Long Beach State Veterans Stadium Long Beach, CA 37–14 4,800–5,000 November 11 w y 5 1961 Abilene Christian Wildcats Abilene Christian Ratcliffe Stadium Fresno, CA 21–7 9,960–11,500 November 18 w y 3 San Jose State Ratcliffe Stadium Fresno, CA rivalry 36–27 14,141–15,000 November 23 w y y 3 Bowling Green Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA Mercy Bowl 36–6 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 Fresno State Football Media Guide https://gobulldogs.com/documents/2024/8/21/5._2024_Record_Book.pdf Fresno State Athletics 120 January 24, 2025 Statistics The team tallied 2,825 yards of total offense (313.9 yards per game), consisting of 1,798 rushing yards and 1,027 passing yards. On defense, the Bulldogs gave up 1,938 yards to opponents, including 1,069 rushing yards and 869 passing yards. Quarterback Beau Carter led the team in passing, completing 43 of 86 passes (50%) for 557 yards with five touchdowns and four interceptions. He ranked second on the team in rushing with 480 yards on 59 carries. He also led the team in total offense with 981 yards ans scoring with 43 yards on six touchdowns, three extra point kicks, and a pair of two-point conversion runs. Halfback Bill Kendrick led the team in rushing with 468 yards on 84 carries. End Gerald Houser led the team in receiving with 20 catches for 245 yards.Brief Summary of Cumulative Football Statistics (1961 Fresno State) NCAA August 8, 2024 https://stats.ncaa.org/team/96/stats/12865 Awards and seasons Five Fresno State players were selected by the conference coaches as first-team players on the 1961 All-CCAA football team: back Bill Kendrick; tackles Montie Day and Sonny Biship; guard Doug Brown; and center J. R. Williams.Fresno State Puts Five on All-Stars In All-Cal Circuit The San Bernardino Daily Sun December 2, 1961 A21 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-fresno-sta/156837987/ Newspapers.com Professional football The following were selected in the 1962 NFL draft.https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1962.htm 1962 NFL Draft Pro-Football-Reference.com December 7, 2016https://www.pro-football-reference.com/schools/fresnost/ Fresno St. Players/Alumni Pro-Football-Reference.com December 12, 2016 Player Position Round Overall NFL Team Jesse Williams Center 10 138 New York Giants Bill Knocke Halfback 17 233 Baltimore Colts Sonny Bishop Guard 18 249 Cleveland Browns John Anabo Quarterback 19 263 Cleveland Browns The following were selected in the 1962 AFL draft. Player Position Round Overall AFL Team Sonny Bishop Guard 11 88 San Diego Chargers Jesse Williams Center 21 168 San Diego Chargers References Fresno State Category:Fresno State Bulldogs football seasons Category:California Collegiate Athletic Association football champion seasons Category:College football undefeated seasons Fresno State Bulldogs football