1961 Arizona Wildcats football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1961 Arizona Wildcats football Independent 17 8–1–1 3–0 Jim LaRue 3rd Eddie Wilson Bob Garis Eddie Wilson Arizona Stadium The 1961 Arizona Wildcats football team was an American football team that represented the University of Arizona as an independent during the 1961 college football season. In their third season under head coach Jim LaRue, the Wildcats compiled an 8–1–1 record, were ranked No. 17 in the final AP Poll, and outscored their opponents by a total of 288 to 131.1961 Arizona Wildcats Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football September 6, 2016 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/arizona/1961-schedule.htmlArizona Football 2016 Media Guide University of Arizona September 6, 2016 106 2016 http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/arizona.sidearmsports.com/documents/2016/8/24/2016_Arizona_FB_Media_Guide.pdf September 21, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160921192006/http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/arizona.sidearmsports.com/documents/2016/8/24/2016_Arizona_FB_Media_Guide.pdf dead The team was led on offense by quarterback Eddie Wilson and halfback Bobby Thompson. Wilson ranked third nationally in passing (1,294 yards) and fifth in total offense (1,377 yards). Thompson ranked seventh nationally in scoring (82 points) and ninth in rushing (752 yards). Three Arizona players were among the top 38 picks in the 1962 NFL draft: Joe Hernandez 15th; Wilson 24th; and Thompson 38th. The team played its home games in Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Arizona. Schedule y y y Mountain September 23 Colorado State<ncg> Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ W 28–6 24,300 Arizona Topples Rams, 28-6, For 7th In Row (part 2) Arizona Daily Star September 24, 1961 1A, 1D https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-daily-star-arizona-topples-rams/153528520/ Newspapers.com September 30 1:00 p.m. at Nebraska<ncg> Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE T 14–14 34,721 Whew! Huskers Escape With Tie: Determined Arizona Misses Upset, 14-14 Sunday Journal and Star Dick Becker October 1, 1961 1D, 5D https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-lincoln-star-whew-huskers-escape-wi/153624077/ Newspapers.com October 7 Hardin–Simmons Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ W 53–7 25,179 UA Wildcats Run Wild Defeating Pokes, 53-7: Arizona Establishes Modern Win Record The Arizona Daily Star October 8, 1961 1A, 1D https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-daily-star-ua-wildcats-run-wild/153621957/ Newspapers.com October 14 at Oregon<ncg> Multnomah Stadium Portland, OR W 15–6 18,651 Arizona Hangs 15-6 Defeat On Webfoots: 18,651 See Wildcats Rack UO The Sunday Oregonian Don McLeod October 15, 1961 1, 6 (section 2) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sunday-oregonian-arizona-hangs-15-6/153624413/ Newspapers.com October 21 New Mexico Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ (rivalry) W 22–21 Wilson's Pin-Point Passing Gives Cats 22-21 Victory: '2-Pointer' Gives UA Triumph The Arizona Daily Star Abe Chanin October 22, 1961 1A, 1D https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-daily-star-wilsons-pin-point-pa/153607866/ Newspapers.com October 28 at West Texas State Buffalo Bowl Canyon, TX L 23–27 12,000 Buffs Upset UA, 27-23 The Arizona Daily Star Abe Chanin October 29, 1961 1A, 1D https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-daily-star-buffs-upset-ua-27-23/153624770/ Newspapers.com November 4 Wyoming<ncg> Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ W 20–15 25,150 Wildcats Stun Unbeaten Wyoming In 20-15 Thriller: Ed Wilson Passes For Two TDs The Arizona Daily Star Abe Chanin November 5, 1961 1A, 1D https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-daily-star-wildcats-stun-unbeate/153622877/ Newspapers.com November 11 8:00 p.m. Idaho<ncg> Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ W 43–7 20,350 Wildcats Easily Brush Past Idaho, 43 To 7 The Arizona Daily Star Abe Chanin November 12, 1961 1A, 1D https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-daily-star-wildcats-easily-brush/153622636/ Newspapers.comhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5speAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mzIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2355%2C1805110 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Associated Press Arizona Wildcats wallop Idaho 43-7 November 12, 1961 10 November 18 Texas Western Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ W 48–15 22,200 Wilson's Aerial Wizardry Paces UA's 48-15 Victory: 22,000 Fans Watch Defeat Of Miners The Arizona Daily Star Abe Chanin November 19, 1961 1A, 1D https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-daily-star-wilsons-aerial-wizar/153622312/ Newspapers.comBig Effort for 3 El Paso Herald-Post Bob Ingram November 20, 1961 20 https://www.newspapers.com/article/el-paso-herald-post-big-effort-for-3/153419213/ Newspapers.com November 25 at Arizona State Sun Devil Stadium Tempe, AZ (rivalry) W 22–13 40,164 Arizona Comes From Behind To Whip ASU 22-13 The Arizona Daily Star Abe Chanin November 26, 1961 1A, 1D https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-daily-star-arizona-comes-from-be/153620694/ Newspapers.com Statistics The Wilcats gained an average of 232.6 rushing yards and 145.6 passing yards per game. On defense, they gave up an average of 181.0 rushing yards and 79.1 passing yards per game.1961 Arizona Wildcats Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football September 3, 2016 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/arizona/1961.html Quarterback Eddie Wilson led the team in passing, completing 79 of 154 passes (51.3% completion) for 1,294 yards, 10 touchdowns, seven interceptions and a 134.2 quarterback rating. His 1,294 passing yards was the third most in major college football in 1961, trailing only Ron Miller of Wisconsin and Chon Gallegos of San Jose State.Official Collegiate Football Record Book 1962 National Collegiate Athletic Association Wilson also led the team and ranked fifth nationally with 1,377 yards of total offense.Official Collegiate Football Record Book 1962 National Collegiate Athletic Association Halfback Bobby Thompson also ranked among the national leaders in both scoring and rushing yardage. He ranked seventh nationally with 82 points scored (13 touchdowns and four extra points) and ninth nationally with 752 rushing yards on 157 carries for an average of 4.89 yards per carry.Official Collegiate Football Record Book 1962 National Collegiate Athletic Association Thompson also led the team in receiving with 468 receiving yards on 25 receptions for an average of 18.7 yards per catch. The team's rushing leaders after Thompson were Walt Mince (328 yards, 53 carries, 6.2-yard average), Joe Hernandez (278 yards, 55 carries, 5.1-yard average), Ted Christy (194 yards, 47 carries, 4.1-yard average), and Jim Faulks (168 yards, 33 carries, 5.1-yard average). The team's leading receivers after Thompson were Joe Hernandez (423 yards, 27 receptions, 15.7-yard average) and Walt Mince (201 yards, nine receptions, 22.3-yard average). The leading scorers after Thompson were Joe Hernandez and Walt Mince, each with 42 points, and Eddie Wilson with 24 points. Awards Quarterback Eddie Wilson was selected by the Associated Press (AP) as the third-team quarterback on the 1961 All-America college football team. He was the first Arizona player to win All-Americ honors since Jim Donarski was named to the second team in 1961. Three other Arizona players received honorable mention from the AP: center Bob Garis, halfback Bobby Thompson, and Joe Hernandez.Wilson Lands Berth on 3rd All-America Team The Arizona Daily Star December 8, 1961 D1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-daily-star-wilson-lands-berth-on/153615338/ Newspapers.comWilson Tabbed For AP's All-America Third Team Tucson Daily Citizen December 8, 1961 41 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tucson-daily-citizen-wilson-tabbed/153614995/ Newspapers.com Wilson also received: the Governor's Award as the team's most valuable senior player;Wilson Tops Honorees Tucson Daily Citizen December 5, 1961 27 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tucson-daily-citizen-wilson-tops-honoree/153616001/ Newspapers.comGaris, Runk, Wilson Get Plaudits The Arizona Daily Star December 5, 1961 4B https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-daily-star-garis-runk-wilson-g/153620098/ Newspapers.com and ''The Arizona Daily Star'''s 1961 Athlete-of-the-Year award.Arizona QB Is Named 1961 Athlete-Of-Year The Arizona Daily Star December 31, 1961 4D https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-daily-star-arizona-qb-is-named-1/153619531/ Newspapers.com Wilson and center Bob Garis were selected as the team captains.2016 Media Guide, p. 102. Pro football drafts Three Arizona players were selected among the top 38 players in the 1962 NFL draft. No other college team had so many player drafted in the early rounds.Arizona Prestige Jumps Tucson Daily Citizen George McLeod December 5, 1961 27 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tucson-daily-citizen-arizona-prestige-ju/153617291/ Newspapers.com The players selected in the 1962 NFL and AFL drafts were: Joe Hernandez—15th pick in the NFL draft (Washington Redskins), 24th pick in the NFL draft (Detroit Lions), 33rd pick in the AFL draft (Oakland Raiders) Eddie Wilson—24th pick in the NFL draft (Detroit Lions), 19th pick in the AFL draft (Dallas Texans) Bobby Thompson—38th pick in the NFL draft (Detroit Lions), 91st pick in the AFL draft (Dallas Texans) Walt Mince—234th pick in the AFL draft (Denver Broncos) References Arizona Category:Arizona Wildcats football seasons Arizona Wildcats football