1961 Florida Gators football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1961 Florida Gators football Southeastern Conference SEC 4–5–1 3–3 Ray Graves 2nd Jim Beaver Florida Field The 1961 Florida Gators football team was an American football team that represented the University of Florida as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 1961 college football season. In their second year under head coach Ray Graves, the Gators compiled a 4–5–1 record (3–3 in conference games), finished in sixth place in the SEC, and outscored opponents by a total of 146 to 97. 2015 Florida Gators Football Media Guide https://web.archive.org/web/20151208143532/http://web.gatorzone.com/football/media/2015/media_guide.pdf 2015-12-08 , University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, p. 107 (2015). Retrieved August 16, 2015.1961 Florida Gators Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football October 5, 2024 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/florida/1961-schedule.html The Gators attempted LSU coach Paul Dietzel's three-platoon system.Golenbock 2002 147 The team's statistical leaders included Tom Batten (460 passing yards), Don Goodman (455 rushing yards), and Larry Libertore (671 yards total offense). Other notable players included Lindy Infante (369 rushing yards).1961 Florida Gators Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football October 5, 2024 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/florida/1961.html The team played its home games at Florida Field in Gainesville, Florida. Schedule 1961 AP September 23 w y Clemson Florida Field Gainesville, FL 21–7 42,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-libertore-infant/133247257/ Pensacola News Journal Libertore, Infante lead Florida September 24, 1961 October 10, 2023 Newspapers.com September 30 t y Florida State Florida Field Gainesville, FL rivalry 3–3 46,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tampa-bay-times-fsu-gets-biggest-kick-ou/133247355/ St. Petersburg Times FSU gets biggest kick out of 3–3 'victory' October 1, 1961 October 10, 2023 Newspapers.com October 6 w y Tulane Tulane Stadium New Orleans, LA 14–3 30,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85674521/young-gators-play-tulane-executioners/ The Tampa Tribune Young Gators play Tulane executioners October 7, 1961 September 20, 2021 Newspapers.com October 14 l y y Rice Rice Stadium Houston, TX 10–19 32,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-owl-pass-thefts/133247445/ Fort Worth Star-Telegram Owl pass thefts, power runs rip Florida by 19–10 October 14, 1961 October 10, 2023 Newspapers.com October 21 w y Vanderbilt Dudley Field Nashville, TN 7–0 18,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-press-gators-eke-out-70-win-over-v/133247496/ Fort Myers News-Press Gators eke out 7–0 win over Vanderbilt October 22, 1961 October 10, 2023 Newspapers.com October 28 l y LSU 7 Florida Field Gainesville, FL rivalry 0–23 46,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune-high-rankes-tigers-con/133235845/ The Tampa Tribune High ranked Tigers convince Gators with 23–0 win October 29, 1961 October 10, 2023 Newspapers.com November 4 l y Georgia Tech 7 Grant Field Atlanta, GA 0–20 44,940 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-revenge-minded-jack/133246675/ The Orlando Sentinel Revenge-minded Jackets thumo Florida, 20–0 November 6, 1961 October 10, 2023 Newspapers.com November 11 w y Georgia Gator Bowl Stadium Jacksonville, FL rivalry 21–14 47,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/chattanooga-daily-times-florida-stages-r/133247612/ Chattanooga Sunday Times Florida stages rally in last 5 minutes, trims Georgia by 21–14 November 12, 1961 October 10, 2023 Newspapers.com November 25 l y Auburn Cliff Hare Stadium Auburn, AL rivalry 15–32 33,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-selma-times-journal-auburn-wins-wier/133247712/ The Selma Times-Journal Auburn wins wiers tilt from Florida by 32–15 November 26, 1961 October 10, 2023 Newspapers.com December 2 l y Miami (FL) Florida Field Gainesville, FL rivalry 6–15 42,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-mira-cranks-up-miami-get/133247786/ The Nashville Tennessean Mira cranks up, Miami gets win December 3, 1961 October 10, 2023 Newspapers.com Department of Sports Publicity University of Florida 1962 Football Brochure https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/gatorzone.com/documents/2016/8/19/1962_fb_media_guide.pdf floridagators.com University Athletic Association, Inc. 15 March 2018 Statistics The Gators gained an average of 142.2 rushing yards and 101.7 passing yards per game. On defense, they gave up 144.9 rushing yards and 82.0 passing yards per game. Quarterback Larry Libertore, who weighed only 138 pounds, led the team with 671 yards of total offense. He completed 18 of 52 passes (34.6%) for 330 yards with two touchdowns, seven interceptions, and a 73.7 quarterback rating. He also tallied 341 rushing yards on 120 carries for an average of 2.8 yards per carry. The team's rushing leaders included fullback Don Goodman (455 yards, 111 carries, 4.1-yard average) and halfback Lindy Infante (369 yards, 85 carries, 4.3-yard average). The team's passing leader was Tom Batten who completed 30 of 67 passes (44.8%) for 460 yards with three touchdowns, five interceptions, and a 102.3 quarterback rating. The leading receivers were Russ Brown (13 passes, 239 yards), Bob Hoover (9 receptions, 213 yards), and Lindy Infante (11 receptions, 129 yards). Awards and honors Tackle Jim Beaver was selected as the team captain.Beaver Elected Captain Of 1961 Football Gators Tampa Bay Times February 8, 1961 C1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tampa-bay-times-beaver-elected-captain-o/156588625/ Newspapers.com Two Florida players were recognized on the 1961 All-SEC football team. Tackle Jim Beaver received second-team honors from the United Press International (UPI) and third-team honors from the Associated Press (AP). Halfback Don Goodman received third-team honors from both the AP and UPI.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2576453/the_monroe_newsstar/ AP's All-SEC The Monroe News-Star December 5, 1961 8 Newspapers.com June 8, 2015 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2576490/the_delta_democrattimes/ The Delta Democrat-Times UPI All-Southeastern November 29, 1961 12 Newspapers.com June 8, 2015 Personnel Players Tom Batten, quarterback, junior, 5'11", 158 pounds, Miami, FL Jim Beaver, tackle and captain, senior, 6'1", 226 pounds, West Palm Beach, FL Russ Brown, end, sophomore, 6'2", 195 pounds, Miami, FL Bruce Culpepper, center, junior, 6'1", 225 pounds, Tallahassee, FL Floyd Dean, tackle, junior, 6'4", 230 pounds, Eagle Lake, FL Bobby Dodd Jr., quarterback, junior, 6'0", 173 pounds, Atlanta, GA Wade Entzminger, guard, junior, 5'10", 188 pounds, Tampa, FL Don Goodman, fullback, senior, 6'0", 197 pounds, Miami, FL Walt Hickenlooper, halfback, junior, 5'11", 170 pounds, Palatka, FL Sam Holland, end, junior, 6'1", 190 pounds, Key West, FL Bob Hoover, halfback, junior, 6'0", 197 pounds, Jacksonville, FL Lindy Infante, halfback, junior, 5'11", 178 pounds, Miami, FL Larry Libertore, quarterback, junior, 5'8", 138 pounds, Miami, FL Jim O'Donnell, fullback, sophomore, 5'11", 188 pounds, Clearwater, FL Fred Pearson, tackle, sophomore, 6'2", 225 pounds, Ocala, FL Anton Peters, tackle, junior, 6'4", 228 pounds, Tampa, FL Tom Smith, end, senior, 6'2", 193 pounds, Atlanta, GA Ron Stoner, halfback, junior, 5'10", 175 pounds, Troy, OH Jack Thompson, guard, sophomore, 5'9", 180 pounds, Savannah, GA Larry Travis, guard, junior, 6'0", 205 pounds, Miami, FL Day of Miracles Is Past in Gainesville The Miami Herald Edwin Pope September 10, 1961 4J https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-day-of-miracles-is-past/156588327/ Newspapers.com Coaches and administrators Head coach: Ray Graves (2nd season) Assistant coaches: Pepper Rodgers (offensive backfield coach), Jim Powell (ends coach), John F. (Jack) Green (defensive line coach), Jimmy Dunn (backfield coach), John Donaldson (defensive backfield coach) References Bibliography Golenbock Peter Go Gators! An Oral History of Florida's Pursuit of Gridiron Glory Legends Publishing, LLC St. Petersburg, Florida 2002 0-9650782-1-3 Florida Category:Florida Gators football seasons Florida Gators football