1961 Purdue Boilermakers football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1961 Purdue Boilermakers football Purdue's 1961 co-captains Jack Elwell and Stan Sczurek.png 180px Co-captains Jack Elwell (left, kneeling) and Stan Sczurek (right, standing) Big Ten Conference Big Ten 11 12 6–3 4–2 Jack Mollenkopf 6th Jack Elwell Jack Elwell Stan Sczurek Ross–Ade Stadium The 1961 Purdue Boilermakers football team was an American football team that represented Purdue University during the 1961 Big Ten Conference football season. In their sixth year under head coach Jack Mollenkopf, the Boilermakers compiled a 6–3 record (4–2 in conference games), finished fourth in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a total of 146 to 87. They were ranked No. 11 in the final UPI poll and No. 12 in the final AP poll. Purdue won games against two ranked opponents (No. 5 Iowa and No. 6 Michigan State), and its three losses were to Notre Dame, Michigan and No. 5 Minnesota, each by a margin of two or three points.1961 Purdue Boilermakers Schedule and Results Sports Reference SR/College Football August 20, 2024 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/purdue/1961-schedule.html End Jack Elwell and guard Stan Sczurek were the team's co-captains and the only Purdue players to receive first-team honors on the 1961 All-Big Ten Conference football team. Fullback Roy Walker led the team in both rushing (491 yards) and scoring (24 points). The team played its home games at Ross–Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana. Schedule 1961 AP September 23 w y y Washington Husky Stadium Seattle, WA 13–6 55,000 Purdue's 13-6 Win Impressive: Honor of Big Ten Defended Before 55,000 at Seattle The Journal and Courier Gordon Graham September 25, 1961 16 https://www.newspapers.com/article/journal-and-courier-purdues-13-6-win-im/153687474/ Newspapers.com October 7 l y Notre Dame Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN rivalry 20–22 51,295 'New Look' Irish Topple Purdue The Journal and Courier Gordon Graham October 9, 1961 15 https://www.newspapers.com/article/journal-and-courier-new-look-irish-top/153687043/ Newspapers.com October 14 w y Miami (OH) Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN 19–6 41,924 Purdue Depth Stifles Miami The Journal and Courier Gordon Graham October 16, 1961 13 https://www.newspapers.com/article/journal-and-courier-purdue-depth-stifles/153686679/ Newspapers.com October 21 l y Michigan Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI 14–16 66,805 Safety First Pays Off for U-M: Purdue Beaten by 2-Pointer Detroit Free Press Joe Falls Joe Falls October 22, 1961 D1, D4 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15580031/safety_first_pays_off_for_um_purdue/ Newspapers.com October 28 w y Iowa 5 Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN 9–0 35,000 (attending), 50,127 (tickets sold) Purdue Celebrating Big Win: Splatters Iowa, 9-0, In Rain and Mud The Journal and Courier Gordon Graham October 30, 1961 11 https://www.newspapers.com/article/journal-and-courier-purdue-celebrating-b/153685996/ Newspapers.com November 4 w y Illinois Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL rivalry 23–9 35,077 Purdue Beats Illini: 23 to 9 Loss 6th of Season for Illinois Chicago Tribune Maurice Shevlin November 5, 1961 1, 2 (part 2) https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-purdue-beats-illini-23/153685586/ Newspapers.com November 11 w Michigan State 6 Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN 7–6 45,638 Purdue Kills Slim State Title Hope, 7-6 Lansing State Journal Bob Hoerner November 12, 1961 55, 56 https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-purdue-kills-slim/153021563/ Newspapers.com November 18 l y 7 Minnesota 5 Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN 7–10 67,081 Purdue 10-7 Victim Before 67,081: Gophers Still Bowling Along The Indianapolis Star Bill Eggert November 19, 1961 1 (sports) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-purdue-10-7-victim/153684900/ Newspapers.comGophers Whip Purdue 10-7 Minneapolis Sunday Tribune Dick Gordon November 19, 1961 1, 2 (sports) https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-gophers-whip-purdue-10-7/153045798/ Newspapers.com November 25 w y Indiana Seventeenth Street Stadium Bloomington, IN Old Oaken Bucket 34–12 34,798–36,000 Indiana Soft Touch For Purdue, 34-12; Hoosiers' 14th Straight Big Ten Loss The Indianapolis Star Jep Cadou Jr. November 26, 1961 1, 4 (section 4) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-indiana-soft-touch/153684407/ Newspapers.com 2022 Purdue Football Record Book https://purduesports.com/documents/2022/8/23/2022_Purdue_Record_Book.pdf Purdue University Athletics 87 January 29, 2023 Indiana Football 2023 Record Book https://static.iuhoosiers.com/custompages/pdf/fb/2023/23-FB-Record_Book_Full.pdf Indiana University 14 December 28, 2023 Statistics The team's passing leaders were quarterback Ron DiGravio (52-for-100 for 861 yards, six touchdowns, two interceptions, 140.1 quarterback rating) and Gary Hogan (14-for-27, 236 yards, one touchdown, three interceptions, 115.3 quarterback rating). The leading rushers were fullback Roy Walker (491 yards on 123 carries, 4.0-yard average), and Thomas Bloom (236 yards on 38 carries, 6-2-yard average). The leading scorers were Roy Walker (24 points) and Jack Elwell and Ron DiGravo (18 points each). Awards Guard and co-captain Stan "Stosh" Sczurek saw more action (380 minutes out of a possible 540) than any other player for the 1961 Boilermakers. He was the only Purdue player to win All-America honors in 1961, having been selected by both the Associated Press (AP) and United Press International (UPI) as a third-team guard on the 1961 All-America college football team.Sczurek Third Team: AP All-America Squad Anchored By Giant Forward Wall The Journal and Courier Ted Smits December 8, 1961 17 https://www.newspapers.com/article/journal-and-courier-sczurek-third-team/153656830/ Newspapers.comUPI Names 7 Hoosiers The Evening Republican (Columbus, IN) December 7, 1961 16 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-republic-upi-names-7-hoosiers/153657171/ Newspapers.com He also won the team's award as the outstanding lineman.Elwell Voted 'Most Valuable': Farmer, Paltani 1962 Co-Captains The Journal and Courier November 28, 1961 12 https://www.newspapers.com/article/journal-and-courier-elwell-voted-most-v/153655112/ Newspapers.com Senior end Jack Elwell, who led the team in receiving, was selected by his teammates as the team's most valuable player. The following players were selected by either the AP or UPI on the 1961 All-Big Ten Conference football team: end Jack Elwell (AP-1, UPI-2); guard Stan Sczurek (AP-1, UPI-2); tackle Don Brumm (AP-2); and quarterback Ron DiGravio (UPI-3).Sczurek and Elwell On All-Big Ten The Journal and Courier Joe Mooshil November 28, 1961 12 https://www.newspapers.com/article/journal-and-courier-sczurek-and-elwell-o/153655901/ Newspapers.comOnly Ferguson, McRae Unanimous on UPI List: Elwell, Sczurek on 2nd Squad The Journal and Courier November 28, 1961 12 https://www.newspapers.com/article/journal-and-courier-only-ferguson-mcrae/153656005/ Newspapers.com Purdue dominated the 1961 All-Indiana football team selected by The Indianapolis News with six first-team honorees: quarterback Ron DiGravio; halfback Dave Miller; fullback Roy Walker; end Jack Elwell; tackle Don Brumm; and guard Stan Sczurek. Four others were named to the second team: halfback Tom Bloom; center Don Paltani; end Forest Farmer; and guard Tom Krysinski.News All-State for 1961 The Indianapolis News December 12, 1961 17 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-news-news-all-state-for/153657684/ Newspapers.com Personnel Players The following 38 players won major letters for their participation on the 1961 Purdue football team: 30em Edward Behana, center, junior, 6'0", 195 pounds Tom Bloom, halfback, junior, 5'11", 183 pounds Tom Boris, back, sophomore, 6'1", 181 pounds Larry Bowie, tackle, senior, 6'2", 235 pounds Don Brumm, tackle, junior, 6'3", 214 pounds Richard E. Dauch, end, sophomore, 6'1", 211 pounds Ron DiGravio, quarterback, sophomore, 6'0", 178 pounds Gene Donaldson, back Henry Dudgeon, center, sophomore, 6'1", 206 pounds Jack Elwell, end, senior, 6'3", 204 pounds Forest Farmer, end, junior, 6'1", 208 pounds Wally Florence, guard, sophomore, 6'2", 194 pounds John Greiner, end, junior, 6'2", 211 pounds Fred Hanley Dave Hoehnen, back, senior, 6'1", 206 pounds Gary Hogan, quarterback, sophomore, 6'0", 195 pounds Don Keiser, tackle, junior, 6'4", 230 pounds Tom Kotoske Tom Krysinski, guard, senior, 5'11", 211 pounds James Kubinski, end, senior, 5'11", 188 pounds Lang Marks, back, junior, 5'10", 183 pounds John Marra Herbert McGuire Ron Meyer, quarterback, junior, 5'10", 172 pounds Dave Miller, halfback, junior, 5'10", 173 pounds Omer "Skip" Ohi, guard, junior, 5'8", 212 pounds Don Paltani, center, junior, 6'0", 214 pounds Frank Plaskon Pat Russ, tackle, junior, 6'3", 237 pounds Stan Sczurek, guard, senior, 5'11", 208 pounds Ronald Skufca, tackle, junior, 6'3", 253 pounds John Stafford, guard, junior, 6'0", 203 pounds Roy Walker, fullback, junior, 5'11", 213 pounds Steve Weil, back, junior, 6'1", 182 pounds Harold Wells, end, sophomore, 6'2", 218 pounds Bob Wiater, back, junior, 5'11", 191 pounds Dennis Wierzal John Wilson Elwell 'Most Valuable' Boilermaker Footballer The Indianapolis Star November 28, 1961 29 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-elwell-most-valua/153677783/ Newspapers.com Coaches and staff Head coach - Jack Mollenkopf Note: Assistant coach Bob DeMoss served as acting head coach for part of the season due to a surgery on head coach Mollenkopf.Graham Crackers The Journal and Courier Gordon Graham October 16, 1961 13 https://www.newspapers.com/article/journal-and-courier-demoss/153686490/ Newspapers.com Assistant coaches - Allen Hager, Dale Samuels, Bernie Crimmins, Bob DeMoss, Ned Maloney, and Donald E. Fuoss.1962 Debris (Purdue yearbook) 1962 267 https://earchives.lib.purdue.edu/digital/collection/debris/id/38673 Athletic director - Guy "Red" Mackey References Purdue Category:Purdue Boilermakers football seasons Purdue Boilermakers football