1961 Oregon Ducks football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1961 Oregon Ducks football Independent 4–6 Len Casanova 11th Kent Peterson Mickey Bruce Kent Peterson Hayward FieldMultnomah Stadium The 1961 Oregon Ducks football team represented the University of Oregon as an independent during the 1961 college football season. In their eleventh season under head coach Len Casanova and third as an independent, the Ducks compiled a 4–6 record and outscored their opponents 152 to 112. Three home games were played on campus at Hayward Field in Eugene, with two at Multnomah Stadium in Portland. Sophomore halfback Mel Renfro played on offense, defense, and special teams and tallied 775 yards, including 335 rushing yards, 199 yards on kickoff returns, 99 passing yards, 86 receiving yards, 49 yards on punt returns, and eight yards on an interception return. Renfro was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Quarterback Doug Post led the team with 673 yards of total offense, including 662 passing yards. End Kent Peterson was selected as the team's most valuable player. Schedule 1961 AP September 23 w Idaho Hayward Field Eugene, OR 51–0 17,800 Oregon Footballers Ramble Past Idaho: Ducks Gain 544 Yards In Rolling to 51-0 Win Eugene Register-Guard Eugene, Oregon Dick Strite September 24, 1961 1B, 3B https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-eugene-guard-oregon-footballers-ramb/154404741/ Newspapers.comhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sbJeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4S8MAAAAIBAJ&pg=2368%2C3620491 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Associated Press Sophomore-Laden Oregon Romps Past Vandals 51-0 September 24, 1961 8 September 30 l y Utah Ute Stadium Salt Lake City, UT 6–14 26,578 26,578 Watch Utes Down Oregon Eleven: Indians Register Second Win Over Old Rivals The Ogden Standard-Examiner Steve Smilanich October 1, 1961 3E https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ogden-standard-examiner-26578-watch/154405201/ October 7 l y Minnesota Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN 7–14 50,499 Gophers Whip Oregon 14-7 Minneapolis Sunday Tribune Dick Gordon October 8, 1961 1, 2 (sports) https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-gophers-whip-oregon-14-7/153047101/ Newspapers.com October 14 l Arizona Multnomah Stadium Portland, OR 6–15 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 w San Jose State Hayward Field Eugene, OR 21–6 10,200 Defense Helps Oregon Eleven Turn Back San Jose: Snidow Defensive Giant As Webfoots Win 21-6 Eugene Register-Guard Dick Strite October 22, 1961 1B, 3B https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-eugene-guard-defense-helps-oregon-el/154405524/ Newspapers.com October 28 w Washington Multnomah Stadium Portland, OR 7–6 32,681 Ducks Stun Huskies, 7-6: PAT Spells Difference In Victory; Veres' TD Pass, Oregon Defense Halt UW Bid The Oregonian Don McLeod October 29, 1961 1, 7 (sports) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sunday-oregonian-ducks-stun-huskies/154405841/ Newspapers.com November 4 w y Stanford Stanford Stadium Stanford, CA 19–7 27,000 Renfro-Led Ducks Triumph Over Stanford, 19-7 Eugene Register-Guard Dick Strite November 5, 1961 1B, 2B https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-eugene-guard-renfro-led-ducks-triump/154406101/ Newspapers.com November 11 l y Washington State Rogers Field Pullman, WA 21–22 10,500 Cougars Upend Ducks by 22 to 21 The Spokesman-Review November 12, 1961 1 (sports) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-spokesman-review-cougars-upend-ducks/153125332/ Newspapers.com November 18 l y Ohio State 3 Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH 12–22 82,073 Buckeyes Trip Ducks, 22-12: 72-Yard TD Run Foils Oregon Upset Bid Eugene Register-Guard Dick Strite November 19, 1961 1B, 3B https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-eugene-guard-buckeyes-trip-ducks-22/154406373/ Newspapers.comOhio State Official Athletic Site - Football - Archives https://web.archive.org/web/20160304063229/http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/osu/graphics/pdf/m-footbl/1961/1961-8-Oregon.pdf 2016-03-04 . Retrieved March 30, 2015. November 25 l Oregon State Hayward Field Eugene, OR Civil War 2–6 21,300 Oregon State Makes TD Stand Up in 6-2 Win: Oregon Gridders Unable to Pierce Beaver Defense Eugene Register-Guard Dick Strite November 26, 1961 1B, 3B https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-eugene-guard-oregon-state-makes-td-s/154406562/ Newspapers.com 1961 Oregon Ducks Schedule and Results https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/oregon/1961-schedule.html College Football @ Sports-Reference.com Sports Reference September 4, 2023 1961 Football Schedule https://goducks.com/sports/football/schedule/1961 University of Oregon Athletics September 4, 2023 2023 Oregon Football Record Book https://goducks.com/documents/2023/8/24/2023_Oregon_Football_Record_Book.pdf University of Oregon Athletics 48 September 4, 2023 Statistics The team gained an average of 271 yards of total offense per game, consisting of 161 rushing yards and 110 passing yards. On defense, Oregon gave up 251 yards per game of total offense, consisting of 183 rushing yards and 63 passing yards. Quarterback Doug Post led the team with 674 yards of total offense. He completed 48 of 113 passes (42.5%) for 662 yards with three touchdowns and five interceptions.Highclimber The Eugene Guard November 30, 1961 1D, 3D https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-eugene-guard-oregon-stats/154377459/ Newspapers.com Sophomore left halfback Mel Renfro led the team with 775 yards in six phases of the statistics. He was the team's leading rusher, tallying 335 yards and four touchdowns on 61 carries for an average of 5.5 yards per carry. Renfro also had 199 yards and a touchdown on three kickoff returns; 99 passing yards (four-of-eight passing with a 186.5 quarterback rating); 86 receiving yards on seven receptions; 49 yards on two punt returns; and eight yards on an interception return. In addition to Renfro, the team's other leading rushers were fullback Jim Josephson (287 yards, 81 carries, 3.5-yard average); fullback Duane Cargill (236 yards, 43 carries, 5.0-yard average); right halfback Mike Gaechter (231 yards, 47 carries, 4.9-yard average); halfback Lu Bain (180 yards, 57 carries, 3.1-yard average). The team's leading receivers were end Kent Petersen (208 yards, 18 receptions); end Paul Burleson (222 yards, 11 receptions), halfbacks Mike Gaechter (167 yards, 11 receptions); and Mel Renfro (86 yards, seven receptions). Mel Renfro and Lu Bain were the leading scorers with four touchdowns and 24 points each. Jim Josephson and Paul Burleson followed with three touchdowns and 18 points each. Corey was 11-of-16 on extra points kicks and missed all three field goal attempts. Awards and honors Two Oregon linemen, tackle Steve Barnett and guard Mickey Ording, received first team honors from the Associated Press on the 1961 All-Pacific Coast football team. End Kent Peterson was selected by his teammates as the most valuable player (Hoffman Award) on the 1961 Oregon team. Halfback Mike Gaechter won the Albert Dudley Clarke award as the team's most improved player.Webfoot Gridders Pick End Peterson As Most Valuable The Oregon Journal November 28, 1961 7 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-oregon-daily-journal-webfoot-gridder/154387812/ Newspapers.com Kent Peterson and Mickey Bruce were chosen as the team co-captains. Mel Renfro was later inducted into both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.Mel Renfro National Football Foundation August 31, 2024 https://footballfoundation.org/hof_search.aspx?hof=1895 Personnel Players 30em Lu Bain (#21), halfback, sophomore, 5'11", 183 pounds Steve Barnett (#77), tackle, junior, 6'1", 252 pounds Paul Burleson (#86), end, sophomore, 6'1", 181 pounds Duane Cargill (#40), fullback, junior, 6'0", 196 pounds Rich Dixon (#53), center, junior, 6'0", 199 pounds Mike Gaechter (#34), right halfback, senior, 6'0", 176 pounds Dick Imwalle (#81), sophomore, end, 6'3", 196 pounds Jim Josephson (#41), fullback, junior, 5'11", 195 pounds Mickey Ording (#67), guard, junior, 6'0", 211 pounds Kent Peterson (#83), end, senior, 6'3", 198 pounds Mike Post (#10), quarterback, sophomore, 6'1", 193 pounds Mel Renfro (#20), left halfback, sophomore, 5'11", 188 pounds Ron Snidow (#75), tackle, junior, 6'3", 214 pounds Ron Veres (#12), quarterback, junior, 6'0", 180 pounds Al Weigel (#62), guard, senior, 6'3", 190 pounds Greg Willener (#87), end, junior, 6'3", 197 pounds Oregon-Idaho Rosters The Eugene Guard September 22, 1961 14 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-eugene-guard-oregon-idaho-rosters/154381395/ Newspapers.comhttps://content.libraries.wsu.edu/digital/collection/wsu_fb/id/3460 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Washington State vs. Oregon game program November 11, 1961 14 Gallery Coaching staff Head coach: Len Casanova Assistant coaches: Jack Roche (assistant coach), Max Coley (backfield coach), Jerry Frei (line coach), Phil McHugh (assistant line coach), John Robinson (freshmen coach)1962 Oregana yearbook, pp. 83-85. Athletic director: Leo Harris Trainer: Bob Officer References External links Game program: Oregon at Washington State – November 11, 1961 WSU Libraries: Game video – Oregon at Washington State – November 11, 1961 Oregon Category:Oregon Ducks football seasons Oregon Ducks football