1961 Baylor Bears football team
American college football season
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The 1961 Baylor Bears football team was an American football team that represented Baylor University as a member of the Southwest Conference (SWC) during the 1961 college football season. In their third year under head coach John Bridgers, the Bears compiled a 6–5 record (2–5 in conference games), tied for sixth place in the Big 8, and outscored opponents by a total of 188 to 164.[1] Baylor played in the first Gotham Bowl, defeating the previously undefeated Utah State Aggies, 24–9.
- John Bridgers (3rd season)
- Ronald Stanley
- Bill Hicks
- Bobby Lane
| 1961 Baylor Bears football | |
|---|---|
Gotham Bowl champion | |
Gotham Bowl, W 24–9 vs. Utah State | |
| Conference | Southwest Conference |
| Record | 6–5 (2–5 SWC) |
| Head coach |
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| Captains |
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| Home stadium | Baylor Stadium |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 3 Texas + | 6 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 10 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 9 Arkansas + | 6 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 8 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rice | 5 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Texas A&M | 3 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 5 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TCU | 2 | – | 4 | – | 1 | 3 | – | 5 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Baylor | 2 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Texas Tech | 2 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SMU | 1 | – | 5 | – | 1 | 2 | – | 7 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Senior halfback Ronnie Bull led the team in rushing (441 yards), scoring (48 points), and pass receptions (19). Center Bill Hicks and guard Herbie Adkins received first-team honors on the 1961 All-Southwest Conference football team:
The team played its home games at Baylor Stadium in Waco, Texas.
Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 23 | Wake Forest* | W 31–0 | 28,000 | [2][3] | ||
| September 30 | at Pittsburgh* | W 16–13 | 41,194 | [4] | ||
| October 14 | Arkansas | No. 9 |
| L 13–23 | 34,000 | [5] |
| October 21 | at Texas Tech | L 17–19 | 32,500 | [6] | ||
| October 28 | at Texas A&M | L 0–23 | 29,000 | [7] | ||
| November 4 | TCU |
| W 28–14 | 23,000 | [8] | |
| November 11 | at No. 1 Texas | L 7–33 | 62,000 | [9] | ||
| November 18 | Air Force* |
| W 31–7 | 22,000 | [10] | |
| November 25 | SMU |
| W 31–6 | 17,000 | [11] | |
| December 2 | at No. 17 Rice | L 14–26 | 30,000 | [12] | ||
| December 9 | vs. No. 10 Utah State* | W 24–9 | 15,123 | [13] | ||
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Statistics
During the regular season, the 1961 Baylor team outscored opponents by a total of 188 to 164. They outgained opponents by a total of 2,867 yards to 2,486. In the air, they outgained opponents by 1,314 yards to 927.[15]
Senior halfback Ronnie Bull led the team in both rushing (441 yards on 91 carries, 4.8-yard average), scoring (48 points), and pass receptions (19 receptions for 199 yards).[16] Claude Pearson led the team in receiving yards with 217 yards on 18 receptions.[16]
The team's passing leaders were Bobby Ply (39-for-86, 468 yards, six touchdowns, four interceptions), Ronnie Stanley (44-for-84, 451 yards, four touchdowns, eight interceptions), and Don Trull (26-for-56, 359 yards, four touchdowns, four interceptions).[16]
Awards and honors
Three Baylor players were honored on the 1961 All-Southwest Conference football team: center Bill Hicks (AP-1); guard Herby Adkins (AP-2, UPI-1); and halfback Ronnie Bull (AP-2).[17][18]
Personnel
Players
- Herbie Adkins, guard
- Ronnie Bull, halfback/fullback
- Robert Burk, guard
- John Frongillo, tackle
- Ronnie Goodwin, halfback
- Herbert Harlan, end
- Bill Hicks, center
- Dalton Hoffman, fullback
- James Ingram, end
- Johnny Jessup, tackle
- Bobby Lane, end
- Robert Mankin, guard
- Butch Maples, center
- Jon Markham, tackle
- Tommy Minter, halfback
- Bobby Moore, tackle
- Pete Nicklas, tackle
- Bobby Norvell, halfback
- Jim Oldham, halfback, senior
- Claude Pearson, end
- Ted Plumb, end
- Bobby Ply, quarterback
- Ronny Rogers, guard
- Ronnie Stanley, quarterback
- Bert Tate, halfback
- Don Trull, quarterback
- Sonny Whorton, fullback
Coaches and administration
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- Head coach: John Bridgers
- Athletic director: John Bridgers
- Assistant coaches: Walt Hackett, Charles Driver, Purvis Chuck, Harris Wayne,
- Trainers: Weaver Jordan, Herb Zimmerman
