1961 Bowling Green Falcons football team
American college football season
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The 1961 Bowling Green Falcons football team was an American football team that represented Bowling Green State University as a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 1961 college football season. In their seventh season under head coach Doyt Perry, the Falcons compiled an 8–2 record (5–1 against MAC opponents), won the MAC championship, and outscored opponents by a combined total of 194 to 78.
- Doyt Perry (7th season)
| 1961 Bowling Green Falcons football | |
|---|---|
MAC champion | |
Mercy Bowl, L 6–36 vs. Fresno State | |
| Conference | Mid-American Conference |
| Record | 8–2 (5–1 MAC) |
| Head coach |
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| Home stadium | University Stadium |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling Green $ | 5 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 8 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western Michigan | 4 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 5 | – | 4 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Miami (OH) | 3 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ohio | 3 | – | 2 | – | 1 | 5 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Toledo | 2 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Marshall | 1 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 7 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kent State | 1 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 8 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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On November 23, 1961, Bowling Green concluded its season with a 36–6 loss to Fresno State in the Mercy Bowl at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The game was Bowling Green's first bowl appearance and a fundraiser for the families of members of the Cal Poly Mustangs football team who died in a C-46 plane crash while returning home after a game at Bowling Green on October 29, 1960.[1]
Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 23 | at Marshall | W 40–0 | 6,500 | [2][3] | |||
| September 30 | Dayton* |
| W 28–11 | 8,451 | [4] | ||
| October 7 | Western Michigan |
| W 21–0 | 8,000 | [5] | ||
| October 14 | Toledo |
| W 17–6 | 12,243 | [6] | ||
| October 21 | at Kent State | W 21–6 | 11,500 | [7] | |||
| October 28 | Miami (OH) |
| L 6–7 | 9,546 | [8][9] | ||
| November 4 | West Texas State* |
| W 28–6 | 11,000–11,250 | [10] | ||
| November 11 | at Ohio | W 7–6 | [11] | ||||
| November 18 | at Southern Illinois* | W 20–0 | 7,000–7,500 | [12] | |||
| November 23 | vs. No. 3 Fresno State | L 6–36 | 33,146 | [13] | |||
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Statistics
Classified for the first team in 1961 as a major college team, the Falcons ranked fourth in total defense, giving up an average of 161.8 yards per game. They also ranked sixth nationally in rushing defense (86.7 yards per game).[15]
Senior back Russ Hepner missed two games with a knee injury, but still led the team with 637 rushing yards (4.8 yards per carry). He also led the team in scoring (36 points) and completed five of ten passes, had 14 receptions for 187 yards, and returned eight punts for 80 yards.[15]
Awards and honors
Three Bowling Green players received first-team honors on the 1961 All-MAC football team: senior Dick Newsome at end; senior Jerry Croft at tackle; and junior Gary Sheman at guard. Five other were placed on the second team: center Lou Youskievicz at center; junior Bob Reynolds at tackle; senior backs Jim Potts and Russ Hepner; and junior back Roger Reynolds.[16]
