| 1961Illinois State Normal Redbirds football | |
|---|---|
 Official 1961 team portrait from "The Index" yearbook | |
| Conference | Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference |
| Record | 5–4 (4–2 IIAC) |
| Head coach |
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| MVP | Ron Schieber |
| Captains |
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| Home stadium | McCormick Field |
Seasons ← 1960 1962 → | |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Southern Illinois $ | 5 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western Illinois | 4 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Illinois State Normal | 4 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern Illinois | 3 | – | 2 | – | 1 | 4 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northern Illinois | 3 | – | 2 | – | 1 | 4 | – | 4 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Central Michigan | 1 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 8 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern Michigan | 0 | – | 6 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 8 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The1961 Illinois State Normal Redbirds football team was anAmerican football team that represented Illinois State Normal University (now known asIllinois State University) as a member of theInterstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the1961 college football season. In their 17th year under head coachEdwin Struck, the Redbirds compiled a 5–4 record (4–2 in conference games), tied for second place in the IIAC, and were outscored by a total of 142 to 129.[1]
The team played its home games at McCormick Field inNormal, Illinois.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 23 | Millikin* |
| L 16–22 | 1,000 | [2] | ||
| September 30 | atEastern Illinois |
| W 18–0 | 2,000 | [3] | ||
| October 6 | atEastern Michigan |
| W 13–0 | [4] | |||
| October 14 | Central Michigan |
| W 32–21 | 5,000 | [5] | ||
| October 21 | atNorthern Michigan* |
| L 6–47 | [6] | |||
| October 28 | Southern Illinois |
| L 14–34 | 6,000 | [7] | ||
| November 4 | atNorthern Illinois |
| W 7–0 | 11,500 | [8] | ||
| November 11 | atWestern Illinois | L 7–12 | 4,000 | [9][10] | |||
| November 18 | Illinois Wesleyan* |
| W 16–6 | 4,000 | [11] | ||
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The 1961 Redbirds gained 1,913 yards oftotal offense (212.5 per game) consisting of 1,358 rushing yards (150.8 per game) and 555 passing yards (61.6 per game). On defense, they gave up 2,279 yards (253.2 per game), including 1,431 rushing yard (159 per game) and 848 passing yards (94.2 per game).[12]
The team's leading rushers were halfbacks Ron Schieber (577 yards, 134 carries) and Bert Popejoy (424 yards, 100 carries, 4.24-yard average). Schieber also led the team in total offense (577 yards) and scoring (54 points on nine touchdowns).[12]
Quarterback Keith Rieger completed 52 of 121 passes (42.9%) for 540 yards with five touchdowns and six interceptions. End Bill Monken was the leading receiver with 22 catches for 304 yards and two touchdowns.[12]
Senior quarterback Keith Rieger fromForrest, Illinois, and senior tackle Dave Babock fromCerro Gordo, Illinois, were the team's co-captains.
Halfback Ron Schieber was selected as the team's most valuable player for the 1961 season.[13]
Three Illinois State players received first-team honors on the 1961 All-IIAC football team: Bill Monken at offensive end; Tom Mackiewicz at defensive end; and Dave Babcock at defensive tackle.[14]
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