| 1961Michigan Wolverines football | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Conference | Big Ten Conference |
| Record | 6–3 (3–3 Big Ten) |
| Head coach |
|
| MVP | John Walker |
| Captain | George Mans |
| Home stadium | Michigan Stadium |
Seasons | |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 2Ohio State $ | 6 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 8 | – | 0 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 6Minnesota | 6 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 8 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 8Michigan State | 5 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 12Purdue | 4 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wisconsin | 4 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Michigan | 3 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Iowa | 2 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northwestern | 2 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indiana | 0 | – | 6 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Illinois | 0 | – | 7 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 9 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The1961 Michigan Wolverines football team represented theUniversity of Michigan in the1961 Big Ten Conference football season. In its third year under head coachBump Elliott, Michigan compiled a 6–3 record (3–3 against conference opponents), finished in sixth place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a combined total of 212 to 163.[1][2]
After opening the season with convincing wins over No. 9UCLA (29–6) andArmy (38–8), Michigan was ranked No. 2 in theCoaches Poll. The team fell from the rankings after being shut out by Michigan State (0–28) the following week.
Right endGeorge Mans was the team captain, and center/guard John Walker received the team's most valuable player award.[2] Left halfbackBennie McRae was selected by both theAssociated Press andUnited Press International (UPI) as a first-team player on the1961 All-Big Ten Conference football team.[3][4] Fullback Bill Tunicliff also received second-team honors from the UPI.[4]
The team's statistical leaders includedDave Glinka with 588 passing yards,Dave Raimey with 496 rushing yards and 36 points scored, and Bennie McRae with 210 receiving yards.[5]
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 30 | No. 9UCLA* | W 29–6 | 73,019 | ||
| October 7 | Army* | No. 9 |
| W 38–8 | 65,012 |
| October 14 | No. 5Michigan State | No. 6 |
| L 0–28 | 103,198 |
| October 21 | Purdue |
| W 16–14 | 66,805 | |
| October 28 | atMinnesota | L 20–23 | 63,898 | ||
| November 4 | Duke* |
| W 28–14 | 56,488 | |
| November 11 | atIllinois | W 38–6 | 40,179 | ||
| November 18 | Iowa |
| W 23–14 | 61,925 | |
| November 25 | No. 2Ohio State |
| L 20–50 | 80,444 | |
| |||||
The1960 Michigan Wolverines football team compiled a 5–4 record and tied for fifth place in the Big Ten.[6] At the end of the 1960 season, endGeorge Mans was selected by his teammates to be the captain of the 1961 team.[7]
Michigan's 1961 recruiting class includedMel Anthony,Jim Conley,John Henderson,Arnie Simkus, andBob Timberlake.[8]
In May 1961, halfbackDave Raimey received the Meyer W. Morton Trophy as the player who showed the most improvement in spring practice.[9]
In June 1961, halfback Harvey E. Chapman received the John F. Maulbetsch Scholarship, presented each year to a freshman player "on the basis of scholarship, need, and promise and desire for leadership."[10]
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UCLA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| •Michigan | 13 | 3 | 13 | 0 | 29 |
On September 30, 1961, Michigan opened its season with a 29-6 victory over 1961AAWU championUCLA (ranked No. 9 in the AP Poll) before a crowd of 73,019 (including 13,000 high school band members) atMichigan Stadium. Michigan gained 253 yards, including 227 rushing yards, and held UCLA to 172 total yards. The Wolverines took a 16-0 lead at halftime on touchdowns by Bill Tunnicliff (one-yard run) andDave Raimey (20-yard run) and a 29-yard field goal by Douglas Bickle. Michigan extended its lead to 29 points in the third quarter on a four-yard touchdown run byBennie McRae and a 92-yard interception return by Ken Tureaud. UCLA scored its lone touchdown in the fourth quarter on a one-yard run by Dimkich.[11]
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Army | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| •Michigan | 10 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 38 |
On October 7, 1961, Michigan defeatedArmy, 38-8, before a crowd of 65,012 at Michigan Stadium. Michigan's point total was its highest in 39 games, dating back to 1956. Michigan touchdowns were scored byDave Raimey (13-yard run),Bennie McRae (47-yard run), Bill Tunnicliff (three-yard run),Bruce McLenna (seven-yard run), and Bob Brown (36-yard pass from Bob Chandler). Doug Bickle added a field goal and five extra points.[12]
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| •Michigan State | 14 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 28 |
| Michigan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
On October 14, 1961, Michigan (ranked No. 6 in the AP Poll) lost toMichigan State (ranked No. 5), 28-0, before a crowd of 103,198 and a national television audience atMichigan Stadium. The Spartans led, 14-0, at the end of the first quarter and 21-0 at halftime. Michigan was held to 92 rushing yards and 84 passing yards.[13]
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purdue | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
| •Michigan | 9 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 16 |
On October 21, 1961, Michigan defeatedPurdue, 16–14, before a crowd of 66,805 at Michigan Stadium.Michigan opened the scoring with a safety in the first quarter, when Purdue fumbled a pitchout in the end zone.Dave Raimey also scored in the opening quarter on a one-yard run.Bennie McRae caught six passes for 144 yards, including a touchdown reception that covered 72 yards in the third quarter.[14]
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
| •Minnesota | 9 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 16 |
On October 28, 1961, Michigan lost to Minnesota, 23–20, atMemorial Stadium inMinneapolis. Michigan led, 20-8, through the first three quarters as Tunnicliff ran eight yards for a touchdown andDave Raimey scored twice on runs of 27 and four yards. Late in the fourth quarter, Michigan stopped a Minnesota drive at the nine-yard line, butBennie McRae fumbled on the first play after Michigan took over, and Minnesota scored the winning touchdown with one minute and 24 seconds remaining.[15]
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke | 0 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 14 |
| •Michigan | 7 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 28 |
On November 4, 1961, Michigan defeated 1961ACC championDuke, 28–14, before a crowd of 56,488 at Michigan Stadium.Bennie McRae scored three touchdowns on a five-yard run in the first quarter, a 15-yard pass fromDave Glinka in the second quarter, and a 34-yard interception return in the second quarter.Dave Raimey also rushed for 116 yards on 15 carries.[16]
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| •Michigan | 7 | 7 | 10 | 14 | 38 |
| Illinois | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
On November 11, 1961, Michigan defeatedIllinois, 38–6, before a crowd of 40,179 atMemorial Stadium inChampaign, Illinois. The outcome was the second consecutive Michigan victory in the seven-year rivalry between head coaching brothersBump Elliott andPete Elliott. Michigan played all 38 players who traveled to Champaign in an effort to keep the score down. Michigan gained 309 rushing yards and held Illinois to 55 rushing yards.Dave Raimey began the scoring on a 54-yard punt return. J. Paul Raeder scored two touchdowns, andGeorge Mans caught a touchdown pass fromDave Glinka.[17]
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| •Michigan | 3 | 0 | 13 | 7 | 23 |
On November 18, 1961, Michigan defeatedIowa, 23–14, before a crowd of 61,925 at Michigan Stadium. Iowa was led by first-year head coachJerry Burns who had played quarterback for Michigan. Michigan lostBennie McRae with a shoulder separation in the first quarter, and Iowa took a 14-3 lead at halftime. Michigan rallied with three unanswered touchdowns in the second half.Dave Glinka ran 44 yards for his first collegiate touchdown.Dave Raimey totaled 102 rushing yards and scored on a one-yard run (set up by a 54-yard run by Harvey Chapman). Glinka threw a touchdown pass to Bob Brown that covered 20 yards. Iowa was held to two first downs and negative 16 rushing yards in the second half. Michigan outgained Iowa by 266 rushing yards to 97. In theDetroit Free Press,Joe Falls praised the courage ofBump Elliott's team and called the game "Elliott's finest victory of the season."[18]
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| •Ohio State | 7 | 14 | 0 | 29 | 50 |
| Michigan | 0 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 20 |
On November 25, 1961, Michigan lost toOhio State, 50-20, before a crowd of 80,444 at Michigan Stadium. Ohio State fullbackBob Ferguson scored four touchdowns in the game. The Buckeyes' 50 points was the fourth highest point total allowed by a Michigan team up to that time, with two of the prior occasions occurring in the 1890s. Michigan's three touchdowns were scored on a 90-yard kickoff return byDave Raimey and one-yard runs byBruce McLenna and James Ward.[19]
At the end of the 1961 season, center and linebacker John Walker received the team's most valuable player award.[20]
HalfbackBennie McRae received first-team honors from both theAssociated Press (AP) andUnited Press International (UPI) on the1961 All-Big Ten Conference football team. HalfbackDave Raimey received second-team honors from the AP and UPI, and fullback Bill Tunicliff received second team honors from the UPI.[3][4]
Michigan's individual statistical leaders for the 1961 season include those listed below.[5][21][22]
| Player | Attempts | Net yards | Yards per attempt | Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dave Raimey | 99 | 496 | 5.0 | 6 |
| Bennie McRae | 75 | 453 | 6.0 | 3 |
| Bill Tunnicliff | 96 | 396 | 4.1 | 3 |
| Player | Attempts | Completions | Interceptions | Comp % | Yards | Yds/Comp | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dave Glinka | 96 | 46 | 5 | 47.9 | 588 | 12.8 | 5 | 72 |
| Bob Chandler | 11 | 6 | 0 | 54.5 | 100 | 16.7 | 1 | 36 |
| Player | Receptions | Yards | Yds/Recp | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bennie McRae | 10 | 210 | 21.0 | 2 | 72 |
| George Mans | 14 | 138 | 9.9 | 1 | 16 |
| Robert Brown | 5 | 110 | 22.0 | 2 | 45 |
| Player | Returns | Yards | Yds/Return | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dave Raimey | 10 | 308 | 30.8 | 1 | 90 |
| Bennie McRae | 8 | 148 | 18.5 | 0 | 29 |
| Ed Hood | 1 | 42 | 42.0 | 0 | 42 |
| Player | Returns | Yards | Yds/Return | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dave Raimey | 7 | 92 | 13.1 | 1 | 54 |
| Bennie McRae | 10 | 39 | 3.9 | 0 | 11 |
| Harvey Chapman | 4 | 32 | 8.0 | 0 | 17 |
| Player | Touchdowns | Extra points | Field goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dave Raimey | 8 | 0 | 0 | 48 |
| Bennie McRae | 6 | 0 | 0 | 36 |
| Doug Bickle | 0 | 20-23 | 4-7 | 32 |
The following 40 players received varsity letters for their participation on the 1961 team.[23] Players who started at least four games are shown with their names in bold.[2]