| 1961Rutgers Scarlet Knights football | |
|---|---|
 CaptainAlex Kroll and head coachJohn F. Bateman | |
MAC University Division champion | |
| Conference | Middle Atlantic Conference |
| Division | University Division |
| Ranking | |
| AP | No. 15[1] |
| Record | 9–0 (4–0 MAC) |
| Head coach |
|
| MVP | Sam Mudie |
| Captain | Alex Kroll |
| Home stadium | Rutgers Stadium |
Seasons | |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 15Rutgers x | 4 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 9 | – | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bucknell | 5 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Delaware | 3 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 6Lehigh | 3 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gettysburg | 2 | – | 2 | – | 1 | 3 | – | 5 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Temple | 1 | – | 2 | – | 2 | 2 | – | 5 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lafayette | 1 | – | 5 | – | 1 | 2 | – | 6 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Muhlenberg | 0 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northern College Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Susquehanna x | 6 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 8 | – | 0 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Albright | 4 | – | 0 | – | 1 | 7 | – | 0 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moravian | 4 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 4 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wagner | 4 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lycoming | 1 | – | 3 | – | 1 | 1 | – | 6 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wilkes | 1 | – | 6 | – | 0 | 1 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hofstra * | 2 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Juniata * | 1 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Upsala * | 0 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Southern College Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lebanon Valley x | 5 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Swarthmore | 4 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western Maryland | 4 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dickinson | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pennsylvania Military | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Johns Hopkins | 2 | – | 3 | – | 1 | 3 | – | 4 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ursinus | 2 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Drexel | 1 | – | 5 | – | 1 | 2 | – | 5 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Haverford | 0 | – | 6 | – | 1 | 0 | – | 6 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| West Chester * | 0 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Franklin & Marshall * | 0 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 1 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The1961 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team was anAmerican football team that representedRutgers University as a member of theMiddle Atlantic Conference (MAC) during the1961 college football season. In their second season under head coachJohn F. Bateman, the Scarlet Knights compiled a perfect 9–0 record (4–0 in conference games), won the MAC University Division championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 246 to 102. It was Rutgers' first undefeated season, 92 years after winning the first ever intercollegiate football game in 1869.[2][3] The team ranked fifteenth in the finalAssociated Press writers poll.[1][4]
Rutgers was one of two major teams to compile aperfect season in 1961,Alabama being the other. The Scarlet Knights were considered a contender for the1962 Rose Bowl, but Rutgers officials stated that it was the university's policy to turn down any and all bowl bids.[5]
Center and team captainAlex Kroll was a consensus first-team All-American and was later inducted into theCollege Football Hall of Fame.
Sam Mudie played quarterback on offense and safety on defense and was selected as the team's most valuable player. He led the team with 703 yards of total offense (402 rushing, 300 passing), 60 points scored, and six interceptions with 167 return yards.
The team played its home games atRutgers Stadium inPiscataway, New Jersey.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 30 | atPrinceton* | W 16–13 | 41,000 | [6] | |||
| October 7 | Connecticut* | W 35–12 | 11,000 | [7] | |||
| October 14 | atBucknell | W 21–6 | 8,000 | [8] | |||
| October 21 | Lehigh |
| W 32–15 | 17,000 | [9] | ||
| October 28 | atPenn* | W 20–6 | 14,996 | [10] | |||
| November 4 | atLafayette |
| W 37–6 | 6,500 | [11] | ||
| November 11 | Delaware |
| W 27–19 | 22,000 | [12] | ||
| November 18 | atColgate* | W 26–6 | 8,500 | [13] | |||
| November 25 | Columbia* |
| W 32–19 | 25,000 | [2] | ||
| |||||||
Alex Kroll, who played at center on offense and linebacker on defense, was a consensus first-team pick at center on the1961 All-America team. He received first-team honors from theAmerican Football Coaches Association,Associated Press,Football Writers Association of America,Newspaper Enterprise Association, andUnited Press International.[14] With Kroll's strength in the middle of the line, Rutgers used the quarterback sneak as an offensive weapon, scoring seven touchdowns on the play.[1] He was later inducted into theCollege Football Hall of Fame.[15]
Kroll and fullback Steve Simms received first-team honors on the1961 All-Eastern football team.[16][17]
Quarterback Sam Mudie won the Homer Hazel Award as the team's most valuable player.[1]
Rutgers tallied 2,612 yards oftotal offense, consisting of 1,968 rushing yards (218.7 yards per game) and 644 passing yards (71.6 yards per game). On defense, the team held opponents to 2,114 yards with 1,230 rushing yards (136.7 yards per game) and 884 passing yards (98.2 yards per game). Rutgers also intercepted 23 passes which they returned for 405 yards.[18][3]
The team's passing leaders were Bill Speranza (15 of 46 for 318 yards with three touchdowns and six interceptions) and Sam Mudie (23 of 64 for 300 yards with four touchdowns and six interceptions).[18]
The team's rushing leaders were Steve Simms (614 yards, 130 carries, 4.7 yard average), Sam Mudie (403 yards, 80 carries), Bill Thompson (372 yards, 67 carries), and Pierce Frauenheim (190 yards, 46 carries).[18]
The receiving leaders were Lee Curley (12 catches, 274 yards), Pierce Frauenheim (six catches, 108 yards), and Bob Flower (five catches, 77 yards).[18]
The scoring leaders were Sam Mudie (60 points), Pierce Frauenheim (32 points), Bill Speranza (30 points), Pierce Frauenheim (30 points), Steve Simms (30 points), Bill Thompson (18 points), and Lee Curley (18 points).[18]
Mudie also led the team in total offense (703 yards on 144 plays).[3]
Rutgers led the country with 23interceptions.[1] They tallied 405 return yards on the 23 interceptions. Mudie led the team with six interceptions and 167 return yards.[3] He tallied three interceptions returned for 117 yards in Rutgers' victory over Colgate.[19] Pierce Frauenheim added four interceptions for 50 yards, while Bob Yaksic and Keith Krayer had three each.[3]
Michael Pellowski, in his bookRutgers Football: A Gridiron Tradition in Scarlet, credits Rutgers defensive backs coachDewey King with being "one of the first" to awardhelmet stickers in 1961. The stickers were given forinterceptions only. Every time there was an interception, the crowd yelled "give him the star." The stars can be seen in a photo of the 1961 Rutgers team walking from the locker room to the field prior to the season finale againstColumbia.[20]
