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1961 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team

American college football season

Field	Value
year	1961
team	Minnesota Golden Gophers
sport	football
conference	Big Ten Conference
short_conf	Big Ten
CoachRank	6
APRank	6
record	8–2
conf_record	6–1
head_coach	Murray Warmath
hc_year	8th
mvp	Sandy Stephens
captain	John Mulvena
stadium	Memorial Stadium
champion	Rose Bowl champion
bowl	[Rose Bowl](1962-rose-bowl)
bowl_result	W 21–3 vs. [UCLA](1961-ucla-bruins-football-team)

The 1961 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Minnesota in the 1961 Big Ten Conference football season. In their eighth year under head coach Murray Warmath, the Golden Gophers compiled an 8–2 record (6–1 in conference games), outscored opponents by a total of 140 to 75, and were ranked No. 6 in the final final AP and UPI polls. They defeated UCLA, 21–3, in the 1962 Rose Bowl.

The team averaged 176.7 rushing yards, 88.2 passing yards, and 14 points per game. On defense, the team gave up an average of 84.3 rushing yards, 115.4 passing yards, and 7.5 points per game.

Quarterback Sandy Stephens led the team in passing, rushing, and scoring. He was a consensus first-team All-American, finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting, and received the Chicago Tribune Silver Football award as the Big Ten's most valuable player. Tackle Bobby Bell was also named a first-team All-American.

The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Minneapolis. Total attendance at six home games was 366,491, an average of 61,081, and the season high was against Purdue on November 18.

Schedule

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Awards

Quarterback Sandy Stephens won the Chicago Tribune Silver Football award as the most valuable player in the Big Ten. He also finished fourth in voting for the 1961 Heisman Trophy.

Two Minnesota players received first-team honors on the 1961 All-America team. Stephens was a first-team pick by the Associated Press (AP), United Press International (UPI), Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Sporting News, and the Walter Camp Football Foundation. Tackle Bobby Bell was a first-team pick by the American Football Coaches Association, FWAA, Sporting News, and Central Press Association.

The following Minnesota players were recognized on the 1961 All-Big Ten Conference football team: quarterback Sandy Stephens (AP-1, UPI-1); tackle Bobby Bell (AP-1, UPI-1); end Tom Hall (AP-2, UPI-1); halfback Bill Munsey (AP-3, UPI-2); and guard Robin Tellor (AP-3, UPI-3).

Statistical leaders

Quarterback Sandy Stephens led the team in multiple statistical categories, including passing (47 of 142 for 794 yards with nine touchdown passes and 13 interceptions); rushing (487 yards on 110 attempts); and scoring 48 points (eight touchdowns).

The team's rusing leaders after Stephens were Judge Dickson (275 yards), Bill Munsey (211 yards), Dave Mulholland (176 yards), Jim Cairns (171 yards), and Jerry Jones (167 yards).

The team's receiving leaders were Tom Hall with nine receptions for 197 yards; Jim Cairns with eight receptions for 156 yards; John Campbell with three receptions for 117 yards; and Bob Deegan with five receptions for 72 yards.

Roster

Bobby Bell*, tackle, 6'4", 220 pounds
Paul Benson, halfback, 6'1", 186 pounds
Duane Blaska, quarterback, 5'11", 184 pounds
Terry Brown, halfback, 5'11", 178 pounds
Jim Cairns, halfbacks, 6'0", 185 pounds
John Campbell, end, 6'3", 204 pounds
Timothy Cashman
Bob Deegan, end, 6'2-1/2", 205 pounds
Duane Dickson, fullback, 6'2", 210 pounds
Carl Eller*, tackle, 6'5", 226 pounds
Dick Enga, center, 6'0", 190 pounds
Al Fischer, halfbacks, 5'9", 164 pounds
Bob Frisbee, center, 6'3", 230 pounds
Tom Hall, end, 6'1-1/2", 195 pounds
Terry Hedstrom, fullback, 5'10", 201 pounds
Julian J. Hook, center, 5'9-1/2", 183 pounds
Jerry Jones, fullback, 5'11", 195 pounds
Steve Kereakos, tackle, 5'11-1/2", 222 pounds
Tom King
Tom Loechler, tackle, 6'2", 230 pounds
David Lothner, end, 6'2", 195 pounds
Dave Mulholland, halfbacks, 6'0", 190 pounds
John Mulvena, guard and captain, 6'1", 206-1/2 pounds
Roland Mudd, guard, 6'1", 205 pounds
Bill Munsey*, halfback, 5'11", 196 pounds
Jerry Pelletier, quarterback, 5'8", 150 pounds
Jack Perkovich, guard, 6'1-1/2", 195 pounds
Bob Prawdzik, end, 6'2", 203 pounds
Ted Rude, end, 6'2", 210 pounds
Bob Sadek, quarterback, 6'2", 185 pounds
Charlie Smith, halfbacks, 6'1", 186 pounds
Sandy Stephens, quarterback, 6'0", 215 pounds
Robin Tellor, guard, 6'0", 216 pounds
Jim Wheeler, tackle, 6'2", 206 pounds

References

"1961 Minnesota Golden Gophers Schedule and Results". Sports Reference LLC.
(December 5, 1961). "Champion vote goes to Alabama". Eugene Register-Guard.
Joyce, Dick. (December 5, 1961). "Alabama No. 1 football team in final UPI poll". Bend Bulletin.
Keiser, Jeff. (July 2018). ["2007 Media Guide"](http://www.gophersports.com//pdf3/80498.pdf?SPSID=39281&SPID=3280&DB_OEM_ID=8400 }}{{Dead link).
Dick Gordon. (October 1, 1961). "Missouri Tips Gophers 6-0". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune.
Dick Gordon. (October 8, 1961). "Gophers Whip Oregon 14-7". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune.
Dick Gordon. (October 15, 1961). "Gophers Stun Wildcats 10-3". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune.
Dick Gordon. (October 22, 1961). "Gophers Bomb Illinois 33-0". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune.
Fred Young. (October 22, 1961). "Illinois Bows To Minnesota". The Pantagraph.
Dick Gordon. (October 29, 1961). "Gopher Rally Nips Michigan 23-20". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune.
(October 29, 1961). "Fumble Wrecks U-M, 23-20". Detroit Free Press.
Dick Gordon. (November 5, 1961). "Gophers Shock Spartans 13-0". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune.
George S. Alderton. (November 5, 1961). "State Dreams Dimmed in Gopherland". Lansing State Journal.
Dick Gordon. (November 12, 1961). "Gophers Blast Iowa 16-9; Retain Share of Big Ten Lead". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune.
Dick Gordon. (November 19, 1961). "Gophers Whip Purdue 10-7". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune.
Bill Eggert. (November 19, 1961). "Purdue 10-7 Victim Before 67,081: Gophers Still Bowling Along". The Indianapolis Star.
Dick Gordon. (November 26, 1961). "Badgers Spoil 'U' Title Hopes: Gophers Beaten 23-21". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune.
(January 2, 1961). "Warmath, Gopher Football Vindicated". The Minneapolis Star.
(December 17, 1961). "Gophers' Stephens 'MV' in Big Ten". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune.
"1961 Heisman Trophy Voting". Sports Reference LLC.
(November 28, 1961). "Stephens, Bell Unanimous Choices on All-Big Ten". St. Cloud Times.
(November 28, 1961). "Stephens, Bell, Hall on UPI Big Ten First Team". The Minneapolis Star.
"1961 Minnesota Golden Gophers Stats". Sports Reference LLC.
BillMcGrane. (September 10, 1961). "Here Are Profiles of Football Gophers". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune.

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