1961 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team
1961 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football | |
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Gator Bowl, L 15–30 vs. Penn State | |
Conference | Southeastern Conference |
Ranking | |
Coaches | No. 13 |
AP | No. 13 |
Record | 7–4 (4–3 SEC) |
Head coach |
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Captain | Chick Graning, Willie McGaughey, Billy Williamson |
Home stadium | Grant Field |
Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 1 Alabama + | 7 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 11 | – | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 4 LSU + | 6 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 10 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 5 Ole Miss | 5 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 9 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 13 Georgia Tech | 4 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tennessee | 4 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Florida | 3 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 5 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Auburn | 3 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kentucky | 2 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Georgia | 2 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mississippi State | 1 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tulane | 1 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 8 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Vanderbilt | 1 | – | 6 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 8 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1961 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team was an American football team that represented the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 1961 college football season. In their 17th year under head coach Bobby Dodd, the Yellow Jackets compiled a 7–3 record (4–3 in conference games), tied for fourth place in the SEC, and outscored opponents by a total of 162 to 50. They were ranked 13th in the final AP and UPI polls, and were invited to the 1961 Gator Bowl, where they lost to Penn State.[1]
The team played its home games at Grant Field in Atlanta.
Schedule
[edit]Date | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
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September 22 | at USC* | W 27–7 | 36,950 | [2] | |||
September 30 | No. 7 Rice* | W 24–0 | 43,501 | [3] | |||
October 7 | at LSU | No. 3 | L 0–10 | 66,000 | [4] | ||
October 14 | Duke* |
| W 21–0 | 44,015 | [5] | ||
October 21 | Auburn | No. 8 |
| W 7–6 | 45,376 | [6] | |
October 28 | at Tulane | No. 9 | W 35–0 | 22,000 | [7] | ||
November 4 | Florida | No. 7 |
| W 20–0 | 44,940 | [8] | |
November 11 | at Tennessee | No. 9 | L 6–10 | 46,000 | [9] | ||
November 18 | at No. 2 Alabama | L 0–10 | 53,000 | [10] | |||
December 2 | Georgia |
| W 22–7 | 47,098 | [11] | ||
December 30 | vs. No. 17 Penn State* | No. 13 | CBS | L 15–30 | 50,202 | [12] | |
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Statistics
[edit]The team gained an average of 164.9 rushing yards and 91.2 passing yards per game. On defense, they gave up 105.4 rushing yards and 47.0 passing yards per game.[14]
The passing offense was led by quarterbacks Stan Gann (43-for-79, 450 yards) and Billy Lothridge (26-for-63, 371 yards).[14]
The rushing offense was led by backs Mike McNamee (350 yards, 94 carries, 3.7-yard average), Billy Williamson (331 yards, 63 carries, 5.3-yard average), and Chick Graning (184 yards, 48 carries, 3.8-yard average).[14]
The team's leading receivers were Billy Martin (16 receptions, 233 yards), Billy Williamson (21 receptions, 221 yards), and Joe Auer (10 receptions, 145 yards).[14]
Awards and honors
[edit]The team selected three captains for the 1961 team: center Willie McGaughey and halfbacks Billy Williamson and Chick Graning.[15]
Guard Dave Watson was selected by both the Associated Press (AP) and United Press International (UPI) as a first-team player on the 1961 All-SEC football team. Others receiving All-SEC honors were halfback Billy Williamson (AP-3, UPI-2) and guards Harold Erickson (AP-2) and Rufus Guthrie (UPI-2).[16][17]
Personnel
[edit]Players
[edit]- Joe Auer, halfback
- Foy Bentley, guard
- Mike Biddle, guard
- Bobby Caldwell, center
- Mickey Carmack, halfback
- Joe Chapman, end
- Ed Chancey, center
- Doug Cooper, halfback
- Ted Davis, end
- Wink Davis, linebacker
- Bob Dobyns, guard
- Buddy Elders, end
- Harold Erickson, guard
- Bill Farrington, tackle
- Russ Foret, tackle
- Stan Gann, quarterback
- Chick Granning, halfback
- Ed Griffin, tackle
- Ronnie Grubbs, guard
- Rufus Guthrie, guard
- Raymond Holt, center
- Vic Laxson, tackle
- Al Lederle, end
- Bob Lincoln, tackle
- Harry Littleton, halfback
- Billy Lothridge, quarterback
- Billy Martin, end
- Jon Martin, fullback
- John Matlock, guard
- Willie McGaughey, center
- Mike McNames, fullback
- Ray Mendheim, fullback
- Jack Moss, guard
- Jimmy Nail, halfback
- Mike Nicholl, tackle
- Mike O'Neill, fullback
- Lee Reid, fullback
- Frank Sexton, end
- Bob Sheridan, halfback
- Zollie Sircy, halfback
- Bob Solomon, end
- Larry Stallings, tackle
- Dave Steadman, tackle
- George Swanson, guard/tackle
- Don Toner, corner linebacker/halfback
- Carlton Waskey, center
- Dave Watson, guard
- Ed Weinman, corner linebacker/fullback
- Billy Williamson, halfback
- Bill Wilson, tackle
- Tom Winninger, halfback
- John Wright, end
Coaches and administrators
[edit]- Head coach: Bobby Dodd
- Assistant coaches: Jack Griffin, Charlie Tate, Lewis Woodruff, Dick Inman, John Robert Bell, Jimmy Carlen, Art Davis, Jesse Berry, Jim Luck, Spec Landrum, Billy "Dynamite" Goodloe[19]
- Trainer: Henry L. "Buck" Andel[19]
- Athletic director: Bobby Dodd
References
[edit]- ^ "1961 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
- ^ "Hard hitting Georgia Tech toys with Troy in 27–7 win". The Fresno Bee. September 23, 1961. Retrieved October 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Yellow Jackets chill Rice, 24–0". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. October 1, 1961. Retrieved October 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "LSU Tigers upset vaunted Georgia Tech, 10–0". Monroe Morning World. October 8, 1961. Retrieved October 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Gann leads Tech to 21–0 win over Duke". The Tampa Tribune. October 15, 1961. Retrieved October 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Auburn gamble fails as Tech gains 7 to 6 victory". The Decatur Daily. October 22, 1961. Retrieved October 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Yellow Jackets smother Tulane for fifth victory". Monroe Morning World. October 29, 1961. Retrieved September 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Revenge-minded Jackets thumo Florida, 20–0". The Orlando Sentinel. November 6, 1961. Retrieved October 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Vols upset Engineers, 10–6". Richmond Times Dispatch. November 12, 1961. Retrieved April 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Alabama wins, 10–0". Daily Press. November 19, 1961. Retrieved October 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Ga. Tech whips Georgia, 22–7". Kingsport Times-News. December 3, 1961. Retrieved October 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Energetic Penn State wins". Tallahassee Democrat. December 31, 1961. Retrieved October 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ 2011 Georgia Tech Media Guide Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine. p. 171.
- ^ a b c d "1961 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
- ^ Al Thomy (January 17, 1961). "Tri-Captains on the Flats: Jackets Choose McGaughey, Graning and Williamson". The Atlanta Constitution. pp. 27, 28 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Vernon Butler (December 6, 1961). "Trammell, Watson Head AP All-SEC". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 41 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Four Tiders Selected For UPI All-SEC Team: Tech Guard Dave Watson Only Jacket on Dream Team". The Atlanta Constitution. November 30, 1961. p. 37 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ 1962 Georgia Tech yearbook, pp. 242-243.
- ^ a b 1962 Georgia Tech yearbook, p. 241.