Fullback Bob Ferguson, who led the team with 938 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, was the first African-American player to win the Maxwell Award as the best player in college football. He finished second in close voting for the 1961 Heisman Trophy. Other notable contributors to the 1961 Ohio State team included halfbacks Paul Warfield and Matt Snell, guard Mike Ingram, tackle Bob Vogel, and linebacker Gary Moeller.
Days after the conclusion of the regular season, and with growing concern over Ohio State's reputation as a "football school", Ohio State's faculty council voted to reject an invitation to play in the Rose Bowl. The decision prompted protests by students on the school's campus.[1][2][3]
The team played it home games at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, and led the nation in home attendance with an average crowd size of 82,941 for five home games.[4]
Klein 80 yard pass from Sparma (Van Raaphorst kick)
OHST 35–12
Q4
4:45
OHST
Ferguson 1 yard run (Van Raaphorst kick)
OHST 42–12
Q4
:34
MICH
Ward 1 yard run (Ward run)
OHST 42–20
Q4
:05
OHST
Tidmore 10 yard pass from Sparma (Tidmore pass from Sparma)
OHST 50–20
On November 25, 1961, Ohio State defeated Michigan, 50-20, before a crowd of 80,444 at Michigan Stadium. Ohio State fullback Bob Ferguson scored four touchdowns in the game. Paul Warfield also scored on a 69-yard run, and Bob Klein scored on an 80-yard touchdown pass from Joe Sparma. 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 Dave Raimey returned a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown.[15][16][17]
The 1961 Ohio State team featured Michigan's next two head coaches. Bo Schembechler was Hayes' line coach, and Gary Moeller was a linebacker for the 1961 Buckeyes.
The 1961 Buckeyes ran the ball an average of 58 time per game and tallied an average of 271.9 rushing yards per game. They relied far less on a passing game, averaging only 10 passes per game for 77.2 yards per game. On defense, they gave up an average of 123.8 rushing yards and 129.8 passing yards per game.[18]
The team's leading rushers were Bob Ferguson (938 yards, 202 attempts, 4.6-yard average), Paul Warfield (420 yards, 77 attempts, 5.5-yard average), John Mummey (392 yards, 69 attempts, 5.7-yard average), Matt Snell (197 yards, 50 attempts, 3.9-yard average), and Bob Klein (177 yards, 26 attempts, 6.8-yard average).[18]
Joe Sparma, who later played professional baseball for the Detroit Tigers, led the team in passing yardage, completing 16 of 38 passes for 341 yards, six touchdowns, two interceptions, and a 159.1 quarterback rating. William Mrukowski led the team in completions with 23 completed passes out of 35 attempts; he tallied 231 passing yards and a 119.2 quarterback rating.[18]
The leading receivers were Chuck Bryant (15 receptions, 270 yards, 18.0-yard average), Paul Warfield (9 receptions, 120 yards, 13.3-yard average), and Bob Klein (4 receptions, 112 yards, 28.0-yard average).[18]
Fullback Bob Ferguson received multiple awards and honors following the 1961 season.
Ferguson received the Maxwell Award as the outstanding player in college football in 1961.[19] He also received "Player of the Year" awards from the United Press International (UPI) and the Sporting News.[20][21]
Ferguson finished second in close voting for the 1961 Heisman Trophy. Syracuse back Ernie Davis won the trophy with 824 points, and Ferguson had 771 points.[22]
Ferguson was unanimously selected by his teammates as the most valuable player on the 1961 Ohio State team.[25]
He finished second by two points to Sandy Stephens in voting for the Chicago Tribune Silver Football as the Big Ten's most valuable player. It was one of the closest votes in the history of the award.[26]
Guard Mike Ingram received second-team All-America honors from both the AP and UPI. He also received first-team honors from the same wire services on the 1961 All-Big Ten team.[23][24]
Five Ohio State players received second- or third-team recognition on the All-Big Ten team: end Tom Perdue (AP-2, UPI-3); tackle Bob Vogel (UPI-2); center Bill Armstrong (AP-3); end Charles Bryant (UPI-3); and halfback Paul Warfield (UPI-3).[23][24]
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