1961 Memphis State Tigers football team

The 1961 Memphis State Tigers football team represented Memphis State College (now known as the University of Memphis) as an independent during the 1961 NCAA University Division football season. In its fourth season under head coach Billy J. Murphy, the team compiled an 8–2 record and outscored opponents by a total of 332 to 75. Don Coffey and Jack Carter were the team captains.[1][2] The team played its home games at Crump Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee.

1961 Memphis State Tigers football
ConferenceIndependent
Record8–2
Head coach
CaptainDon Coffey, Jack Carter
Home stadiumCrump Stadium
1961 NCAA University Division independents football records
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 15 Rutgers   –  9 –0 –0
No. 17 Arizona   –  8 –1 –1
Memphis State   –  8 –2 –0
Villanova   –  8 –2 –0
No. 17 Penn State   –  8 –3 –0
No. 14 Syracuse   –  8 –3 –0
Holy Cross   –  7 –3 –0
Navy   –  7 –3 –0
Miami (FL)   –  7 –4 –0
Army   –  6 –4 –0
San Jose State   –  6 –4 –0
Xavier   –  6 –4 –0
Colgate   –  5 –4 –0
Detroit   –  5 –4 –0
Houston   –  5 –4 –1
Notre Dame   –  5 –5 –0
Oregon State   –  5 –5 –0
Florida State   –  4 –5 –1
Boston University   –  4 –5 –0
Boston College   –  4 –6 –0
Oregon   –  4 –6 –0
Air Force   –  3 –7 –0
Pittsburgh   –  3 –7 –0
Washington State   –  3 –7 –0
Idaho   –  2 –7 –0
Dayton   –  2 –8 –0
Rankings from AP Poll

The team's statistical leaders included James Earl Wright with 604 passing yards, fullback Dave Casinelli with 646 rushing yards and 54 points scored, and Don Coffey with 312 receiving yards.[3]

Schedule
DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 16The Citadel
W 40–0
September 23at Tulsa
W 48–1215,252
September 30Hardin–Simmons
  • Crump Stadium
  • Memphis, TN
W 56–0
October 7at Louisville
W 28–1311,332[4]
October 14Mississippi Southern
W 21–722,119[5]
October 21Abilene Christiandagger
  • Crump Stadium
  • Memphis, TN
W 35–0
October 28Mississippi State
  • Crump Stadium
  • Memphis, TN
L 16–2330,092[6]
November 4Furman
  • Crump Stadium
  • Memphis, TN
L 6–76,036[7]
November 11North Texas State
  • Crump Stadium
  • Memphis, TN
W 41–06,921[8]
November 23at Chattanooga
W 41–13[9]
  • daggerHomecoming

References
  1. "1961 Memphis Tigers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
  2. "Memphis Football 2019 Media Guide" (PDF). University of Memphis. p. 270. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
  3. "1961 Memphis Tigers Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
  4. "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  5. "Wright leads Memphis State past Southern". The Tennessean. October 15, 1961. Retrieved March 28, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Bulldogs too tough for Memphis State". The Birmingham News. October 29, 1961. Retrieved October 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Furman pulls big upset at Memphis". The Montgomery Advertiser. November 5, 1961. Retrieved September 15, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Tigers are back on winning way, Victors by 41–0". The Commercial Appeal. November 11, 1961. Retrieved November 2, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Jack Carter powers Tigers past Mocs". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. November 24, 1961. Retrieved September 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
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