1961 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team

The 1961 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team 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 were 7–2 in the regular season and won the Rose Bowl, 21–3 over UCLA; Minnesota outscored their opponents 161–78.[1] The Golden Gophers finished sixth in both final polls (Associated Press (AP) writers poll and United Press International (UPI) coaches poll), released in early December, prior to the bowl games.[2][3]

1961 Minnesota Golden Gophers football
Rose Bowl champion
Rose Bowl, W 21–3 vs. UCLA
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 6
APNo. 6
Record8–2 (6–1 Big Ten)
Head coach
MVPSandy Stephens
CaptainJohn Mulvena
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
1961 Big Ten Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 2 Ohio State $ 6 –0 –08 –0 –1
No. 6 Minnesota 6 –1 –08 –2 –0
No. 8 Michigan State 5 –2 –07 –2 –0
No. 12 Purdue 4 –2 –06 –3 –0
Wisconsin 4 –3 –06 –3 –0
Michigan 3 –3 –06 –3 –0
Iowa 2 –4 –05 –4 –0
Northwestern 2 –4 –04 –5 –0
Indiana 0 –6 –02 –7 –0
Illinois 0 –7 –00 –9 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

Quarterback Sandy Stephens received the team's most valuable player award, was a consensus first-team All-American, finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting, was named Rose Bowl MVP, and received the Chicago Tribune Silver Football, given to the Big Ten's most valuable player. Tackle Bobby Bell was also named a first-team All-American by the FWAA, AFCA, Sporting News, and Central Press. Fullback Judge Dickson and offensive lineman Jim Wheeler were named Academic All-Big Ten.[4]

Total attendance at six home games was 366,491, an average of 61,081, and the season high was against Purdue on November 18.[5]

Days after the conclusion of the regular season, the faculty council at Ohio State University voted down participation in the Rose Bowl,[6][7][8] and the berth went to Minnesota.[9]

Schedule
DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendance
September 30Missouri*
L 0–658,840
October 7Oregon*
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Minneapolis, MN
W 14–750,499
October 14at Northwestern
W 10–341,251
October 21at Illinois
W 33–052,247
October 28Michigandagger
W 23–2063,898
November 4No. 1 Michigan State
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Minneapolis, MN
W 13–059,941
November 11at IowaNo. 5
W 16–960,100
November 18No. 7 PurdueNo. 5
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Minneapolis, MN
W 10–767,081
November 25WisconsinNo. 3
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Minneapolis, MN (rivalry)
L 21–2366,232
January 1vs. No. 16 UCLA*No. 6
W 21–398,214
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Roster

References
  1. "1961 Minnesota Golden Gophers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
  2. "Champion vote goes to Alabama". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. Associated Press. December 5, 1961. p. 2B.
  3. Joyce, Dick (December 5, 1961). "Alabama No. 1 football team in final UPI poll". Bend Bulletin. Oregon. UPI. p. 3.
  4. Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF), pp. 179–182
  5. Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF), p. 160
  6. "Buckeyes finally lose, 28-25 in bowl debate". Toledo Blade. Ohio. Associated Press. November 29, 1961. p. 48.
  7. "Ohio State's rejection of Rose Bowl bid trip triggers sharp comments". Youngstown Vindicator. Ohio. Associated Press. November 29, 1961. p. 60.
  8. "Ohio State rejects chance to play in Rose Bowl game". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. November 29, 1961. p. 11.
  9. Stevenson, Jack (December 3, 1961). "Minnesota accepts bid, plays Uclans in Rose tilt". Youngstown Vindicator. Ohio. Associated Press. p. D-1.
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