1961 Akron Zips football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1961
| team = Akron Zips
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Ohio Athletic Conference
| short_conf = OAC
| record = 6–2
| conf_record = 6–1
| head_coach = Gordon K. Larson
| hc_year = 1st
| captain = Jim Lupori
| stadium = Rubber Bowl
}}
{{1961 Ohio Athletic Conference football standings}}
The 1961 Akron Zips football team was an American football team that represented Akron University in the 1961 Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) football season. In their first year under head coach Gordon K. Larson, the Zips compiled a 6–2 record (6–1 against OAC opponents), finished in second place in the OAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 185 to 57.
Several Akron players were selected as first-team players on the 1961 All-OAC football team, including: fullback George Deo; linebacker Tom Lowry; safety Ed Lopeman; tackle Ron Ulrich; and end Ray Greene.{{cite news|title=Four Tigers On First All-Conference Team|newspaper=Springfield News-Sun|date=November 24, 1961|page=21|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/springfield-news-sun-all-oac/149944557/|via=Newspapers.com}}
The team played its home games at the Rubber Bowl in Akron, Ohio.
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 1961
| rankdivision = small college
| poll = AP
| opprank = y
| attend = y
| source = y
| September 23 | at | Wittenberg | Wittenberg Stadium | Springfield, OH | L 0–7 | 5,100–5,600 |{{cite news|title=Wittenberg Takes Grid Opener, 7-0, Over Zips|newspaper=Springfield News-Sun|author=Dick Hibbett|date=September 24, 1961|pages=Sports 1, 2|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/springfield-news-sun-wittenberg-takes-gr/151421997/|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite web |author= |title=Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Wittenberg) |url=https://stats.ncaa.org/team/806/stats/12865 |publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association |access-date=August 2, 2024 }}
| September 30 | | Denison | Rubber Bowl | Akron, OH | W 28–0 | 35,061 |{{cite news|title=Record 35,061 See Akron U Victory: Denison 28-0 Victim In Acme-Zip Feature|newspaper=The Akron Beacon-Journal|author=Tom Melody|date=October 1, 1961|page=C1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-akron-beacon-journal-record-35061-s/151424481/|via=Newspapers.com}}
| October 7 |vs| Ohio Wesleyan | Barberton Stadium |Barberton, OH| W 32–21 | 4,500 |{{cite news|title=Akron U Chips OW By 32-21: Deo Gains 186 Yards|newspaper=The Akron Beacon-Journal|author=Tom Melody|date=October 8, 1961|pages=1B, 2B|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-akron-beacon-journal-akron-u-chips-o/151424670/|via=Newspapers.com}}
| October 14 | at | Heidelberg | | Tiffin, OH | W 12–0 | 4,000 |{{cite news|title=Deo Scores 2; Zips Top Heidelberg, 12-0|newspaper=The Plain Dealer|date=October 15, 1961|page=10C|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-deo-scores-2-zips-top/151425400/|via=Newspapers.com}}
| October 21 | at | Wooster | | Wooster, OH | W 31–8 | 4,700 |{{cite news|title=Zips Rip Wooster, 31-8; Mackey, Deo, Adolph Pace Akron|newspaper=The Akron Beacon Journal|author=Tom Melody|date=October 22, 1961|pages=1B, 7B|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-akron-beacon-journal-zips-rip-wooste/151425523/|via=Newspapers.com}}
| October 28 | vs. | No. 3 Baldwin–Wallace
| November 4 | | Muskingum | Rubber Bowl | Akron, OH | W 35–14 | 6,511 |{{cite news|title=Mackey Scores 3 In 35-14 Frolic|newspaper=The Akron Beacon-Journal|author=Tom Melody|date=November 5, 1961|page=B1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-akron-beacon-journal-mackey-scores-3/151424896/|via=Newspapers.com}}
| November 18 | at | Mount Union | Mount Union Stadium | Alliance, OH | W 47–0 | 3,500 | {{cite news|title=Zips Romp: Akron Rips Mount By 47-0; Finishes 2nd In OC|newspaper=The Akron Beacon Journal|author=Tom Melody|date=November 19, 1961|pages=1B, 2B|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-akron-beacon-journal-zips-romp-akro/151425135/|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
{{cite web |author= |title=Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics |url=https://stats.ncaa.org/team/5/stats/12865 |publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association |access-date=December 15, 2021 }}{{cite web |title=2019 Akron Zips Football Media Guide: Records |url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/akron.sidearmsports.com/documents/2019/7/31/139_174_Records.pdf |publisher=University of Akron |accessdate=July 29, 2020 |pages=168}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Akron Zips football navbox}}
Category:Akron Zips football seasons
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