1961 Auburn Tigers football team

{{CFB schedule

| rankyear = 1961

| poll = AP

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 30

| w/l = w

| away = y

| opponent = Tennessee

| site_stadium = Shields–Watkins Field

| site_cityst = Knoxville, TN

| score = 24–21

| attend = 44,600

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99701955/auburn-fielder-sinks-vols/|work=The Tennessean|title=Auburn fielder sinks Vols|date=October 1, 1961|accessdate=April 13, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 7

| w/l = l

| opponent = Kentucky

| site_stadium = Cliff Hare Stadium

| site_cityst = Auburn, AL

| score = 12–14

| attend = 32,000

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-huntsville-times-kentucky-smacks-aub/133248059/|work=The Huntsville Times|title=Kentucky smacks Auburn by 14–12|date=October 8, 1960|accessdate=October 10, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 14

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| opponent = Chattanooga

| site_stadium = Cliff Hare Stadium

| site_cityst = Auburn, AL

| score = 35–7

| attend = 22,000

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85111051/auburn-rolls-over-mocs/|work=The Montgomery Advertiser|title=Auburn rolls over Mocs|date=October 15, 1961|accessdate=September 10, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 21

| w/l = l

| away = y

| opponent = Georgia Tech

| opprank = 8

| site_stadium = Grant Field

| site_cityst = Atlanta, GA

| score = 6–7

| attend = 45,376

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-decatur-daily-auburn-gamble-fails-as/133246598/|work=The Decatur Daily|title=Auburn gamble fails as Tech gains 7 to 6 victory|date=October 22, 1961|accessdate=October 10, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 28

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| homecoming = y

| opponent = Clemson

| site_stadium = Cliff Hare Stadium

| site_cityst = Auburn, AL

| score = 24–14

| attend = 36,000

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-columbus-ledger-tigers-bounce-back-o/133248234/|work=The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer|title=Tigers bounce back on Hunt's passes, top Clemson|date=October 29, 1961|accessdate=October 10, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 4

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| opponent = Wake Forest

| site_stadium = Cliff Hare Stadium

| site_cityst = Auburn, AL

| score = 21–7

| attend = 20,000

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-auburn-defeats-wake-fore/133248359/|work=Greensboro Daily News|title=Auburn defeats Wake Forest 21–7|date=November 5, 1961|accessdate=October 10, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 11

| w/l = l

| opponent = Mississippi State

| site_stadium = Legion Field

| site_cityst = Birmingham, AL

| score = 10–11

| attend = 35,000

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-gambling-state-nips/133248469/|work=The Birmingham News|title=Gambling State nips Tigers, 11–10|date=November 12, 1961|accessdate=October 10, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 18

| w/l = w

| away = y

| opponent = Georgia

| site_stadium = Sanford Stadium

| site_cityst = Athens, GA

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 10–7

| attend = 41,000

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-macon-telegraph-hunt-triggers-tiger/133248557/|work=The Macon Telegraph & News|title=Hunt triggers Tiger win over Dogs, 10–7|date=November 19, 1961|accessdate=October 10, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 25

| w/l = w

| opponent = Florida

| site_stadium = Cliff Hare Stadium

| site_cityst = Auburn, AL

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 32–15

| attend = 33,000

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-selma-times-journal-auburn-wins-wier/133247712/|work=The Selma Times-Journal|title=Auburn wins wiers tilt from Florida by 32–15|date=November 26, 1961|accessdate=October 10, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = December 2

| w/l = l

| neutral = y

| opponent = Alabama

| opprank = 1

| site_stadium = Legion Field

| site_cityst = Birmingham, AL

| gamename = Iron Bowl

| score = 0–34

| attend = 54,000

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-huntsville-times-tide-rips-auburn-34/133234799/|work=The Huntsville Times|title=Tide rips Auburn 34–0 in final bid for No. 1|date=December 3, 1961|accessdate=October 10, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

}}{{cite book |title=2009 Auburn Football Media Guide |year=2009 |page=188 |publisher=Auburn Media Relations Office |location=Auburn, Alabama |url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/aub/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/09-fb-mg-sec5.pdf |format=PDF |access-date=2012-12-19 |archive-date=2014-10-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006152710/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/aub/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/09-fb-mg-sec5.pdf |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://www.auburntigers.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/aub-m-footbl-sched-1961.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120901133511/http://www.auburntigers.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/aub-m-footbl-sched-1961.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 1, 2012|title=1961–1962 Auburn University Football Schedule|publisher=Auburn University Athletics|access-date=December 18, 2012}}

The Tigers gained an average of 243.7 yards per game (143.6 rushing, 100.1 passing). On defense, they gave up 144.3 rushing yards and 79.7 passing yards per game.{{cite web|title=1961 Auburn Tigers Stats|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|accessdate=October 4, 2024|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/auburn/1961.html}}

The offense was led by senior quarterback Bobby Hunt who completed 54 of 118 passes (45.8%) for 703 yards with two touchdowns, eight interceptions, and an 87.8 quarterback rating. Hunt also ranked second in rushing (247 yards) and pass interceptions (three). He led the team with 1,050 yards of total offense; he finished his Auburn career with 2,279 yards of total offense, third best in Auburn history to that date.{{cite news|title=Hunt And Rawson Offensive Leaders|newspaper=Birmingham Post-Herald|date=December 7, 1961|page=3|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-post-herald-hunt-and-rawson-o/156570434/|via=Newspapers.com}} Hunt and kicking specialist Woody Woodall tied for the team's scoring lead with 36 points each. After the season, head coach Jordan said, "I don't know what we'd have done without [Hunt]."

The rushing defense was led by sophomore fullback Larry Rawson (448 yards, 121 carries, 3.7-yard average), Bobby Hunt (347 yards, 101 carries, 3.4-yard average), Don Machen (187 yards, 38 carries, 4.9-yard average), Jimmy Burson (187 yards, 44 carries, 4.3-yard average), and Larry Laster (187 yards, 44 carries, 4.4-yard average).

The team's leading receivers were Dave Edwards (372 yards, 25 receptions) and Bobby Foret (131 yards, 10 receptions).

Bo Davis was the team's punter, kicking 55 times for 2,034 yards, an average of 36.9 yards per punt.

Four Auburn players were recognized by the Associated Press (AP) or United Press International (UPI) on the 1961 All-SEC football team: end Dave Edwards (AP-1, UPI-1); halfback Bobby Hunt (UPI-3); center Wayne Frazier (AP-3); and tackle Billy Wilson (UPI-3).{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-trammell-watso/156562175/|title=Trammell, Watson Head AP All-SEC|newspaper=The Atlanta Constitution|author=Vernon Butler|date=December 6, 1961|page=41|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-1961-upi-all-se/156562454/|newspaper=The Atlanta Constitution|title=Four Tiders Selected For UPI All-SEC Team: Tech Guard Dave Watson Only Jacket on Dream Team|date=November 30, 1961|page=37|via=Newspapers.com}}

• Joe Baughan (#76), guard, junior, 6'3", 225 pounds, Bessemer, AL
• Jimmy Burson (#22), halfback, junior, 5'10", 178 pounds, LaGrange, GA
• Bo Davis, punter
• Don Downs (#88), end, junior, 6'0", 200 pounds, Birmingham, AL
• Dave Edwards (#80), end, senior, 6'1", 198 pounds, Abbeyville, AL
• Bobby Foret (#85), end, senior, 6'1", 198 pounds, New Orleans, LA
• Wayne Frazier (#51), center, senior, 6'2", 230 pounds, Evergreen, AL
• Winky Giddens (#79), tackle, junior, 6'2", 225 pounds, Childersburg, AL
• George Gross
• Bobby Hunt (#12), quarterback, senior, 6'1, 180 pounds, Lanett, AL
• Mailon Kent (#15), quarterback, sophomore, 6'2", 185 pounds, Birmingham, AL
• Larry Laster (#35), fullback, junior, 5'11", 195 pounds, Covington, GA
• Don Machen (#23), halfback, senior, 5'9", 150 pounds, Sylacauga, AL
• John McGeever (#36), halfback, senior, 6'0", 195 pounds, Birmingham, AL
• Joe Overton (#16), quarterback, junior, 6'2", 190 pounds, Greenville, MS
• Jim Price (#58), center, junior, 6'3", 225 pounds, Birmingham, AL
• Jimmy Putnam (#65), guard, senior, 6'0", 200 pounds, Birmingham, AL
• Larry Rawson (#30), fullback, sophomore, 6'0", 202 pounds, Pensacola, FL
• Billy Wilson (#78), tackle, senior, 6'2", 250 pounds, Birmingham, AL
• Woody Woodall, kicking specialist

• Head coach: Ralph Jordan
• Assistant coaches: George Atkins, Joe Connally, Vince Dooley, Joel Eaves, Hal Herring, Billy Kinard, Gene Lorendo, Dick McGovern, J. D. Roberts, Erk Russell, C.L. Senn{{cite web|title=Football 1961|publisher=Auburn Tigers|accessdate=October 4, 2024|url=https://auburntigers.com/sports/football/roster/season/1961}}

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