1961 Ball State Cardinals football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1961
| team = Ball State Cardinals
| sport = football
| image = Ball State head coach Jim Freeman and quarterback Phil Sullivan (1961).jpg
| image_size = 285
| caption = Head coach Jim Freeman diagrams a play for quarterback Phil Sullivan, 1961
| conference = Indiana Collegiate Conference
| short_conf = ICC
| record = 2–5–1
| conf_record = 2–4
| head_coach = Jim Freeman
| hc_year = 6th
| captain = Peter Jubeck
| captain2 = Al Thomas
| stadium = Ball State Field
}}
{{1961 Indiana Collegiate Conference football standings}}
The 1961 Ball State Cardinals football team was an American football team that represented Ball State College (later renamed Ball State University) in the Indiana Collegiate Conference (ICC) during the 1961 college football season. In its sixth season under head coach Jim Freeman, the Cardinals compiled a 2–5–1 record, were outscored by a total of 179 to 68, and finished in a three-way tie for fourth place out of seven teams in the ICC.{{cite web |author= |title=Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Ball State) |url=https://stats.ncaa.org/team/47/stats/12865 |publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association |access-date=June 3, 2022 }}
Fullback Peter Jubeck and center Al Thomas were the team's co-captains.{{cite news|title=Backfield Wealth Mark of '61 Cards|newspaper=The Muncie Star|author=Ron Lemasters|date=September 3, 1961|page=1 (sports)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-star-press-backfield-wealth-mark-of/153379059/|via=Newspapers.com}}
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| attend = y
| source = y
|September 23||Eastern Michigan
|September 30|at|Butler|Butler Bowl|Indianapolis, IN|L 6-48|7,450|{{cite news|title=Bulldogs Grab 6 Fumbles, Trample Ball State, 48-6|newspaper=The Indianapolis Star|author=Jep Cadou Jr.|date=October 1, 1961|page=IV-1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-bulldogs-grab-6-fu/124069770/|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news|title=Bulldogs Alert, Cards Dazed: 48-6; Six Butler Scores Result of Blunders|newspaper=The Muncie Star|author=Bob Barnet|date=October 1, 1961|page=1 (sports)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-star-press-bulldogs-alert-cards-daz/153414625/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|October 7||DePauw|Ball State Field|Muncie, IN|L 8-10||{{cite news|title=Cards Had It Won -- Then Came the Kick; DePauw Field Goal in Final Minutes Nullifies Gamble, Takes 10-8 Victory|newspaper=The Muncie Star|author=Ron Lemasters|date=October 8, 1961|pages=1C, 2C|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-star-press-cards-had-it-won-then/151811482/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|October 14|at|Saint Joseph's (IN)||Rensselaer, IN|W 8-0||{{cite news|title=Ball State Finds Victim: Cardinal Defense Offsets Fumbles, Nips St. Joe, 8-0|newspaper=The Muncie Star|date=October 15, 1961|page=Sports 1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-star-press-ball-state-finds-victim/151812266/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|October 21||Indiana State
|October 28|at|Valparaiso||Valparaiso, IN|L 20-28||{{cite news|title=Valpo Batters Down Cards in 2nd Half: Overcomes BSC Lead at 28-20|newspaper=The Muncie Star|date=October 29, 1961|page=1 (sports)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-star-press-valpo-batters-down-cards/153415971/|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news|title=Crusaders, Butler Ready For Showdown: VU Trails Cards 3 Times But Wins Sixth Straight|newspaper=Vidette-Messenger|author=Bob Cuccia|date=October 30, 1961|page=7|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/vidette-messenger-of-porter-county-crusa/151760454/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|November 4||Evansville|Ball State Field|Muncie, IN|W 6-3||{{cite news|title=Subs, Defense Halt Aces: Late BSC Gamble Leads to 6-3 Win|newspaper=The Muncie Star|date=November 5, 1961|pages=1C, 3C|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-star-press-subs-defense-halt-aces/151789096/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|November 11|at|Ohio Northern
}}
Statistics
The Cardinals tallied 1,729 yards of total offense (216.1 yards per game), consisting of 1,256 rushing yards (157 yards per game) and 473 passing yards (59.1 yards per game). On defense, the Cardinals gave up 2,102 yards (262.8 yards per game) with and 1,496 rushing yards (187 yards per game) and 606 passing yards (75.8 yards per game).
The team set a program record by losing 33 fumbles in a season -- an average of more than four fumbles lost per game. The record remains unbroken as of the 2024 season.Record Book, p. 32.
Senior quarterback Phil Sullivan led the team in passing, completing 20 of 69 passes (28.9% completion percentage) for 269 yards.Record Book, p. 18. He also led the team with 374 yards of total offense.
Halfback Joe Burvan in rushing, tallying 278 rushing yards on 54 carries for an average of 5.1 yards per carry.Record Book, p. 14.
Halfback Joe Robinson led the team in scoring with 20 points on three touchdowns and a two-point conversion.Record Book, p. 24.
End Larry Hamel was the team's receiving leader with 145 receiving yards on 9 receptions for an average of 16.1 yards per reception.Record Book, p. 22.
Awards
The John Magnabosco Award for the most outstanding player of 1961 went to center and co-captain Al Thomas.Record Book, p. 40.
Players
{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}
- Jim Biltz, halfback, 156 pounds
- Terry Bonta, quarterback, sophomore, 170 pounds
- John Burtrum, halfback, 175 pounds
- Joe Burvan, halfback, 170 pounds
- Frank Cerqueira, tackle, sophomore, 196 pounds
- Larry Dreasky, fullback, sophomore, 173 pounds
- Colin Duffala, end
- Jim Freeman, guard, 215 pounds
- Larry Hamell (sometimes Hamel), end, 209 pounds
- Ted Huber, guard, 190 pounds
- Don Hunter, center
- Peter Jubeck (sometimes listed as Jubek), fullback and co-captain, senior
- Dick Lootens, guard, 187 pounds
- George McKay, end, 204 pounds
- Dick Rinehart, tackle, 221 pounds
- Joe Robinson, halfback, 180 pounds
- John Shipley, quarterback, 161 pounds
- Max Smith, end
- Phil Sullivan, quarterback, senior, 160 pounds
- Al Thomas, center and co-captain, 207 pounds
- John Walker, halfback
- Ron Webb, end, 193 pounds
- Dave Welcome, tackle, 225 pounds
- Bob Wetnight, fullback, sophomore
- Jim Zielinski, tackle, 224 pounds
{{Div col end}}
{{cite news|title=96 Cardinals Get Varsity, Frosh Awards|newspaper=Muncie Evening Press|date=December 5, 1961|page=11|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/muncie-evening-press-96-cardinals-get-va/153377691/|via=Newspapers.com}}
Jim Freeman was regarded as one of the ICC's best lineman, sustained a serious knee injury in the Cardinals' homecoming loss to Indiana State and was lost to the team for the remainder of the season.{{cite news|title=Freeman Loss Worst Blow for Luckless Cards|newspaper=The Muncie Star|author=Bob Barnet|date=October 23, 1961|page=6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-star-press-freeman-loss-worst-blow-f/153415626/|via=Newspapers.com}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://dmr.bsu.edu/digital/collection/HistFilmVid/id/621/ Film of Eastern Michigan game]
- [https://dmr.bsu.edu/digital/collection/HistFilmVid/id/619 Film of Evansville game]
{{Ball State Cardinals football navbox}}