1961 Dayton Flyers football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1961
| team = Dayton Flyers
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference= Independent
| record = 2–8
| head_coach = Stan Zajdel
| hc_year = 2nd
| captain =
| stadium = Baujan Field
}}
{{1961 Midwestern college football independents records}}
The 1961 Dayton Flyers football team was an American football team represented the University of Dayton as an independent during the 1961 college football season. In their second year under head coach Stan Zajdel, the Flyers compiled a 2–8 record and were outscored by a total of 245 to 98.{{cite web|title=1961 Dayton Flyers Schedule and Results|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR College Football|accessdate=July 19, 2024|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/dayton/1961-schedule.html}}{{cite news|title=Timura Rallied After Injury|newspaper=Dayton Daily News|author=Joe Burns|date=November 23, 1961|page=37|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/dayton-daily-news-timura-rallied-after-i/151665818/|via=Newspapers.com}}
Quarterback Dan Laughlin led the team 530 passing yards. Junior left halfback Andy Timura led the team with 397 rushing yards, 468 receiving yards, and 30 points scored.{{cite web|title=1961 Dayton Flyers Stats|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR College Football|accessdate=July 19, 2024|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/dayton/1961.html}}
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| attend = y
| source = y
|September 16|at|Cincinnati|Nippert Stadium|Cincinnati, OH|L 12-16|16,000|{{cite news|title=UC Wins Opener Over Dayton, 16-12|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|author=Dick Forbes|date=September 17, 1961|page=1G|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-enquirer-uc-wins-opener-o/151664772/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|September 23|at|Kent State|Memorial Stadium|Kent, OH|L 14-38||{{cite news|title=Three Pass Interceptions Let Kent State Roll Over UD, 38-14|newspaper=Dayton Daily News|author=Joe Burns|date=September 24, 1961|pages=IV-1, IV-5|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/dayton-daily-news-three-pass-interceptio/151664880/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|September 30|at|Bowling Green|University Stadium|Bowling Green, OH|L 11-28|8,451|{{cite news|title=Bee Gees Nab 28-11 Victory Over Dayton|newspaper=The Plain Dealer|date=October 1, 1961|page=6C|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-bee-gees-nab-28-11-vict/151665595/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|October 7||Ohio|Baujan Field|Dayton, OH|L 13-14|12,000|{{cite news|title=Dayton's Dreams Ruined By Ohio U. Rally, 14-13|newspaper=Dayton Daily News|author=Joe Burns|date=October 8, 1961|pages=IV-1, IV-8|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/dayton-daily-news-daytons-dreams-ruined/151664990/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|October 14|at|Louisville|Fairgrounds Stadium|Louisville, KY|W 7-6|4,236|{{cite news|title=U.L. Gambles, Loses 7-6 To Dayton|newspaper=The Courier-Journal|author=Johnny Carrico|date=October 15, 1961|pages=II-1, II-6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-ul-gambles-loses/151665109/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|October 21||Xavier|Baujan Field|Dayton, OH|L 0-14||{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/palladium-item-dayton-eleven-bows-to-xav/124370384/|work=Palladium-Item|title=Dayton eleven bows to Xavier in 14–0 decision|date=October 22, 1961|accessdate=May 10, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}
|October 28||Detroit|Baujan Field|Dayton, OH|L 12-41||{{cite news|title=Flyers Fall To Detroit|newspaper=Dayton Daily News|author=Joe Burns|date=October 29, 1961|page=IV-1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34825117/flyers_fall_to_detroit/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|November 4|at|Holy Cross|Fitton Field | Worcester, MA|L 0-28|8,000|{{cite news |title=Holy Cross Tops Dayton, 28 to 0 |newspaper=The New York Times |location=New York, New York |agency=United Press International |date=November 5, 1961 |page=S5}}{{cite news|title=H.C. Air Game Bombs Dayton|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=November 5, 1961|page=81|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53647774/hc-air-game-bombs-dayton/}}
|November 11||Miami (OH)|Baujan Field|Dayton, OH|L 6-48||{{cite news|title=After UD Took 6-0 Lead, Miami Scored and Scored|newspaper=Dayton Daily News|author=Joe Burns|date=November 12, 1961|page=IV-1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/dayton-daily-news-after-ud-took-6-0-lead/151665316/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|November 18||Wichita|Baujan Field|Dayton, OH|W 23-12||{{cite news|title=UD Shocks Wichita In Finale, 23-12|newspaper=Dayton Daily News|author=Joe Burns|date=November 19, 1961|page=IV-1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/dayton-daily-news-ud-shocks-wichita-in-f/151665200/|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}