1961 Drake Bulldogs football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1961
| team = Drake Bulldogs
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Independent
| record = 5–4
| head_coach = Bus Mertes
| hc_year = 2nd
| captain =
| stadium = Drake Stadium
}}
{{1961 Midwestern college football independents records}}
The 1961 Drake Bulldogs football team was an American football team that represented Drake University as an independent during the 1961 college football season. In its second season under head coach Bus Mertes, the team compiled a 5–4 record and was outscored by a total of 106 to 102.{{cite web|title=2015 Drake Football Media Guide|publisher=Drake University|page=101|url=https://en.calameo.com/read/00037710622eb60d4d214}} The team played its home games at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa.
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| attend = y
| source = y
|September 16||Iowa State|Drake Stadium|Des Moines, IA|L 0-21|12,465|{{cite news|title=Iowa State Escapes Drake, 21-0|newspaper=The Des Moines Register|date=September 17, 1961|page=Sports 1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-iowa-state-escap/151654938/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|September 23|at|Southern Illinois|McAndrew Stadium|Carbondale, IL|W 7-0|10,000|{{cite news|title=Drake Defense Checks Salukis 7 To 0|newspaper=Southern Illinoisan|date=September 24, 1961|page=II-1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/southern-illinoisan-drake-defense-checks/151655161/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|September 30|at|Colorado State–Greeley|Jackson Field|Greeley, CO|W 7-0|4,000–4,500|{{cite news|title=Drake U. Squeaks BY CSC Bears, 7-0|newspaper=Greeley Tribune|author=Bob Scales|date=October 2, 1961|page=16|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/greeley-daily-tribune-drake-u-squeaks-b/151327480/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|October 7||State College of Iowa|Drake Stadium|Des Moines, IA|W 21-6|5,000|{{cite news|title=Drake Wins, 21-6 -- Punt Returns Bag 80, 51-Yard Scores|newspaper=The Des Moines Register|date=October 8, 1961|pages=Sports 1, 8|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-drake-wins-21-6/151656407/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|October 14||Idaho State|Drake Stadium|Des Moines, IA|L 11-12|5,000|{{cite news|title=Drake 12-11 Loser|newspaper=The Des Moines Register|author=Jim Moackler|date=October 15, 1961|page=Sports 1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-drake-12-11-lose/151655906/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|October 28||Bradley
|November 4|at|North Texas|Fouts Field|Denton, TX|L 21-28|5,000–8,000|{{cite news|title=Drake fails, 28–21, after two rallies|newspaper=The Des Moines Register|date=November 5, 1961|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88233533/drake-fails-2821-after-two-rallies/|accessdate=November 2, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news|title=Eagles claw Cougars|newspaper=The Daily Herald|date=October 1, 1961|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88232470/eagles-claw-cougars/|accessdate=November 2, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
|November 11|at|Wichita|Veterans Field|Wichita, KS|L 13-26|9,130|{{cite news|title=Late-rallying WU Drops Drake, 26-13|newspaper=The Wichita Eagle|author=Bill Hodge|date=November 12, 1961|pages=1A, 1B|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-wichita-eagle-late-rallying-wu-drops/151654690/}}
|November 18|at|Omaha||Omaha, NE|W 36-13|1,800–2,400|{{cite news|title=Drake Romps Past Omahans by 36-13|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|author=Maurice Shadle|date=November 19, 1961|page=Sports 1, 6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald-drake-romps-past-omah/151654347/|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite web |author= |title=Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Omaha) |url=https://stats.ncaa.org/team/464/stats/12865 |publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association |access-date=August 6, 2024 }}
}}
{{cite web |author= |title=Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Drake) |url=https://stats.ncaa.org/team/189/stats/12865 |publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association |access-date=July 19, 2024 }}