1961 Eastern Michigan Hurons football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1961
| team = Eastern Michigan Hurons
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
| short_conf = IIAC
| record = 0–8–1
| conf_record = 0–6
| head_coach = Fred Trosko
| hc_year = 10th
| mvp = Norm Jacobs
| captain = Norm Jacobs
| captain2 = Don Drinkham
| stadium = Briggs Field
}}
{{1961 Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings}}
The 1961 Eastern Michigan Hurons football team was an American football team that represented Eastern Michigan University as a member of the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1961 college football season. In their 10th season under head coach Fred Trosko, the Hurons compiled a 0–8–1 record (0–6 in conference games), finished last in the IIAC, and were outscored by a total of 171 to 49. The team's only game that was not a loss was a scoreless tie with Ball State. The 1961 season was part of a 30-game winless streak that spanned from 1959 to 1962.{{cite news|title=A Happy Day! Eastern Michigan Shatters 30-Game Winless Drought|newspaper=The Flint Journal|date=October 28, 1962|page=6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-flint-journal-a-happy-day-eastern-m/154750571/|via=Newspapers.com}}
Norm Jacobs and Don Drinkham were the team captains.{{cite web|title=2014 Digital Media Guide: Eastern Michigan University|publisher=Eastern Michigan University Football|accessdate=June 29, 2016|pages=169, 176|url=http://www.emueagles.com/custompages/football/2014/2014EMUFBGuide.pdf}} Jacobs received the team's most valuable player award.2015 Media Guide, p. 146. Jacobs was also selected as a first-team all-IIAC player on both offense (at center) and on defense (at guard).{{cite news|title=Salukis Land 7 Players on IIAC Squads|newspaper=Moline Dispatch|date=November 21, 1961|page=23|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-dispatch-salukis-land-7-players-on-i/154750635/|via=Newspapers.com}}
The team's statistical leaders included George Beaudette with 696 passing yards and 703 yards of total offense, Don Oboza with 207 rushing yards, and Pat Dignan with 195 receiving yards.2014 Media Guide, pp. 178, 184, 189, 191.
The team played its home games at Briggs Field in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| attend = y
| source = y
|September 16|at|Albion
|September 23|at|Ball State
|September 30|at|Western Illinois|Hanson Field|Macomb, IL|L 0-43|4,000|{{cite news|title=Western Whips Eastern Michigan|newspaper=The Pantagraph|date=October 1, 1961|page=13|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph-western-whips-eastern-mic/152426370/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|October 6||Illinois State Normal|Briggs Field|Ypsilanti, MI|L 0-13||{{cite news|title=State Normal Tops Eastern Michigan|newspaper=Pantagraph|date=October 7, 1963|page=8|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph-state-normal-tops-eastern/154751103/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|October 13||Baldwin–Wallace
|October 21||Central Michigan
|October 28|at|Eastern Illinois|Lincoln Field|Charleston, IL|L 0-7|583|{{cite news |title=Butler Carries EIU to Victory |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103605138/journal-gazette/ |access-date=June 11, 2022 |work=Mattoon Journal Gazette |date=October 30, 1961 |page=5 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite web |author= |title=Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics |url=https://stats.ncaa.org/team/201/stats/12865 |publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association |access-date=December 12, 2022 }}
|November 4||Southern Illinois|Briggs Field|Ypsilanti, MI|L 14-20||{{cite news|title=E. Michigan Beaten by S.I.U., 20-14|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=November 5, 1961|page=8 (part 2)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-e-michigan-beaten-by-s/154727432/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|November 11|at|Northern Illinois|Glidden Field|DeKalb, IL|L 10-35|4,700|{{cite web |author= |title=Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics |url=https://stats.ncaa.org/team/503/stats/12865 |publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association |access-date=December 12, 2022 }}
}}
{{cite web |author= |title=Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics |url=https://stats.ncaa.org/team/204/stats/12865 |publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association |access-date=December 11, 2022 }}
Statistics
The 1961 Hurons gained 1,559 yards of total offense (173.3 yards per game), consisting of 814 rushing yards (90.4 yards per game) and 745 passing yards (82.8 yards per game). On defense, they gave up 1,914 yards (212.7 yards per game) with 1,102 rushing yards (122.4 yards per game) and 821 passing yards (91.1 yards per game).
Senior quarterback George Beaudette (6'2", 215 pounds) completed 50 of 155 passes (32.2%) for 696 yards with three touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Beaudette also led the team in total offense with 703 yards on 191 plays (3.7 yards per play).{{cite news|title=SIU Dominates IIAC Statistics|newspaper=Pantagraph|date=November 16, 1961|page=26|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph-siu-dominates-iiac-statis/154750477/|via=Newspapers.com}}
The team's rushing leaders were fullback Don Oboza (207 yards, 75 carries, 2.7-yard average) and halfback Ray Smith (94 yards, 34 carries, 2.7-yard average).
The team's receiving leaders were halfbacks Pat Dignan (12 catches, 195 yards, one touchdown) and Lavern Mann (four catches, 138 yards, two touchdowns). Mann led the team in scoring with 12 points on two touchdown receptions.
Senior fullback Dave Catherman (6'0", 135 pounds) punted 51 times for 1,614 yards, an average of 31.6 yards per punt.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Eastern Michigan Eagles football navbox}}
Category:Eastern Michigan Eagles football seasons