1961 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

{{CFB schedule

| rankyear = 1961

| poll = AP

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 30

| w/l = l

| nonconf = y

| opponent = Washington

| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| score = 7–20

| attend = 41,319

| source = {{cite news|title=Young Illini Lose To Huskies, 20-7: Washington's Ground Game Topples Illinois|newspaper=The Pantagraph|author=Fred Young|date=October 1, 1961|page=13|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph-young-illini-lose-to-husk/153937318/|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 7

| w/l = l

| opponent = Northwestern

| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 7–28

| attend = 40,138

| source = {{cite news|title=Wildcats Rip Illinois, 28-7: Northwestern Posts Victory in Big 10|newspaper=The Pantagraph|date=October 8, 1961|page=21|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph-wildcats-rip-illinois-28/153936757/|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 14

| w/l = l

| away = y

| opponent = Ohio State

| opprank = 7

| site_stadium = Ohio Stadium

| site_cityst = Columbus, OH

| gamename = Illibuck

| score = 0–44

| attend = 82,374

| source = [http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/osu/graphics/pdf/m-footbl/1961/1961-3-Illinois.pdf Ohio State Official Athletic Site - Football - Archives] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402170256/http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/osu/graphics/pdf/m-footbl/1961/1961-3-Illinois.pdf |date=2015-04-02 }}. Retrieved March 30, 2015.

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 21

| w/l = l

| opponent = Minnesota

| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| score = 0–33

| attend = 52,247

| source = {{cite news|title=Gophers Bomb Illinois 33-0|newspaper=Minneapolis Sunday Tribune|author=Dick Gordon|date=October 22, 1961|pages=1, 2 (sports)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-gophers-bomb-illinois-33-0/153049054/|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news|title=Illinois Bows To Minnesota|newspaper=The Pantagraph|author=Fred Young|date=October 22, 1961|page=13|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph/153049354/|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 28

| w/l = l

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| opponent = USC

| site_stadium = Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

| site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA

| score = 10–14

| attend = 28,694

| source = {{cite news|title=USC Fights Off Inspired Illini, 14-10: Game Ends on Troy's 8-Yd. Line|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|author=Al Wolf|date=October 29, 1961|pages=1, 2 (section H)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-usc-fights-off-ins/153895407/|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 4

| w/l = l

| opponent = Purdue

| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 9–23

| attend = 35,077

| source = {{cite news|title=Purdue Beats Illini: 23 to 9 Loss 6th of Season for Illinois|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|author=Maurice Shevlin|date=November 5, 1961|page=1, 2 (part 2)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-purdue-beats-illini-23/153685586/|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 11

| w/l = l

| opponent = Michigan

| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 6–38

| attend = 40,179

| source = {{cite news|title=Oh Brother! -- M Clobbers Illini, 38-6|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|author=Lyall Smith|date=November 12, 1961|pages=D1, D3|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15579792/oh_brother_m_clobbers_illini_386/|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 18

| w/l = l

| away = y

| opponent = Wisconsin

| site_stadium = Camp Randall Stadium

| site_cityst = Madison, WI

| score = 7–55

| attend = 45,122

| source = {{cite news|title=Wisconsin Crushes Illinois, 55-7: Richter Leads the Way in Record-Setting Spree|newspaper=Wisconsin State Journal|author=Monte McCormick|date=November 19, 1961|pages=1, 4 (section 3)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-wisconsin-crushe/153713017/|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 25

| w/l = l

| away = y

| opponent = Michigan State

| opprank = 8

| site_stadium = Spartan Stadium

| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI

| score = 7–34

| attend = 38,344

| source = {{cite news|title=Spartans Outclass Illinois, 34 to 7|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|author=George S. Alderton|date=November 26, 1961|pages=57, 58|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-spartans-outclass/153016430/|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

}}

The 1961 Illini gained an average of only 175.3 yards per game, consisting of 105.0 rushing yards and 70.3 passing yards. On defense, the Illini gave up an average of 364.7 yards per game, including 237.6 rushing yards.{{cite web|title=1961 Illinois Fighting Illini Stats|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=S/R College Football|accessdate=August 23, 2024|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/1961.html}}

Dave McGann played little until the final two games, but led the Illini in passing, completing 27 of 49 for 269 yards and a .551 completion percentage.{{cite news|title=Al Wheatland Leads Illini With 230 Yards|newspaper=Streator Times-Press|date=November 30, 1961|page=18|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times/153924662/|via=Newspapers.com}} The other leading passers were Mel Romani (16-for-47, 174 yards), and Paul Golaszewski (11-for-33, 94 yards).

The rushing leaders were Al Wheatland (230 yards, 73 carries, 3.2-yard average), Ron Fearn (219 yards, 55 carries, 4.0-yard average), and Ken Zimmerman (185 yards, 50 carries, 3.7-yard average).

The receiving leaders were ends Dick Newell (16 receptions, 184 yards) and Gary Hembrough (16 receptions, 170 yards).

Doug Mills handled punting for the Illini, punting 54 times for a 37.1-yard average.

No Illinois players were named to the 1961 All-America college football team. Senior guard and middle linebacker Tony Parilli was selected by the United Press International as a first-team player, and by the Associated Press (AP) as a second-team player, on the 1961 All-Big Ten Conference football team.{{cite news|title=Stephens Unanimous Choice on Big Ten|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=November 28, 1961|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=19611127&id=zm0xAAAAIBAJ&sjid=G2wDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7127,5722758}}{{cite news|title=Saimes and MacRae Selected on All-Big Ten Football Team|newspaper=The Holland, Michigan, Evening Sentinel|date=November 29, 1961|page=16|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/15943497/?terms=stephens%2B%2Bferguson%2Bsaimes%2Bcoaches}} Parrilli was also selected by his teammates as the most valuable player on the 1961 Illinois team. Tackle Gary Brown was the 1961 team captain.{{cite news|title=Parrilli MVP: Honor Illinois Gridders|newspaper=The Daily Illini|date=November 28, 1961|page=1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-illini-parrilli-mvp-honor-ill/153917447/|via=Newspapers.com}}

The following 38 players received varsity letters for their roles on the 1961 Illinois football team:

{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}

• Neal Anderson (#60), guard, sophomore
• Gary Brown (#79), tackle and captain, senior, 228 pounds
• Dick Cast, guard, senior, 219 pounds
• Ken Chalcraft, senior
• Bob Cravens, sophomore
• Dick Deller (#63), guard, sophomore
• Chuck Dickerson, tackle, junior
• Mike Dundy (#41), halfback, sophomore
• Bob Easter, sophomore
• Ron Fearn (#11), quarterback, sophomore
• Todd Gabbett, sophomore
• Glenn Glauser, fullback, junior
• Paul Golaszewski, back, senior
• Denny Gould, fullback and center, senior
• Gary Hembrough (#86), end, senior, 208 pounds
• John Kruze, center, senior
• Frank Lollino, guard, senior
• Tom McCullum (#24), halfback, sophomore, 158 pounds
• Dave McGann, quarterback, senior
• Doug Mills, senior
• Joe Mota, fullback, senior
• Pat Murphy (#75), tackle, 214 pounds
• Dick Newell (#81), end, senior, 173 pounds
• Ron O'Neal, junior
• Jerry Parola, halfback, senior
• Tony Parrilli (#65), guard and middle linebacker, senior
• Bill Pasko, end, sophomore
• Jim Plankenhorn, kicker, junior
• Mel Romani (#10), defensive quarterback,{{cite news|title=Mel Romani Benched by Stomach Flu|newspaper=The News-Democrat of Belleville|date=September 6, 1961|page=11|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-belleville-news-democrat-mel-romani/153905005/|via=Newspapers.com}} senior, 177 pounds
• Bob Scharbert, tackle, junior
• Mike Summers (#30), halfback/fullback, sophomore
• Steve Thomas, end, senior
• Thurman Walker (#83), end, junior
• Al Wheatland (#46), fullback, sophomore, 197 pounds
• Stan Yukevich (#53), center, senior 219 pounds
• Tony Zeppetella (#64), guard, senior, 208 pounds
• Ken Zimmerman (#20), halfback, junior, 178 pounds
• Cecil Young, halfback, sophomore

{{Div col end}}

• Head coach - Pete Elliott
• Assistant coaches - Bob Herndon (freshman coach), Gene Stauber (defensive backfield coach), Burt Ingwersen, Bill Taylor (ends coach), Buck McPhail (backfield coach), Dee Andros (line coach), Lou Baker, Ralph Fletcher, Bill TateThe Illio 1962, p. 223.

{{Reflist}}

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