1961 Louisville Cardinals football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1961
| team = Louisville Cardinals
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Independent
| record = 6–3
| head_coach = Frank Camp
| hc_year = 16th
| captain =
| stadium = Fairgrounds Stadium
}}
{{1961 Southern college football independents records}}
The 1961 Louisville Cardinals football team was an American football team that represented the University of Louisville as an independent during the 1961 college football season. In their 16th season under head coach Frank Camp, the Cardinals compiled a 6–3 record and outscored opponents by a total of 180 to 92.{{cite web|title=2019 Louisville Cardinals Football Media Guide|publisher=University of Louisville|year=2019|url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/gocards.com/documents/2019/8/1/2019_UofL_Football_Media_Guide.pdf|page=153|accessdate=March 29, 2020}} Quarterback Johnny Giles set a new school record with 1,346 yards of total offense during the 1961 season.
The team played its home games at Fairgrounds Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky.
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| attend = y
| source = y
|September 16||{{cfb link|year=1961|team=Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles|title=Tennessee Tech}}|Fairgrounds Stadium|Louisville, KY|W 29–13|6,148|
|September 22|at|{{cfb link|year=1961|team=Eastern Kentucky Maroons|title=Eastern Kentucky}}||Richmond, KY|W 33–6|4,000|
|September 30||Marshall|Fairgrounds Stadium|Louisville, KY|W 32–6|3,126 or 3,162|{{cite news|title=Giles Warms To Task, Hurls 4 T.D.'s To Tie Unitas Mark In 32-6 U.L. Rout|newspaper=The Courier-Journal|author=Johnny Carrico|date=October 1, 1961|pages=1, 5 (section 2)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-giles-warms-to-task/153439774/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|October 7||Memphis State|Fairgrounds Stadium|Louisville, KY (rivalry)|L 13–28|11,332|{{cite news|title=U. of L. Slows Memphis St., Falls 28 To 13|newspaper=The Courier-Journal|author=Johnny Carrico|date=October 8, 1961|pages=1, 5 (sports)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-u-of-l-slows-memph/153442025/}}
|October 14||Dayton|Fairgrounds Stadium|Louisville, KY|L 6–7|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||Western Kentucky|Fairgrounds Stadium|Louisville, KY|W 20–0|4,825|
|November 4|at|Xavier|Xavier Stadium|Cincinnati, OH|L 8–16|4,532|{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/messenger-inquirer-xavier-wins-12th-stra/124370732/|work=Messenger-Inquirer|title=Xavier wins 12th straight contest from Louisville|date=November 5, 1961|accessdate=May 10, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}
|November 11|at|Kent State|Memorial Stadium|Kent, OH|W 19–15|4,000|{{cite news|title=Kent Loses 6th Straight, 19 to 15|newspaper=The Plain Dealer|author=Andy Palich|date=November 12, 1961|page=6C|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-kent-loses-6th-straight/153441779/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|November 18|at|North Texas State|Fouts Field|Denton, TX|W 20–0|4,000|{{cite news|title=Cardinals clip Eagles by 20–0|newspaper=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|date=November 19, 1961|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88233988/cardinals-clip-eagles-by-200/|accessdate=November 2, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
{{cite web |author= |title=Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Louisville) |url=https://stats.ncaa.org/team/367/stats/12865 |publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association |access-date=December 20, 2022 }}
Statistics
The Cardinals tallied 2,987 yards of total offense (332 yards per game), consisting of 1,770 rushing yards (196 yards per game) and 1,217 passing yards (135 yards per game). On defense, they held opponents to 1,835 yards of total offense (204 yards per game) with 1,109 rushing yards and 726 passing yards.
Junior quarterback Johnny Giles set a new Louisville single-season record with 1,346 yards of total offense, including 1,209 passing yards.{{cite news|title=Giles Total Yardage Adds Up To 13 T.D.'s...He Got None!|newspaper=The Courier-Journal|author=Johnny Carrico|date=November 20, 1961|page=8 (sports)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-giles-total-yardage/153440440/|via=Newspapers.com}} His total offense mark ranked eight among the nation's small college players during the 1961 season.{{cite news|title=U.L.'s Giles Eighth In Total Offense|newspaper=The Courier-Journal|date=December 10, 1961|page=10|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-giles/153440841/|via=Newspapers.com}} Giles also tied Johnny Unitas' Louisville single-game record with four touchdown passes in a victory over Marshall.
Junior end Don Hockensmith and junior halfback Lee Calland tied as the team's leading scorers with 36 points each. They were followed by Ernie Green with 32 points and Tanny Phelps with 30.
The team's rushing leaders were Lee Calland with (600 yards, 108 carries) and Ernie Green (397 yards, 87 carries).
The team's receiving leaders were Don Hockensmith (20 receptions, 392 yards) and Lee Calland (16 receptions, 223 yards).