1961 Maryland Terrapins football team

{{CFB schedule

| rankyear = 1961

| poll = AP

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 23

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| opponent = SMU

| site_stadium = Cotton Bowl

| site_cityst = Dallas, TX

| score = 14–6

| attend = 17,000

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-terps-stymie-la/139133344/|work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|title=Terps stymie late SMU drives, post 14–6 victory|date=September 24, 1961|accessdate=January 19, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 30

| w/l = w

| away = y

| opponent = Clemson

| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Clemson, SC

| score = 24–21

| attend = 28,000

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/tampa-bay-times-terps-late-fg-shades-cl/139133461/|work=St. Petersburg Times|title=Terps' late FG shades Clemson 24–21|date=October 1, 1961|accessdate=January 19, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 7

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| opponent = Syracuse

| opprank = 7

| site_stadium = Byrd Stadium

| site_cityst = College Park, MD

| score = 22–21

| attend = 35,000

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-call-maryland-nips-orange/139133594/|work=Sunday Call-Chronicle|title=Maryland nips Orange|date=October 8, 1961|accessdate=January 19, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 14

| w/l = l

| rank = 10

| opponent = North Carolina

| site_stadium = Byrd Stadium

| site_cityst = College Park, MD

| score = 8–14

| attend = 23,000

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/kingsport-times-news-terps-take-first-lo/139133708/|work=Kingsport Times-News|title=Terps take first loss|date=October 15, 1961|accessdate=January 19, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 21

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| opponent = Air Force

| site_stadium = DU Stadium

| site_cityst = Denver, CO

| score = 21–0

| attend = 21,500

| source = {{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PwozAAAAIBAJ&sjid=w-cDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6598%2C2115057 |work=Spokesman-Review |agency=Associated Press |title=Terps whip Aircad, bowl hopes raised |date=October 22, 1961 |page=8, sports}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 28

| w/l = l

| away = y

| opponent = South Carolina

| site_stadium = Carolina Stadium

| site_cityst = Columbia, SC

| score = 10–20

| attend = 19,000

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/winston-salem-journal-south-carolina-sur/139133812/|work=Winston-Salem Journal & Sentinel|title=South Carolina surprises Maryland with 20–10 win|date=October 29, 1961|accessdate=January 19, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 4

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| opponent = Penn State

| site_stadium = Byrd Stadium

| site_cityst = College Park, MD

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 21–17

| attend = 39,000

| source = {{cite news|title=Maryland Triumphs, 21-17: Terps Whip Penn State After Building Up 21-6 Halftime Lead|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|author=W. Lawrence Null|date=November 5, 1961|pages=1, 2 (sports)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-maryland-triumphs-21/153643204/|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-knoxville-news-sentinel-terps-score/139133995/|work=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|title=Terps score fast, hang on to upset Penn State, 21–17|date=November 5, 1961|accessdate=January 19, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 11

| w/l = w

| opponent = NC State

| site_stadium = Byrd Stadium

| site_cityst = College Park, MD

| score = 10–7

| attend = 25,000

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/asheville-citizen-times/28939182/|work=Asheville Citizen-Times|title=Maryland edges Wolfpack, 10–7|date=November 12, 1961|accessdate=January 19, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 18

| w/l = w

| opponent = Wake Forest

| site_stadium = Byrd Stadium

| site_cityst = College Park, MD

| score = 10–7

| attend = 24,000

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-press-wake-forest-fritters-away/139134217/|work=Daily Press|title=Wake Forest 'fritters' away tilt, loses to Terrapins by 10–7 score|date=November 19, 1961|accessdate=January 19, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 25

| w/l = l

| away = y

| opponent = Virginia

| site_stadium = Scott Stadium

| site_cityst = Charlottesville, VA

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 16–28

| attend = 19,000

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/florence-morning-news-virginia-apparentl/139134330/|work=Florence Morning News|title=Virginia apparently knocks Maryland out of a bowl, 28–16|date=November 26, 1961|accessdate=January 19, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

}}

File:Gary Collins FB.jpg]]

The 1961 Terrapins gained an average of 146.4 passing yards and 123.1 rushing yards per game. On defense, they gave up an average of 97.2 passing yards and 161.5 rushing yards per game.

Quarterback Dick Shiner led the team on offense, completing 58 of 111 passes (52.3%) for 921 yards with seven touchdowns, eleven interceptions, and a 122.9 quarterback rating. Shiner also had 101 rushing yards and ranked third in the ACC with 1,022 yards of total offense.{{cite news|title=Gabriel Edges North Carolina's Farris In A.C.C. Total Offense|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|date=December 7, 1961|page=40|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun/154287776/|via=Newspapers.com}} Quarterback Dick Novak added 487 passing yards (55-for-99). Novak also rushed for 187 yards and ranked eighth in the ACC with 674 yards of total offense.

The team's rushing leaders were Ernie Arizzi (369 yards on 78 carries, 4.7-yard average), Dennis Condie (236 yards on 68 carries, 3.5-yard average), and Dick Novak (187 yards on 50 carries, 3.7-yard average).

Maryland's All-American end Gary Collins led the team in receiving with 30 catches for 428 yards, a 14.3-yard average. The team's other leading receivers were Tom Brown (11 receptions, 232 yards, 21.1-yard average), Henry Poniatowski (15 receptions, 212 yards, 14.1-yard average), and Murnis Banner (7 receptions, 123 yards, 17.6-yard average).{{cite web|title=1961 Maryland Terrapins Stats|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|access-date=June 17, 2016|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/maryland/1961.html}}

Maryland end Gary Collins was a consensus pick on the 1962 All-America football team, receiving first-team honors from the American Football Coaches Association, Associated Press (AP), United Press International (UPI), Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Newspaper Enterprise Association, Sporting News, and Time magazine, among others. Collins was drafted by the Cleveland Browns with the fourth overall pick in the first round of the 1962 NFL Draft and played 10 years with the Browns, earning All-Pro honors three times and being selected as the most valuable player of the 1964 NFL Championship Game.

Four Maryland players received honors from the AP, UPI, or Atlantic Coast Sports Writers Association (ACSWA) on the 1961 All-Atlantic Coast Conference football team: Gary Collins at end (AP-1, UPI-1, ACSWA-1); center Bob Hacker (AP-1, ACSWA-1); tackle Roger Shoals (AP-2, UPI-2); and guard Bill Kirchiro (AP-2, UPI-2).{{cite news|title=Terps' Gary Collins Is All-ACC Lineman; Gabriel of NC State Chosen|author=Ken Alyta|newspaper=The Morning Herald (MD)|date=November 30, 1961|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3449609/1961_all_acc_football_team/}}{{cite news|title=Gabriel Leads All-ACC Club|newspaper=Statesville Record & Landmark|date=December 1, 1961|page=10|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/statesville-record-and-landmark-gabriel/154308506/|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news|title=Collins Paces Writers' Vote For All-ACC|newspaper=Daily Press|date=December 1, 1961|page=29|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107358076/collins-paces-writers-vote-for-all-acc/|via=Newspapers.com}}

{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}

• Ernie Arizzi - back, sophomore
• Murnis Banner - halfback
• Dick Barlund - end
• Tommy Brown - halfback, sophomore
• Gary Collins - end
• Rex Collins - fullback
• Dennis Condie - halfback, 160 pounds
• Dave Crossan - tackle, 230 pounds
• Jim Davidson - halfback and co-captain
• Pat Drass - fullback, senior
• Gene Feher - center
• Bob Hacker - center and co-captain, senior, 6'0", 200 pounds
• Bill Kirchiro - guard, senior, 215 pounds
• Dick Novak - quarterback, senior, 170 pounds
• Henry Poinatowski (or Poniatowski) - end
• Walt Rock - guard
• Tom Sankovich, guard, senior, 200 pounds
• Dick Shiner - quarterback
• Roger Shoals - tackle, junior, 240 pounds

{{Div col end}}

Pat Drass, the first-string fullback, and Don Van Reenam, a reserve eft halfback, were removed from the team on November 7, 1961, for disciplinary reasons related to an "improper attitude with the coaching staff."{{cite news|title=Drass and VanReenan Dropped From Terp Squad|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|date=November 8, 1961|pages=21, 26|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-drass-and-vanreenan-dr/154319385/|via=Newspapers.com}}

• Head coach: Tom Nugent
• Assistant coaches: Lee Corso, Bernie Reid, Frank Toomey, Roland Arrigoni, Alf Satterfield, Bill Dovell, Carroll Huntress{{cite book|title=The Terrapin|year=1962|page=305|url=https://archive.org/details/terrapinyearbook1962univ/page/305/mode/1up}}
• Athletic director: William W. Cobey{{cite book|title=The Terrapin|year=1962|page=304|url=https://archive.org/details/terrapinyearbook1962univ/page/305/mode/1up}}
• Head trainer: Alfred J. Wyre

{{Reflist}}

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