1961 Memphis State Tigers football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1961
| team = Memphis State Tigers
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Independent
| record = 8–2
| head_coach = Billy J. Murphy
| hc_year = 4th
| captain = Don Coffey
| captain2 = Jack Carter
| stadium = Crump Stadium
}}
{{1961 Southern college football independents records}}
The 1961 Memphis State Tigers football team was an American football team that represented Memphis State College (now known as the University of Memphis) as an independent during the 1961 college football season. In its fourth season under head coach Billy J. Murphy, the Tigers compiled an 8–2 record and outscored opponents by a total of 332 to 75.{{cite web|title=1961 Memphis Tigers Schedule and Results|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|accessdate=August 15, 2020|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/memphis/1961-schedule.html}}{{cite web|title=Memphis Football 2019 Media Guide|publisher=University of Memphis|page=270|accessdate=August 15, 2020|url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/gotigersgo.com/documents/2019/7/24/19_Memphis_FB_Media_Guide_Website.pdf}}
The team's statistical leaders included James Earl Wright with 604 passing yards, fullback Dave Casinelli with 646 rushing yards and 54 points scored, and Don Coffey with 312 receiving yards.{{cite web|title=1961 Memphis Tigers Stats|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|accessdate=August 15, 2020|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/memphis/1961.html}} Coffey and Jack Carter were the team captains.
The team played its home games at Crump Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee.
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| attend = y
| source = y
|September 16||The Citadel|Crump Stadium|Memphis, TN|W 40-0|17,345|{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/tulsa-world-power-trickery-of-memphis-s/139124843/|work=Tulsa World|title=Power, trickery of Memphis State rips Citadel, 40–0|date=September 17, 1961|accessdate=January 19, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
|September 23|at|Tulsa|Skelly Stadium|Tulsa, OK|W 48-12|15,252|
|September 30||Hardin–Simmons|Crump Stadium|Memphis, TN|W 56-0|10,000|{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-commercial-appeal-memphis-state-is-p/169815592/|newspaper=The Commercial Appeal|title=Memphis State is praised by Hardin–Simmons coach|date=October 1, 1961|accessdate=April 7, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}
|October 7|at|Louisville|Cardinal Stadium|Louisville, KY (rivalry)|W 28-13|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||Mississippi Southern|Crump Stadium|Memphis, TN (Black and Blue Bowl)|W 21-7|22,119|{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74601956/wright-leads-memphis-state-past-southern|work=The Tennessean|title=Wright leads Memphis State past Southern|date=October 15, 1961|accessdate=March 28, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
|October 21||{{cfb link|year=1961|team=Abilene Christian Wildcats|title=Abilene Christian}}
|October 28||Mississippi State|Crump Stadium|Memphis, TN|L 16-23|30,092|{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-bulldogs-too-tough-f/133300877/|work=The Birmingham News|title=Bulldogs too tough for Memphis State|date=October 29, 1961|accessdate=October 11, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}
|November 4||Furman|Crump Stadium|Memphis, TN|L 6-7|6,036|{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109625615/furman-pulls-big-upset-at-memphis/|work=The Montgomery Advertiser|title=Furman pulls big upset at Memphis|date=November 5, 1961|accessdate=September 15, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}
|November 11||North Texas State|Crump Stadium|Memphis, TN|W 41-0|6,921|{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88233760/tigers-are-back-on-winning-way-victors/|work=The Commercial Appeal|title=Tigers are back on winning way, Victors by 41–0|date=November 11, 1961|accessdate=November 2, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
|November 23|at|Chattanooga|Chamberlain Field|Chattanooga, TN|W 41-13||{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85112343/jack-carter-powers-tigers-past-mocs/|work=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|title=Jack Carter powers Tigers past Mocs|date=November 24, 1961|accessdate=September 10, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}