1961 New Mexico State Aggies football team

{{Infobox college sports team season

| year = 1961

| team = New Mexico State Aggies

| sport = football

| image =

| image_size =

| conference = Border Conference

| short_conf = Border

| record = 5–4–1

| conf_record = 2–1

| head_coach = Warren B. Woodson

| hc_year = 4th

| captain =

| stadium = Memorial Stadium

}}

The 1961 New Mexico State Aggies football team represented New Mexico State University during the 1961 college football season. In their fourth year under head coach Warren B. Woodson, the Aggies compiled a 5–4–1 record (2–1 against conference opponents) and finished in third place in the Border Conference.{{cite web|title=1961 New Mexico State Aggies Schedule and Results|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|accessdate=February 28, 2016|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/new-mexico-state/1961-schedule.html}}{{cite web|title=1961 Border Intercollegiate Athletic Association Year Summary|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|accessdate=February 28, 2016|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/conferences/border/1961.html}}

The team's statistical leaders included Ron Logback with 796 passing yards, Preacher Pilot with 1,278 rushing yards, and R. Cassell with 519 receiving yards.{{cite web|title=1961 New Mexico State Aggies Stats|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|accessdate=February 28, 2016|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/new-mexico-state/1961.html}} For the third consecutive year, a New Mexico State back won the NCAA rushing title, Pervis Atkins in 1959, Bob Gaiters in 1960, and Preacher Pilot in 1961.

Head coach Warren Woodson was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.{{Cite web |title=Warren Woodson (1989) - Hall of Fame |url=https://footballfoundation.org/hof_search.aspx?hof=1610 |access-date=2022-07-24 |website=National Football Foundation |language=en}}

Schedule

{{CFB schedule

| attend = y

| source = y

|September 16||Arizona State–Flagstaff|Memorial Stadium|Las Cruces, NM|W 56–6|8,000–8,150|{{cite news|title=Aggies Capture 16th in Row, 56–6: Flagstaff 200th Woodson Victim|newspaper=Albuquerque Journal|date=September 17, 1961|page=D1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17350453/aggies_capture_16th_in_row_566/|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite web |author= |title=Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Arizona State–Flagstaff) |url=https://stats.ncaa.org/team/501/stats/12865 |publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association |access-date=December 22, 2022 }}

|September 23|at|New Mexico|University Stadium|Albuquerque, NM (rivalry)|L 7–41|23,486|{{cite news|title=Lobos Feed Aggies Humble Pie In 41–7 Slaughter: Aggie Win Streak Cut In Duke City|newspaper=Las Cruces Sun-News|author=Abe Perilman|date=September 24, 1961|page=12|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17350624/lobos_feed_aggies_humble_pie_in_417/|via=Newspapers.com}}

|September 30||McMurry|Memorial Stadium|Las Cruces, NM|W 35–7|8,500|{{cite news|title=Aggies Scalp Indians: New Mexico State Romps To 35–7 Win Over McMurry|newspaper=Las Cruces Sun-News|author=Abe Perilman|date=October 1, 1961|page=12|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17350680/aggies_scalp_indians_new_mexico_state/|via=Newspapers.com}}

|October 7|at|North Texas State|Fouts Field|Denton, TX|T 14–14|8,000|{{cite news|title=Aggies, Eagles Tie At 14–14: All Scoring In First Half For Deadlock|newspaper=Las Cruces Sun-News|author=Abe Perilman|date=October 8, 1961|page=12|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17350753/aggies_eagles_tie_at_1414_all/}}

|October 14||Pacific (CA)|Memorial Stadium|Las Cruces, NM|W 70–19|8,200|{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-fresno-bee-nm-state-shocks-uop-tiger/169820325/|work=The Fresno Bee|title=NM State shocks UOP Tigers, 70–19|date=October 15, 1961|accessdate=April 7, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}

|October 21|at|Wichita|Veterans Field|Wichita, KS|L 27–42|11,260|{{cite news|title=Wichita Thrashes Aggies 42–27: Shockers Gain Revenge for '60|newspaper=Las Cruces Sun-News|author=Abe Perilman|date=October 22, 1961|page=10|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17350923/wichita_thrashes_aggies_4227_shockers/|via=Newspapers.com}}

|October 28|at|Texas Western|Kidd Field|El Paso, TX (rivalry)|W 42–6|12,000|{{cite news|title=Aggies Roll Over Miners 42 To 6: Records Fall In Easy NMSU Win Over Texans|newspaper=Las Cruces Sun-News|author=Abe Perilman|date=October 29, 1961|page=12|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17350852/aggies_roll_over_miners_42_to_6/|via=Newspapers.com}}

|November 4|at|{{cfb link|year=1961|team=Trinity Tigers|title=Trinity (TX)}}|Alamo Stadium|San Antonio, TX|L 14–17|1,743|{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/corpus-christi-caller-times-new-mexico-s/169820570/|work=The Corpus Christi Caller-Times|title=New Mexico State upset by Trinity|date=November 5, 1961|accessdate=April 7, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}

|November 18||West Texas State|Memorial Stadium|Las Cruces, NM|L 22–35|7,100|{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/el-paso-times-late-drive-by-west-texas-r/169820794/|work=The El Paso Times|title=Late drive by West Texas ruins Aggie bid for title|date=November 19, 1961|accessdate=April 7, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}

|November 25||Hardin–Simmons|Memorial Stadium|Las Cruces, NM|W 54–8|< 4,000|{{cite news|title=Aggies Stomp Pokes: Pilot Sets Record in 54–8 Victory|newspaper=Las Cruces Sun-News|author=Abe Perilman|date=November 26, 1961|page=16|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17351366/aggies_stomp_pokes_pilot_sets_record/|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

{{cite web |author= |title=Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (New Mexico State) |url=https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/174207 |publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association |access-date=April 7, 2025 }}

References

New Mexico State

Category:New Mexico State Aggies football seasons

New Mexico State Aggies football