1961 North Texas State Eagles football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1961
| team = North Texas State Eagles
| sport = football
| image = 1961 North Texas Eagles football team.png
| image_size = 285
| caption = 1961 North Texas team portrait from The Yucca yearbook
| conference = Missouri Valley Conference
| short_conf = MVC
| record = 5–4–1
| conf_record = 1–2
| head_coach = Odus Mitchell
| hc_year = 16th
| captain =
| stadium = Fouts Field
}}
{{1961 Missouri Valley Conference football standings}}
The 1961 North Texas State Eagles football team was an American football team that represented North Texas State University (now known as the University of North Texas) during the 1961 college football season as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC). In their 16th year under head coach Odus Mitchell, the Eagles compiled a 5–4–1 record (1–2 in conference games), finished in a three-way tie for second place out of four teams in the MVC, and were outscored by a total of 206 to 162.{{cite web|title=1961 North Texas Mean Green Schedule and Results|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|accessdate=September 15, 2024|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/north-texas/1961-schedule.html|via=Newspapers.com}}
Sophomore halfback Bobby Smith led the team in both rushing (541 yards) and scoring (42 points). Smith and right halfback Billy Christle were among the first African-American players to play for a historically-white Southern football team; both received first-team honors on the 1961 All-Missouri Valley Conference football team.
The team played its home games at Fouts Field in Denton, Texas.
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 1961
| poll = AP
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 23
| w/l = w
| away = y
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Hardin–Simmons
| site_stadium = Public Schools Stadium
| site_cityst = Abilene, TX
| score = 9–7
| attend = 4,000
| source = {{cite news|title=North Texas edges Pokes on FG, 9–7|newspaper=Abilene Reporter-News|date=September 24, 1961|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88232187/north-texas-edges-pokes-on-fg-97/|accessdate=November 2, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 30
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| opponent = BYU
| site_stadium = Fouts Field
| site_cityst = Denton, TX
| score = 41–30
| attend = 8,000
| source = {{cite news|title=Eagles claw Cougars|newspaper=The Daily Herald|date=October 1, 1961|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88232470/eagles-claw-cougars/|accessdate=November 2, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 7
| w/l = t
| nonconf = y
| opponent = New Mexico State
| site_stadium = Fouts Field
| site_cityst = Denton, TX
| score = 14–14
| attend = 8,000
| source = {{cite news|title=Aggies, Eagles tie at 14–14: All scoring in first half for deadlock|newspaper=Las Cruces Sun-News|date=October 8, 1961|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17350753/aggies_eagles_tie_at_1414_all/|accessdate=November 2, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 14
| w/l = l
| opponent = Wichita
| site_stadium = Fouts Field
| site_cityst = Denton, TX
| score = 14–26
| attend = 5,000
| source = {{cite news|title=Wichita tromps North Texas 24–14; Keeps conference lead|newspaper=Great Bend Tribune|date=October 15, 1961|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88232870/wichita-tromps-north-texas-2414-keeps/|accessdate=November 2, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date= October 21
| w/l = w
| opponent = Tulsa
| site_stadium = Fouts Field
| site_cityst= Denton, TX
| score = 23–12
| attend = 15,000
| source = {{cite news|title=North Texas jolts Tulsa|newspaper=The Norman Transcript|date=October 22, 1961|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88233100/north-texas-jolts-tulsa/|accessdate=November 2, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 28
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = Cincinnati
| site_stadium = Nippert Stadium
| site_cityst = Cincinnati, OH
| score = 9–21
| attend =
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88233289/cincinnati-trips-north-texas-219/|work=The Spokesman-Review|title=Cincinnati trips North Texas, 21–9|date=October 29, 1961|accessdate=November 2, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 4
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Drake
| site_stadium = Fouts Field
| site_cityst = Denton, TX
| score = 28–21
| attend = 5,000–8,000
| source = {{cite news|title=Drake fails, 28–21, after two rallies|newspaper=The Des Moines Register|date=November 5, 1961|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88233533/drake-fails-2821-after-two-rallies/|accessdate=November 2, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news|title=Eagles claw Cougars|newspaper=The Daily Herald|date=October 1, 1961|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88232470/eagles-claw-cougars/|accessdate=November 2, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite web |author= |title=Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Drake) |url=https://stats.ncaa.org/team/189/stats/12865 |publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association |access-date=July 19, 2024 }}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 11
| w/l = l
| away = y
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Memphis State
| site_stadium = Crump Stadium
| site_cityst = Memphis, TN
| score = 0–41
| attend = 6,921
| source = {{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}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 18
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Louisville
| site_stadium = Fouts Field
| site_cityst = Denton, TX
| score = 0–20
| attend =
| source = {{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 |url=https://stats.ncaa.org/team/367/stats/12865 |publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association |access-date=December 20, 2022 }}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 25
| w/l = w
| away = y
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Texas Western
| site_stadium = Kidd Field
| site_cityst = El Paso, TX
| score = 24–14
| attend = 4,000
| source = {{cite news|title=North Texas nips Miners by 24–14|newspaper=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|date=November 26, 1961|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88234361/north-texas-nips-miners-by-2414/|accessdate=November 2, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
}}
Statistics
The 1961 North Texas team tallied 210.9 rushing yards and 33.5 passing yards per game. On defense, the team allowed opponents an average of 171.7 rushing yards and 118.0 passing yards per game.
Sophomore halfback Bobby Smith led both the team and the MVC with 541 rushing yards on 120 carries for an average of 4.5 yards per carry.{{cite news|title=Cincy Votes Smith Best Of Opponents|newspaper=Denton Record-Chronicle|date=December 6, 1961|page=1 (section 2)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/denton-record-chronicle-cincy-votes-smit/155369098/|via=Newspapers.com}} Smith also led North Texas State in scoring with 42 points scored on seven touchdowns.
File:Billy Christle and Bobby Smith.png receive all-conference honors]]
Another halfback, Billy Christle, ranked second on the team in rushing with 524 yards on 98 carries for a 5.3-yard average. Smith and Christle were among the early African-Americans to play for North Texas, which became the first racially integrated football program in Texas two years earlier.{{cite web|title=Fouts Field Tribute|publisher=North Texan|url=https://northtexan.unt.edu/issues/fouts-field-tribute|accessdate=September 15, 2024}}
Quarterback Billy Ryan completed 20 of 50 passes (40.0%) for 179 passing yards for no touchdowns, two interceptions, and a 62.1 quarterback rating. End Mike Pirkle was the team's leading receiver with 72 receiving yards on four catches.{{cite web|title=1961 North Texas Mean Green Stats|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|accessdate=September 15, 2024|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/north-texas/1961.html|via=Newspapers.com}}
Awards and honors
Halfbacks Bobby Smith and Billy Christle received first-team honors on the 1961 All-Missouri Valley Conference football team.{{cite news|title=Wichita Dominates All-Missouri Valley Conference Team|newspaper=Seminole Producer|date=November 28, 1961|page=6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/seminole-producer-wichita-dominates-all/155335784/|via=Newspapers.com}} Tackle Bill Kirbie, guard Billy Weaver, and fullback Arthur Perkins were named to the second team. Tackles Gerry Hawkins and Richard Farris and end Mike Pirkle received honorable mention.The Yucca 1962 (North Texas State University yearbook), p. 172.
Tackle Bill Kirbie and guard Billy Weaver were selected as the co-captains.
Coaches
Head coach Odus Mitchell won his 100th game in the final game of the 1961 season. His assistant coaches were Fred McCain (backfield), Herb Ferrill (line), and Ken Bahnsen.The Yucca 1962 (North Texas State University yearbook), p. 171.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{North Texas Mean Green football navbox}}