1961 South Dakota Coyotes football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1961
| team = South Dakota Coyotes
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = North Central Conference
| short_conf = NCC
| record = 1–8
| conf_record = 0–6
| head_coach = Ralph Stewart
| hc_year = 6th
| captain =
| stadium = Inman Field
}}
{{1961 North Central Conference football standings}}
The 1961 South Dakota Coyotes football team was an American football team that represented the University of South Dakota in the North Central Conference (NCC) during the 1961 college football season. In its sixth season under head coach Ralph Stewart, the team compiled a 1–8 record (0–6 against NCC opponents), finished in seventh place out of seven teams in the NCC, and was outscored by a total of 245 to 126. In the final game of the season, the Coyotes snapped an 11-game losing streak dating back to October 29, 1960.{{cite web|title=2017 Coyote Football Media Guide|publisher=University of South Dakota |year=2017|page=49|url=https://issuu.com/sdcoyotes/docs/2017_fbmediasupplement}} The team played its home games at Inman Field in Vermillion, South Dakota.
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| attend = y
| source = y
|September 16||Arkansas State
|September 23|at|North Dakota State|Dacotah Field|Fargo, ND|L 12-41||{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86578582/nd-state-beats-usd-in-4112-tilt/|work=Argus-Leader|title=N.D. State beats USD in 41–12 tilt|date=September 24, 1961|accessdate=October 5, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
|September 30||{{cfb link|year=1961|team=Augustana (South Dakota) Vikings|title=Augustana (SD)}}|Inman Field|Vermillion, SD|L 20-22|4,000|{{cite news|title=Augustana Edges Coyotes 22-20|newspaper=Rapid City Journal|date=October 1, 1961|page=33|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95266206/augustana-edges-coyotes-22-20/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|October 7||North Dakota|Inman Field|Vermillion, SD (rivalry)|L 7-21|2,000–3,000|{{cite news|title=Sioux Trim Coyotes 21-7|newspaper=Argus-Leader|date=October 8, 1961|page=1D|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95122298/sioux-trim-coyotes-21-7/|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite web |author= |title=Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics |url=https://stats.ncaa.org/team/494/stats/12865 |publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association |access-date=October 15, 2022 }}
|October 14||{{cfb link|year=1961|team=Morningside Maroon Chiefs|title=Morningside}}|Inman Field|Vermillion, SD (Dakota Day)|L 12-27|7,500|{{cite news|title=Chiefs Spill Coyotes Again, 27-12|newspaper=Sioux City Journal|author=Alex Stoddard|date=October 15, 1961|pages=D1, D3|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95265846/chiefs-spill-coyotes-again-27-12/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|October 21|at|South Dakota State||Brookings, SD (rivalry, Hobo Day)|L 6-34|5,000–7,500|{{cite news|title=SDSC Socks Coyotes|newspaper=Argus-Leader|author=Craig Stolze|date=October 22, 1961|pages=1D, 4D|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95266890/sdsc-socks-coyotes/|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite web |author= |title=Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics |url=https://stats.ncaa.org/team/649/stats/12865 |publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association |access-date=October 15, 2022 }}
|October 27||{{cfb link|year=1961|team=Saint Mary Spires|title=Saint Mary (KS)}}|Inman Field|Vermillion, SD|L 37-38|3,000|{{cite news|title=Coyotes Lose 38-37 Thriller|newspaper=Argus-Leader|date=October 28, 1961|page=3|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95265516/coyotes-lose-38-37-thriller/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|November 4|at|State College of Iowa|O. R. Latham Stadium|Cedar Falls, IA|L 7-27||{{cite news|title=SCI Clinches Title Tie 27-7|newspaper=Waterloo Sunday Courier|date=November 5, 1961|page=41|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95265166/sci-clinches-title-tie-27-7/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|November 11|at|Colorado State–Greeley
}}
{{cite web |author= |title=Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics |url=https://stats.ncaa.org/team/650/stats/12865 |publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association |access-date=October 15, 2022 }}