1961 Washington and Lee Generals football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1961
| team = Washington and Lee Generals
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Independent
| record = 9–0
| head_coach = Lee McLaughlin
| hc_year = 5th
| captain = Barton Dick
| stadium = Wilson Field
}}
{{1961 Southern college football independents records}}
The 1961 Washington and Lee Generals football team was an American football team that represented the Washington and Lee University as an independent during the 1961 college football season. In their fifth year under head coach Lee McLaughlin, the Generals compiled a perfect 9–0 record, held seven opponents to fewer than seven points, and outscored all opponents by a total of 297 to 44.{{cite web|title=1961 Football Schedule|publisher=Washington and Lee Generals Athletics|access-date=February 9, 2024|url=https://generalssports.com/sports/football/schedule/1961}} It was their first perfect season since the 1914 team went 9–0.{{cite news|title=What Made Generals Tick|newspaper=The Richmond News-Leader|date=November 30, 1961|page=61|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-richmond-news-leader-what-made-gener/140585976/|via=Newspapers.com}} At the end of the season, the team received the Timmie Trophy as the outstanding small college football team in the country. The team was inducted in 2008 into the Washington and Lee Hall of Fame.{{cite web|title=1961 Football Team|publisher=Washington and Lee Generals Athletics|access-date=February 9, 2024|url=https://generalssports.com/honors/hall-of-fame/1961-football-team/54}}
In November 1961, Sports Illustrated published a profile on the team, noting: "At Washington and Lee football is strictly amateur. No athletic scholarships are given, nor have any been given for the past seven years, a decision which at the time it was taken brought screams of protest from ardent alumni. But this year's team, made up purely of students who play football rather than football players who study, is proving that winning football on an unsubsidized basis can be as much fun to play and as exciting to watch as any football anywhere."{{cite news|title=A Sport for Gentlemen: At Washington and Lee University, Deep in the Heart of the Confederacy, Football Is a Winning Game Even Though It Is Played Purely for Fun|publisher=Sports Illustrated|author=James Drake|date=November 6, 1961|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1961/11/06/a-sport-for-gentlemen}}
The team was led on defense by linebacker Terry Fohs. Fohs received second-team honors on the 1961 Little All-America college football team.{{cite news|title=Annual Little All-Americans -- Small College Stars Selected|newspaper=The Shreveport Journal|author=Harold Claassen|date=December 6, 1961|page=17|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88758261/annual-little-all-americans-small/|via=Newspapers.com}}
On offense, Charlie Gummey and Doug Martin led the team in scoring with 54 points each.{{cite news|title=Earl Stoudt No 1 Scorer In State College Football|newspaper=The Register (Danville, VA)|date=November 28, 1961|page=4B|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/danville-register-and-bee-earl-stoudt/140586311/|via=Newspapers.com}}
The team played its home games at Wilson Field in Lexington, Virginia.
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| attend = y
| source = y
|September 23||{{cfb link|year=1961|team=Hampden–Sydney Tigers|title=Hampden–Sydney}}|Wilson Field|Lexington, VA|W 7-6|3,000|{{cite news|title=W&L Scrambles from Behind to Win, 7-6|newspaper=Staunton News-Leader|date=September 24, 1961|page=13|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-news-leader-wl-scrambles-from/140586774/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|October 7|at|{{cfb link|year=1961|team=Franklin & Marshall Diplomats|title=Franklin & Marshall}}||Lancaster, PA|W 40-0|3,000|{{cite news|title=W&L Routs F&M 40-0|newspaper=The Sunday News (Lancaster, PA)|author=George Kirchner|date=October 8, 1961|pages=42, 44|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-news-wl-routs-fm-40-0/140592279/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|October 14||{{cfb link|year=1961|team=Randolph–Macon Yellow Jackets|title=Randolph–Macon}}
|October 21|at|{{cfb link|year=1961|team=Johns Hopkins Blue Jays|title=Johns Hopkins}}|Homewood Field|Baltimore, MD|W 38-6|137|{{cite news|title=W. & L. Takes Advantage Of Poor Kicking To Whip Hopkins, 38-6|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|author=Alan Goldstein|date=October 22, 1961|page=6D|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-w-l-takes-advantag/140591347/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|October 28||{{cfb link|year=1961|team=Emory and Henry Wasps|title=Emory and Henry}}||Lexington, VA|W 27-6|4,500–6,000|{{cite news|title=Washington and Lee Defeats Wasps, 27-6|newspaper=Staunton News-Leader|date=October 29, 1961|page=12|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-news-leader-washington-and-lee/140588637/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|November 4|at|{{cfb link|year=1961|team=Centre Colonels|title=Centre}}|Farris Stadium|Danville, KY|W 53-0|2,000|{{cite news|title=Undefeated W&L Runs Strea To 15 As Centre Falls|newspaper=Kentucky Advocate|author=Jim Perkins|date=November 5, 1961|page=8|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-advocate-messenger-undefeated-wl-ru/140587211/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|November 11|at|Sewanee|Hardee Field|Sewanee, TN|W 26-6|2,500|{{cite news|title=Generals Stop Sewanee for 11th In Row|newspaper=The Nashville Tennessean|author=Tom Powell|date=November 12, 1961|page=4D|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-generals-stop-sewanee-for/140589831/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|November 18||{{cfb link|year=1961|team=Frederick Lions|title=Frederick}}|Wilson Field|Lexington, VA|w 30-0|2,500|{{cite news|title=Generals Keep Rolling, Blast Frederick, 30-0; Unbeaten Skein Now 18|newspaper=Daily Press|author=Charles Via|date=November 19, 1961|page=4C|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-press-generals-keep-rolling-blast/140589427/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|November 23|at|{{cfb link|year=1961|team=Washington University Bears|title=Washington University}}|Francis Field|St. Louis, MO|W 33-20|2,500|{{cite news|title=Generals Rally To Defeat W.U.|newspaper=St. Louis Globe-Democrat|date=November 24, 1961|page=2B|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-globe-democrat-generals-rally/140585303/|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news|title=Generals Nip Bears To Finish Unbeaten|newspaper=Daily Press|date=November 24, 1961|page=36|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-press-generals-nip-bears-to-finish/140585633/|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
{{cite web |author= |title=Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics |url=https://stats.ncaa.org/team/752/stats/12865 |publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association |access-date=February 9, 2024 }}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Washington and Lee Generals football navbox}}
Category:Washington and Lee Generals football seasons