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1961 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

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1961 Penn State Nittany Lions football
Lambert Trophy winner
Gator Bowl champion
Gator Bowl, W 30–15 vs. Georgia Tech
ConferenceIndependent
Ranking
CoachesNo. 19
APNo. 17
Record8–3
Head coach
CaptainJim Smith
Home stadiumBeaver Stadium
Seasons
← 1960
1962 →
1961 Eastern college football independents records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Middlebury   –   5 – 1 – 1
Villanova   –   8 – 2 – 0
Southern Connecticut State   –   7 – 2 – 0
Alfred   –   6 – 2 – 0
Montclair State   –   6 – 2 – 0
Delaware Valley   –   6 – 2 – 0
No. 17 Penn State   –   8 – 3 – 0
No. 14 Syracuse   –   8 – 3 – 0
Trinity (CT)   –   5 – 2 – 1
Holy Cross   –   7 – 3 – 0
C. W. Post   –   6 – 3 – 0
Army   –   6 – 4 – 0
Merchant Marine   –   6 – 4 – 0
Tufts   –   5 – 3 – 0
Rochester   –   5 – 3 – 0
Hamilton   –   4 – 3 – 0
Cortland State   –   4 – 3 – 0
American International   –   5 – 4 – 0
Colgate   –   5 – 4 – 0
Northeastern   –   4 – 4 – 0
Coast Guard   –   4 – 4 – 0
Ithaca   –   4 – 4 – 0
Boston University   –   4 – 5 – 0
Buffalo   –   4 – 5 – 0
Bridgeport   –   4 – 5 – 0
Norwich   –   3 – 4 – 1
Worcester Tech   –   3 – 4 – 0
Boston College   –   4 – 6 – 0
Union (NY)   –   3 – 5 – 0
Pittsburgh   –   3 – 7 – 0
Nichols   –   2 – 3 – 0
Trenton State   –   1 – 6 – 0
King's (PA)   –   1 – 8 – 0
Springfield   –   0 – 7 – 1
Brockport   –   0 – 7 – 0
RPI   –   0 – 7 – 0
Hobart   –   0 – 8 – 0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1961 Penn State Nittany Lions football team was an American football team that represented the Pennsylvania State University as an independent during the 1961 college football season. In their 12th year under head coach Rip Engle, the Nittany Lions compiled an 8–3 record, were ranked No. 17 in the final AP Poll, and outscored opponents by a total of 231 to 128.[1] They concluded their season with a 30–15 victory over No. 13 Georgia Tech in the 1961 Gator Bowl. The Nittany Lions also received the Lambert Trophy as the best major college football team in the East.

The team was led on offense by quarterback Galen Hall (951 passing yards) and halfback Roger Kochman (666 rushing yards, 226 receiving yards, 54 points). In addition, Robert Mitinger, who played at end on both offense and defense, was selected as a first-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association.

Joe Paterno was the team's backfield coach.[2] The team played its home games at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.

Schedule

[edit]
DateOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 23NavyNo. 7
W 20–1039,340[3]
September 29at Miami (FL)No. 8
L 8–2545,657[4]
October 6at Boston University
W 32–010,150[5]
October 14Army
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA
L 6–1044,120[6]
October 21Syracuse
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA (rivalry)
W 14–044,390[7]
October 28Californiadagger
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA
W 33–1630,265[8]
November 4at Maryland
L 17–2139,000[9][10]
November 11at West Virginia
W 20–630,000[11]
November 18Holy Cross
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA
W 34–1432,746[12]
November 25at Pittsburgh
W 47–2637,271[13]
December 30vs. Georgia Tech
CBSW 30–1550,202[14][15]
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[1]

Statistics

[edit]

Quarterback Galen Hall led the team in passing during the regular season, completing 50 of 97 passes (51.5%) for 951 yards, eight touchdowns, and five interceptions.[16] In the Gator Bowl, Hall completed 12 of 22 passes for 175 yards and three touchdown and was selected as the game's most valuable player.[17][15]

Halfback Roger Kochman led the team in rushing during the regular season with 666 yards on 129 carries for a 5.2-yard average.[16] He added 76 yards on 13 carries in the Gator Bowl. Kochman also led the team in scoring with 54 points on nine touchdowns.[16][17]

The team's other leading passers were backup quarterbacks Don Caum (13-for-39, 33.3%, 210 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions) and Pete Liske (17-for-32, 53.1%, 216 yards, two touchdowns, one interception).[16]

The other leading rushers were Buddy Torris (490 yards, 105 carries, 4.7-yard average); Dave Hayes (253 yards, 66 carries, 3.8-yard average); Junior Powell (226 yards, 41 carries, 5.5-yard average); Al Gursky (174 yards, 60 carries, 2.9-yard average); and Don Jonas (149 yards, 31 carries, 4.8-yard average).[16]

The receiving leaders were Junior Powell (332 yards, 15 receptions, 22.1-yard average); Jim Schwab (257 yards, 16 receptions, 16.1-yard average); and Roger Kochman (226 yards, 10 receptions, 22.6-yard average).[16]

The leading scorer following Kochman were Buddy Torris (24 points, four touchdowns). Four players had 18 points each.[16]

Awards

[edit]

The Nittany Lions received the Lambert Trophy as the best major college football team in the East.[18]

Robert Mitinger, who played at end on both offense and defense, was selected as a first-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association.[19]

Mitinger, quarterback Galen Hall, and halfback Roger Kochman all received first-team honors on the Associated Press (AP) 1961 All-Eastern football team.[20][21]

Four Penn State players received first-team honors on the AP All-Pennsylvania football team: Hall; Mitinger; Jim Smith at tackle; and Jay Huffman at center. Kochman and end Jim Schwab received second-team honors.[22]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "1961 Penn State Nittany Lions Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  2. ^ Chester L. Smith (October 17, 1961). "Paterno Produces Grad A QBs For Nittany Lions". The Pittsburgh Press. p. 32 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Penn State Squeaks By Middies, 20-10". Elmira Star-Gazette. September 24, 1961. p. D1 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Luther Evans (September 30, 1961). "Roaring Hurricanes Chop Up Penn State With 25-8 Lacing". The Miami Herald. p. 16A – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Francis Rosa (October 7, 1961). "Penn St. Power Routs B.U., 32-0". The Boston Globe. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Cove Hoover (October 15, 1961). "Penn State Bows: Army's Heydt Kicks 4 Points for 10-6 Win". Elmira Telegram. p. 2D – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Syracuse Ailing, Hall Operating: State, 14-0, Holds Ernie To 36 Yards". The Sunday Press (Binghamton, NY). October 22, 1961. p. D1 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Rusty Cowan (October 29, 1961). "Engle's Gambling Racks in Golden Bears, 33 to 16". The Patriot-News. p. 37 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ W. Lawrence Null (November 5, 1961). "Maryland Triumphs, 21-17: Terps Whip Penn State After Building Up 21-6 Halftime Lead". The Baltimore Sun. pp. 1, 2 (sports) – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Terps score fast, hang on to upset Penn State, 21–17". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. November 5, 1961. Retrieved January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Penn State mauls West Virginia to win by 20 to 6". Messenger-Inquirer. November 12, 1961. Retrieved January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Frush, Charlie (November 19, 1961). "Kochman, Torris Get 5 TDs as Penn State Conquers Holy Cross". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pa. p. S1 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "State Goes 'Bowling' Over Pitt Panthers". The Pittsburgh Press. November 26, 1961. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Energetic Penn State wins". Tallahassee Democrat. December 31, 1961. Retrieved October 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ a b "Hall Pulls Stinger Of Georgia Jackets". Sunday Patriot-News. December 31, 1961. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g "1961 Penn State Nittany Lions Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  17. ^ a b "Penn State Wins" (PDF). Tax Slayer Bowl. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  18. ^ "PSU 'Subs' Take Lambert Trophy". The Lock Haven Express. December 11, 1961. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Three Holdovers Make 1961 All-America Football Team". The York Dispatch. December 1, 1961. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Kroll and Simms Are Voted To AP All-East First Team". The Daily Home News. December 1, 1961. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Penn State Puts Three on All-Eastern Team". The Beaver County Times. December 7, 1961. p. 18.
  22. ^ "Four Nittany Lions Are Named to AP All-State Grid Team". The Progress (PA). December 11, 1961. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
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