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American college football season
The 1961 Virginia Cavaliers football team represented the University of Virginia during the 1961 college football season . The Cavaliers were led by first-year head coach Bill Elias and played their home games at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Virginia . They competed as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference , finishing in last. Despite the last place finish, Elias was named ACC Coach of the Year, becoming the second in conference history to win the award in a coach's first year at the school.[ 3] Elias, who had been the Southern Conference Coach of the Year the previous season at George Washington , snapped Virginia's 28 game losing streak by beating William & Mary in the first game of the season.[ 4] Their win against South Carolina snapped an 18-game losing streak against ACC foes.
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 23 William & Mary * W 21–618,000 [ 5]
September 30 vs. Duke L 0–4220,000 [ 6]
October 7 NC State Scott Stadium Charlottesville, VA L 14–2116,000 [ 7]
October 14 vs. VMI * W 14–78,500 [ 8]
October 21 vs. VPI * L 0–2017,000 [ 9]
October 28 at Wake Forest L 15–217,500 [ 10]
November 4 South Carolina Scott Stadium Charlottesville, VA W 28–2018,000 [ 11]
November 18 at Navy * L 3–1323,565 [ 12]
November 25 Maryland Scott Stadium Charlottesville, VA (rivalry ) W 28–1619,000 [ 13]
December 2 at North Carolina L 0–2428,000 [ 14]
*Non-conference game Homecoming
[ 15] [ 16]
^ "2017 Cavalier Football Fact Book" (PDF) . Virginia Cavaliers Athletics. p. 120. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 28, 2017. Retrieved June 17, 2018 .
^ "1961 Atlantic Coast Conference Year Summary" . sports-reference.com. Retrieved January 22, 2013 .
^ "2016 ACC Football Media Guide" (PDF) . p. 122.
^ "Virginia's Bill Elias ACC Coach of Year". The Washington Post . December 5, 1961. p. A23.
^ "Virginia wins first since '58" . The Lima Citizen . September 24, 1961. Retrieved October 24, 2022 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Blue Devils take to air, smash Cavaliers by 42–0" . Richmond Times-Dispatch . October 1, 1961. Retrieved January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "New running attack helps N.C. State get first win" . The Birmingham News . October 8, 1961. Retrieved January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Fischer leads U. Va. in win over VMI" . The Virginian-Pilot . October 15, 1961. Retrieved January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Techmen take stunning 20–0 Harvest Bowl win" . Kingsport Times-News . October 22, 1961. Retrieved January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Riley throws 2 touchdowns to pace Wake Forest over Virginia, 21 to 15" . Kingsport Times-News . October 29, 1961. Retrieved January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Cavaliers surprise S.C." The Daily News Leader . November 5, 1961. Retrieved January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Sai's heroics push Navy past Virginia" . The Charlotte Observer . November 19, 1961. Retrieved January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Virginia apparently knocks Maryland out of a bowl, 28–16" . Florence Morning News . November 26, 1961. Retrieved January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Tar Heels win, 24–0, over Virginia" . The Pittsburgh Press . December 3, 1961. Retrieved January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "1961 Virginia Cavaliers Schedule and Results" . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 16, 2018 .
^ "All-Time Virginia Box Score Game Statistics" . Virginia Cavaliers Official Athletic Site. Retrieved June 5, 2021 .
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