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The 1961 Central Washington Wildcats football team represented Central Washington College of Education (now known as Central Washington University) of Ellensburg, Washington. In their first year under head coach Adrian L. Beamer, the team compiled a 7–2 record (6–1 against EC opponents) and won the conference championship.
The 1961 Whitworth Pirates football team represented Whitworth Colege (now known as Whitworth University) of Spokane, Washington. In their fourth year under head coach Sam Adams, the team compiled a 9–1 record (6–1 against EC opponents), shut out seven of ten opponents, and outscored all opponents by a total of 281 to 59.
Two Whitworth players ranked first nationally among small college players in various statistical categories:
End John Murio led all small college players in scoring with 129 points (15 touchdowns, 33 extra points, 2 field goals); he was the first end to win the national scoring championship.[12][13] Murio also led small college players with 811 receiving yards and 13 receiving touchdowns.[14]
Quarterback Dennis Spurlock led the country (both major and small colleges) with 1,760 yards of total offense. He also ranked second nationally with 1,708 passing yards.[15]
The Pirates were ineligible for the conference championship, because the team had been placed on probation by the Evergreen Conference. Coach Sam Adams, who was also the school's track coach, had allowed an ineligible student to participate in three preseason track meets. The conference therefore ruled that, if Adams remained the coach, Whitworth's track and football teams would be ineligible to compete for the conference championship during the 1961-62 academic year.[17]
The 1961 Western Washington Vikings football team represented Western Washington State College (now known as Western Washington University) of Bellingham, Washington. In their second year under head coach Jim Lounsberry, the team compiled a 5–4 record (4–3 against EC opponents), was outscored by a total of 126 to 93, and finished in third place in the Evergreen conference.[1]
The 1961 Puget Sound Loggers football team represented the University of Puget Sound of Tacoma, Washington. In their 14th year under head coach John P. Heinrick, the team compiled a 5–3–1 record (3–3–1 against EC opponents), was outscored by a total of 127 to 115, and finished in fourth place in the Evergreen conference.[1]
The 1961 Pacific Lutheran Lutes football team represented the Pacific Lutheran University of Parkland, Washington. In their fourth year under head coach Jim Gabrielson, the team compiled a 2–5–1 record (1–5–1 against EC opponents), was outscored by a total of 244 to 73, and finished in fifth place in the Evergreen conference.[1]
The 1961 Eastern Washington Savages football team represented Eastern Washington State College (now known as Eastern Washington University) of Cheney, Washington. In their second year under head coach Ed Chissus, the team compiled a 0–9 record (0–7 against EC opponents), was outscored by a total of 227 to 20, and finished in last place in the Evergreen conference.[1]
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