Wikipedia

1961 Iowa Hawkeyes football team

The 1961 Iowa Hawkeyes football team was an American football team that represented the University of Iowa in the 1961 Big Ten Conference football season. In their first year under head coach Jerry Burns, the Hawkeyes compiled a 5–4 record (2–4 in conference game), tied for seventh place in the Big Ten Conference, and outscored opponents by a total of 215 to 162. The team was ranked No. 1 in the AP poll at the start of the season but dropped out of the polls after losing four consecutive games.[1]

1961 Iowa Hawkeyes football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Record5–4 (2–4 Big Ten)
Head coach
MVPAl Hinton
CaptainBill Van Buren, Wilburn Hollis
Home stadiumIowa Stadium
Seasons
← 1960
1962 →
1961 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 2 Ohio State $ 6 – 0 – 0 8 – 0 – 1
No. 6 Minnesota 6 – 1 – 0 8 – 2 – 0
No. 8 Michigan State 5 – 2 – 0 7 – 2 – 0
No. 12 Purdue 4 – 2 – 0 6 – 3 – 0
Wisconsin 4 – 3 – 0 6 – 3 – 0
Michigan 3 – 3 – 0 6 – 3 – 0
Iowa 2 – 4 – 0 5 – 4 – 0
Northwestern 2 – 4 – 0 4 – 5 – 0
Indiana 0 – 6 – 0 2 – 7 – 0
Illinois 0 – 7 – 0 0 – 9 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

Senior tackle Al Hinton was selected as the team's most valuable player, and senior center Bill Van Buren was selected as a first-team All-American. The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Matt Szykowny (1,078 passing yards), fullback Bill Perkins (380 rushing yards), end Cloyd Webb (426 receiving yards), and fullback Joe Williams (54 points scored).

The team played its home games at Iowa Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.

Schedule

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DateOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 30California*No. 1
W 28–756,000[2]
October 7at USC*No. 1
ABCW 35–3430,263[3][4]
October 14IndianaNo. 2
  • Iowa Stadium
  • Iowa City, IA
W 27–856,000[5]
October 21Wisconsin No. 4
  • Iowa Stadium
  • Iowa City, IA (rivalry)
W 47–1560,150[6][7]
October 28at PurdueNo. 5
L 0–935,000 (attending), 50,127 (tickets sold)[8][9]
November 4at No. 5 Ohio StateNo. 9
L 13–2983,795[10]
November 11No. 5 Minnesota
  • Iowa Stadium
  • Iowa City, IA (rivalry)
ABCL 9–1667,081[11]
November 18at Michigan
L 14–2361,925[12][13]
November 25Notre Dame*
  • Iowa Stadium
  • Iowa City, IA
W 42–2158,000[14][15]
  • *Non-conference game
  •  Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Rankings

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Further information: 1961 NCAA University Division football rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes ( ) = First-place votes
Week
PollPre12345678910Final
AP1 (22)1 (19)1 (24)2 (11)4 (2)5 (1)9RV————
Coaches65—

[16]

Game summaries

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At Ohio State

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Iowa at Ohio State
1 234Total
Hawkeyes 0 076 13
• Buckeyes 6 6017 29
  • Date: November 4
  • Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
  • Game attendance: 83,795
  • Game weather: Cloudy; 46 °F (8 °C); wind 5 mph E
Scoring summary
Q111:07OHSTPerdue 55-yard fumble return (kick failed)OHST 6–0
Q26:35OHSTBryant 18-yard pass from Sparma (kick failed)OHST 12–0
Q36:18IOWASzykowny 1-yard run (Szykowny kick)OHST 12–7
Q414:39OHSTBryant 62-yard pass from Sparma (Van Raaphorst kick)OHST 19–7
Q48:04OHSTVan Raaphorst 24-yard field goalOHST 22–7
Q41:55OHSTFerguson 13-yard run (Van Raaphorst kick)OHST 29–7
Q4:12IOWATurici 4-yard run (kick failed)OHST 29–13
See also: 1961 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

[17]

Statistics

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The 1961 Iowa Hawkeyes tallied 2,828 yards of total offense (314.2 yards per game), consisting of 1,509 rushing yards and 1,319 passing yards. On defense, they held opponents to 2,251 yards with 1,493 rushing yards and 858 passing yards.[18]

Matt Szykowny replaced Wilburn Hollis at quarterback in the third game of the season, following an injury to Hollis. Szykowny completed 79 of 120 passes for 1,078 yards, seven touchdowns and 15 interceptions.[18] Before being lost to injury, Hollis completed six of 15 passes for 130 yards; Hollis also gained 187 rushing yards on 35 carries for a 5.3-yard average.[19]

Halfback Larry Ferguson, a first-team All-American in 1960, was expected to be Iowa's lead back for 1961, but he was injured in the opening minutes of the season's first game, ending his season with 35 yards gained on only three carries.[20] In Ferguson's absence, Iowa's rushing leaders were junior fullback Bill Perkins (380 yards, 62 carries, 6.1-yard average), fullback Joe Williams (297 yards, 64 carries, 4.6-yard average), Sammie Harris (267 rushing yards, 76 carries, 3.5-yard average), and Paul Krause (208 yards, 33 carries, 4.7-yard average).[18][19]

Sophomore end Cloyd Webb led the team in receiving with 25 catches for 426 yards and four touchdowns. Iowa's other leading receivers were Bill Whisler (18 receptions, 244 yards) and Felton Rogers (12 receptions, 121 yards).[18]

Joe Williams tallied 54 points on nine touchdowns and was the second highest scorer in the Big Ten. Iowa's other leading scorerrs were Matt Szykowny (46 points) and Cloyd Webb (24 points).[18]

Awards

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Bill Van Buren was selected by both the Sporting News and the Central Press as the first-team center on the 1961 All-America college football team.

Sherwyn Thorson was selected by the Associated Press as a second-team guard on the 1961 All-Big Ten Conference football team.

Senior tackle Al Hinton from Saginaw, Michigan, was selected as the most valuable player on the 1961 Iowa team.[21]

Guard Sherwyn Thorson was selected by the AP as a second-tem player on the 1961 All-Big Ten Conference football team.

Bill Van Buren and Wilburn Hollis were the team captains.[21]

Personnel

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Players

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The following 31 players received major letters for their participation on the 1961 Iowa team:

  • Kevin Barbera, end, senior
  • John Calhoun (#25), quarterback, junior, 6'2", 176 pounds
  • Bill Cervenak (#96), end, senior, 6'4", 220 pounds
  • Bill DiCindio (#64), tackle, senior, 6'1", 205 pounds
  • Sammie Harris (#11), halfback, junior, 6'0", 181 pounds
  • Jim Helgens (#90), end, sophomore, 6'2", 190 pounds
  • Wally Hilgenberg (#67), guard, sophomore, 6'2", 215 pounds
  • Al Hinton (#71), tackle, senior, 6'1", 217 pounds
  • Wilburn Hollis (#20), quarterback, senior, 6'2", 200 pounds
  • Gus Kasapis (#77), tackle, sophomore, 6'3", 235 pounds
  • Paul Krause (#16), halfback, sophomore, 6'3", 177 pounds
  • George Latta (#78), tackle, sophomore, 6'1", 220 pounds
  • Lynn Lyon (#88), end, junior, 6'5", 194 pounds
  • Earl McQuiston (#65), guard, junior, 6'2", 221 pounds
  • Bill Perkins (#82), fullback/end, junior, 6'2", 197 pounds
  • Dayton Perry Jr. (#52), center, junior, 6'1", 212 pounds
  • Emery Pudder (#73), tackle, senior, 6'2", 206 pounds
  • Mike Reilly (#61), guard, sophomore, 6'2", 200 pounds
  • Felton Rogers (#89), end, junior, 6'4", 184 pounds
  • Lonnie Rogers (#44), halfback, sophomore, 5'11", 185 pounds
  • Matt Szykowny (#22), quarterback, junior, 6'1", 182 pounds
  • Sherwyn Thorson (#66), guard, senior, 6'0", 210 pounds
  • Dick Turici, fullback (#34), junior, 6'0", 195 pounds
  • Bill Van Buren (#50), center, senior, 6'3", 210 pounds
  • Dave Watkins, end, senior, 200 pounds[22]
  • Cloyd Webb (#85), end, sophomore, 6'3", 190 pounds
  • Bill Whisler (#81), end, senior, 6'2", 219 pounds
  • Jerry Williams (#60), guard, senior, 6'0", 180 pounds
  • Joe Williams (#30), fullback, junior, 5'10", 191 pounds
  • Bernie Wyatt (#45), halfback, senior, 5'10", 164 pounds
  • Bob Yauck (#70), tackle, senior, 5'11", 219 pounds

[21][23]

Coaches

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1962 NFL Draft

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Main article: 1962 NFL draft
Player Position Round Pick NFL club
Larry Ferguson Back 4 52 Detroit Lions
Sherwyn Thorson Guard 7 87 Los Angeles Rams
Wilburn Hollis Quarterback 9 118 St. Louis Cardinals
Bill Whisler End 13 169 Washington Redskins

[25]

References

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  1. ^ "1961 Iowa Hawkeyes Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  2. ^ "Hawks Still No. 1 In 2nd AP Ballot" (PDF). The Daily Iowan. October 3, 1961. p. 4. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  3. ^ Paul Zimmerman (October 8, 1961). "Top-Rated Iowa Holds Off USC, 35-34". Los Angeles Times. pp. 1, 4 (section H) – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Hollis Included on Injured List" (PDF). The Daily Iowan. October 10, 1961. p. 4. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  5. ^ "Iowa 4th in AP Ballot–Michigan State 1st" (PDF). The Daily Iowan. October 17, 1961. p. 4. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  6. ^ Bert McGrane (October 22, 1961). "Iowa Wallops Wisconsin, 47-15: Szykowny's 9 Straight Completions, Webb's Catches Lead 33-0 Half". Des Moines Sunday Register. p. 1, 10 (sports) – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Szykowny Ups Passing Percentage to .682" (PDF). The Daily Iowan. October 24, 1961. p. 4. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  8. ^ Gordon Graham (October 30, 1961). "Purdue Celebrating Big Win: Splatters Iowa, 9-0, In Rain and Mud". The Journal and Courier. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Iowa Ninth in Poll; Spartans Still No. 1" (PDF). The Daily Iowan. October 31, 1961. p. 4. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  10. ^ "Burns Evaluates Ohio State Game; Eyes Strong Gophers" (PDF). The Daily Iowan. November 7, 1961. p. 4. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  11. ^ "Longhorns Remain 1st; Hawks 23rd" (PDF). The Daily Iowan. November 14, 1961. p. 4. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  12. ^ Joe Falls (November 19, 1961). "Big Finishes Win for M, MSU: Wolverines Overhaul Iowa, 23-14". Detroit Free Press. pp. D1, D3 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Burns Says Poor Tackling Hurt Hawkeyes" (PDF). The Daily Iowan. November 14, 1961. p. 4. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  14. ^ Bert McGrane (November 26, 1961). "Big Iowa Plays Whip Irish, 42-21: 6 of Foe's 7 Fumbles Go To Hawykeyes". Des Moines Register. pp. 1S, 6S – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Hawks Praise Jerry Burns Despite Hard-Luck Season" (PDF). The Daily Iowan. November 28, 1961. p. 4. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  16. ^ "Iowa 1961 AP Football Rankings". collegepollarchive.com. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  17. ^ "Burns Evaluates Ohio State Game; Eyes Strong Gophers" (PDF). The Daily Iowan. November 7, 1961. p. 4. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  18. ^ a b c d e "3 Juniors, Soph Lead Iowa Stats". Iowa City Press-Citizen. November 28, 1961. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ a b "1961 Iowa Hawkeyes Stats". S/R College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  20. ^ 1962 Hawekey (University of Iowa yearbook), p. 268.
  21. ^ a b c "Ferguson Is Elected '62 Captain, Hinton Is Most Valuable". Iowa City Press-Citizen. November 29, 1961. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "Iowa's Dave Watkins Regains Eligibility". The Gazette. October 14, 1961. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "Hawkeye Roster". Waterloo Sunday Courier. September 3, 1961. p. 29 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "Today's Lineup: Hilgenberg Coaching Hilgenberg". The Des Moines Register. November 11, 1961. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "Reference at www.pro-football-reference.com".
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