Wikipedia

1961 Maine Black Bears football team

The 1961 Maine Black Bears football team was an American football team that represented the University of Maine as a member of the Yankee Conference during the 1961 college football season. In its 11th season under head coach Harold Westerman, the Black Bears compiled an 8–0–1 record (5–0 in conference games) and won the Yankee Conference championship. They also compiled a 2–0–1 record in Maine State Series competition to win the Lewis O. Barrows Trophy.[1][2]

1961 Maine Black Bears football
Yankee Conference champion
Lewis O. Barrows Trophy (Maine State Series champion)
ConferenceYankee Conference
Record8–0–1 (5–0 Yankee)
Head coach
CaptainRobert Kinney, Dave Cloutier
Home stadiumAlumni Field
Seasons
← 1960
1962 →
1961 Yankee Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Maine $ 5 – 0 – 0 8 – 0 – 1
UMass 3 – 1 – 0 5 – 4 – 0
Connecticut 2 – 2 – 0 2 – 7 – 0
New Hampshire 1 – 3 – 0 3 – 5 – 0
Rhode Island 1 – 4 – 0 2 – 6 – 1
Vermont 0 – 2 – 0 3 – 3 – 1
  • $ – Conference champion

The team was led by quarterback Manchester Wheeler (715 passing yards), halfback Dave Cloutier (42 points scored), and end Dick Kinney (171 receving yards). All three were selected as first-team players on the 1961 All-Yankee Conference team. Kinney and Cloutier were also the team captains.[3]

The team played its home games at Alumni Field in Orono, Maine.

Schedule

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DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 23Army B team*
W 21–64,800[4]
September 30at Rhode Island
W 22–203,500[5]
October 7Vermont
  • Alumni Field
  • Orono, ME
W 34–144,600–5,000[6][7]
October 14at New Hampshire
W 7–67,500–8,500[8][9]
October 21Connecticut
  • Alumni Field
  • Orono, ME
W 2–08,000[10]
October 28at Bates*
T 15–154,500-8,500+[11]
November 4at Colby*
W 14–05,000[12]
November 11Bowdoin*
  • Alumni Field
  • Orono, ME
W 13–89,000[1]
November 22UMass
  • Alumni Field
  • Orono, ME
W 10–74,500[2]
  • *Non-conference game

[13]

Statistics

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The 1961 Black Bears tallied 2,242 yards of total offense (249.1 per game), consisting of 1,482 rushing yards (164.7 per game) and 760 passing yards (84.4 per game). On defense, they gave up 1,618 yards (179.8 per game) with 761 rushing yards (84.6 per game) and 857 passing yards (95.2 per game).[13]

Fullback Dale Curry led the team in rushing with 291 yards on 82 carries. Halfback Dave Cloutier ranked second with 230 yards on 50 carries. Cloutier led the team in scoring with 42 points on seven touchdowns.[13]

Quarterback Manchester Wheeler complete 43 of 96 passes for 715 yards with 11 interceptions and eight touchdowns. The leading receivers were end Richard Kinney (10 receptions, 171 yards, two touchdowns) and halfback Dave Cloutier (seve receptions, 161 yards, three touchdowns).[13]

Honors and awards

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Three Maine players were selected by the conference coaches as first-team players on the 1961 All-Yankee Conference football team: Manchester Wheeler at quarterback; Dave Cloutier at halfback; and Dick Kinney at end.[14]

Cloutier was also selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the 18th round, 242nd overall pick, of the 1962 NFL draft.[15]

References

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  1. ^ a b Bud Leavitt (November 13, 1961). "Maine Tips Bowdoin To Win Lid: UM Bears Retire Barrows Trophy". The Bangor Daily News. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b Ted Taylor (November 23, 1961). "Triple Accomplishment By U of Maine Footballers, Two Titles And Undefeated Record: Field Goal By Boucher Swings Finale To Bears". The Lewiston Daily Sun. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "2019 Maine Football Media Guide" (PDF). University of Maine. 2019. p. 86. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  4. ^ "Maine Passing Whips Army's B Team, 21-6". The Boston Globe. September 24, 1961. p. 87 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "U-M Edges Rhody; Bears Tip RI 22-20". The Bangor Daily News. October 2, 1961. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Maine Stuns Vt.; 4 TDs By Cloutier". The Boston Globe. October 8, 1961. p. 79 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Maine wallops Vermont eleven, 34–14". The Bangor Daily News. October 9, 1961. Retrieved June 7, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Maine Tips UNH: Win 7-6 For 4th Victory". Bangor Daily News. October 16, 1961. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  10. ^ Owen Osborne (October 23, 1961). "Maine Nips UConn To Stay Unbeaten". Bangor Daily News. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Harry Olum (October 30, 1961). "Maine Comeback Ties Bates: 'Cat Defense Contains Favored Bruins, 15-15". The Lewiston Daily Sun – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Woody Bigelow (November 5, 1961). "Maine Blanks Colby: U-M Thrashes Mules, 14-0". Portland Press Herald. pp. 1B, 2B – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ a b c d "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  14. ^ "Wheeler, Cloutier, Kinney On Y-C All-Star Unit; Stackpole Also Pick". Portland Press Herald. December 7, 1961. p. 25 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "1962 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
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