1961 Swarthmore Garnet Tide football team

The 1961 Swarthmore Garnet Tide football team was an American football team that represented Swarthmore College as a member of the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) during the 1961 college football season. In their 20th season under head coach Lew Elverson, the Garnet Tide compiled a 5–2 record (4–2 in conference games), tied for second place in the MAC Southern College Division, and outscored opponents by a total of 129 to 89.[1]

1961 Swarthmore Garnet Tide football
ConferenceMiddle Atlantic Conference
DivisionSouthern College Division
Record5–2 (4–2 MAC)
Head coach
Seasons
← 1960
1962 →
1961 Middle Atlantic Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
University Division
No. 15 Rutgers x 4 0 0 9 0 0
Bucknell 5 2 0 6 3 0
Delaware 3 2 0 4 4 0
No. 6 Lehigh 3 2 0 7 2 0
Gettysburg 2 2 1 3 5 1
Temple 1 2 2 2 5 2
Lafayette 1 5 1 2 6 1
Muhlenberg 0 4 0 2 7 0
Northern College Division
Susquehanna x 6 0 0 8 0 1
Albright 4 0 1 7 0 1
Moravian 4 1 1 4 3 1
Wagner 4 2 0 6 3 0
Lycoming 1 3 1 1 6 1
Wilkes 1 6 0 1 6 0
Hofstra * 2 0 0 7 2 0
Juniata * 1 2 0 3 4 0
Upsala * 0 4 0 0 7 0
Southern College Division
Lebanon Valley x 5 1 0 6 1 0
Swarthmore 4 2 0 5 2 0
Western Maryland 4 2 0 7 2 0
Dickinson 5 3 0 5 3 0
Pennsylvania Military 5 3 0 6 3 0
Johns Hopkins 2 3 1 3 4 1
Ursinus 2 5 0 2 5 0
Drexel 1 5 1 2 5 1
Haverford 0 6 1 0 6 1
West Chester * 0 0 0 7 2 0
Franklin & Marshall * 0 3 0 1 7 0
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • * – Ineligible for championship due to insufficient conference games
Rankings from major college AP poll for Rutgers and small college AP poll for Lehigh

The team played its home games at Alumni Field in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. Swarthmore had a total enrollment of 975 students in 1961.[2]

Schedule

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DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 30Dickinson*Swarthmore, PAW 23–18
October 7at Susquehanna
L 12–344,000[3]
October 14at C. W. Post*Brookville, NYW 14–133,000[4]
October 21UrsinusSwarthmore, PAW 6–0
November 4at Johns HopkinsBaltimore, MDW 33–0
November 11Pennsylvania MilitarySwarthmore, PAL 7–184,000
November 18HaverfordSwarthmore, PA (rivalry)W 34–63,500
  • *Non-conference game

[1][5]

Statistics

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The team tallied 1,777 yards of total offense (253.8 yards per game), consisting of 1,124 rushing yards (160.5 yards per game) and 639 (91.2 yards per game).[1] They did not lead the MAC Southern College Division in any category but ranked second in total offense, passing offense, and scoring.[6] On defense, the Garnet Tide held opponents to 1,720 yards (245.7 yards per Game) with 958 rushing yards (136.8 yards per game) and 706 passing yards (100.8 yards per game).[1]

The team's statistical leaders included halfback Harvey Buek with 390 rushing yards and 476 yards of total offense; quarterback Mike Lillie with 361 passing yards; halfback Bernie Beitman with 11 receptions and 34 points scored (five touchdowns and two two-point conversions).[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics [Swarthmore]". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  2. ^ "A College and a Highway". The Philadelphia Inquirer. December 6, 1961. p. 38 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Crusaders Triumph, Remain Undefeated". The Selinsgrove Times-Tribune. October 12, 1961. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (C. W. Post)". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  5. ^ "1961 Football Schedule". Swarthmore College. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  6. ^ "PMC Tops 3 Categories". Delaware County Daily Times. December 5, 1961. p. 23 – via Newspapers.com.