| 1961 Florida Gators football | |
|---|---|
| Conference | Southeastern Conference |
| Record | 4–5–1 (3–3 SEC) |
| Head coach |
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| Captain | Jim Beaver |
| Home stadium | Florida Field |
| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 1 Alabama + | 7 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 11 | – | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 4 LSU + | 6 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 10 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 5 Ole Miss | 5 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 9 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 13 Georgia Tech | 4 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tennessee | 4 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Florida | 3 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 5 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Auburn | 3 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kentucky | 2 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgia | 2 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mississippi State | 1 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tulane | 1 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 8 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vanderbilt | 1 | – | 6 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 8 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1961 Florida Gators football team was an American football team that represented the University of Florida as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 1961 college football season. In their second year under head coach Ray Graves, the Gators compiled a 4–5–1 record (3–3 in conference games), finished in sixth place in the SEC, and outscored opponents by a total of 146 to 97. [1] [2]
The Gators attempted LSU coach Paul Dietzel's three-platoon system. [3]
The team's statistical leaders included Tom Batten (460 passing yards), Don Goodman (455 rushing yards), and Larry Libertore (671 yards total offense). Other notable players included Lindy Infante (369 rushing yards). [4]
The team played its home games at Florida Field in Gainesville, Florida.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 23 | Clemson * | W 21–7 | 42,000 | [5] | |
| September 30 | Florida State * |
| T 3–3 | 46,000 | [6] |
| October 6 | at Tulane | W 14–3 | 30,000 | [7] | |
| October 14 | at Rice * | L 10–19 | 32,000 | [8] | |
| October 21 | at Vanderbilt | W 7–0 | 18,000 | [9] | |
| October 28 | No. 7 LSU  |
| L 0–23 | 46,000 | [10] |
| November 4 | at No. 7 Georgia Tech | L 0–20 | 44,940 | [11] | |
| November 11 | vs. Georgia | W 21–14 | 47,000 | [12] | |
| November 25 | at Auburn | L 15–32 | 33,000 | [13] | |
| December 2 | Miami (FL) * |
| L 6–15 | 42,000 | [14] |
| |||||
The Gators gained an average of 142.2 rushing yards and 101.7 passing yards per game. On defense, they gave up 144.9 rushing yards and 82.0 passing yards per game. [4]
Quarterback Larry Libertore, who weighed only 138 pounds, led th etam with 671 yards of total offense. He completed 18 of 52 passes (34.6%) for 330 yards with two touchdowns, seven interceptions, and a 73.7 quarterback rating. He also tallied 341 rushing yards on 120 carries for an average of 2.8 yards per carry. [4]
The team's rushing leaders included fullback Don Goodman (455 yards, 111 carries, 4.1-yard average) and halfback Lindy Infante (369 yards, 85 carries, 4.3-yard average). [4]
The team's passing leader was Tom Batten who completed 30 of 67 passes (44.8%) for 460 yards with three touchdowns, five interceptions, and a 102.3 quarterback rating. [4]
The leading receivers were Russ Brown (13 passes, 239 yards), Bob Hoover (9 receptions, 213 yards), and Lindy Infante (11 receptions, 129 yards). [4]
Tackle Jim Beaver was selected as the team captain. [16]
Two Florida players were recognized on the 1961 All-SEC football team. Tackle Jim Beaver received second-team honors from the United Press International (UPI) and third-team honors from the Associated Press (AP). Halfback Don Goodman received third-team honors from both the AP and UPI. [17] [18]
The 1961 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Minnesota in the 1961 Big Ten Conference football season. In their eighth year under head coach Murray Warmath, the Golden Gophers compiled an 8–2 record, outscored opponents by a total of 140 to 75, and were ranked No. 6 in the final final AP and UPI polls. They defeated UCLA, 21–3, in the 1962 Rose Bowl.
The 1962 Michigan Wolverines football team was an American football team that represented the University of Michigan in the 1962 Big Ten Conference football season. In its fourth year under head coach Bump Elliott, Michigan compiled a 2–7 record, finished in last place in the Big Ten, and were outscored by opponents by a combined total of 214 to 70.
The 1961 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1961 Big Ten Conference football season. In its third year under head coach Bump Elliott, Michigan compiled a 6–3 record, finished in sixth place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a combined total of 212 to 163.
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The 1961 Tampa Spartans football team was an American football team that represented the University of Tampa as an independent during the 1961 college football season. In their 25th season of college football and their 10th season under head coach Marcelino Huerta, the Spartans compiled an 8–1 record and outscored opponents by a total of 188 to 98.
The 1961 Oklahoma Sooners football team was an American football team that represented the University of Oklahoma as a member of the Big Eight Conference during the 1961 college football season. In their 15th year under head coach Bud Wilkinson, the Sooners compiled a 5–5 record, finished in fourth place in the Big 8, and were outscored by a total of 141 to 122. The Sooners lost the first five games of the season before turning things around with five consecutive wins, including a victory over No. 10 Missouri, to finish the season. The 1960 and 1961 seasons were the only non-winning seasons in Wilkinson's 17-year tenure as Oklahoma's head coach.
The 1961 Auburn Tigers football team was an American football team that represented Auburn University as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 1961 college football season. In their 11th year under head coach Ralph "Shug" Jordan, the Tigers compiled a 6–4 record, finished in seventh place in the SEC, and outscored opponents by a total of 174 to 137. It was the Tigers' 70th overall and 28th season as a member of the SEC.
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The 1961 Duke Blue Devils football team was an American football team that represented Duke University as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) during the 1961 college football season. In their eleventh year under head coach Bill Murray, the Blue Devils compiled a 7–3 record, won the ACC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 183 to 106. In non-conference games, they defeated Navy and Notre Dame but lost to Georgia Tech and Michigan. They were ranked No. 14 in the final UPI coaches poll and No. 20 in the final AP writers poll.
The 1961 Oregon Ducks football team represented the University of Oregon as an independent during the 1961 college football season. In their eleventh season under head coach Len Casanova and third as an independent, the Ducks compiled a 4–6 record and outscored their opponents 152 to 112. Three home games were played on campus at Hayward Field in Eugene, with two at Multnomah Stadium in Portland.
The 1961 Rice Owls football team was an American football team that represented Rice University as a member of the Southwest Conference (SWC) during the 1961 college football season. In their 22nd year under head coach Jess Neely, the Owls compiled a 7–3 record, finished in third place in the SWC, and outscored opponents by a total of 176 to 125. They concluded their season with a 33–7 loss to Kansas in the 1961 Bluebonnet Bowl
The 1961 Richmond Spiders football team was an American football team that represented the University of Richmond as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1961 college football season. In their eleventh season under head coach Ed Merrick, Richmond compiled a 5–5 record, and were outscored by a total of 194 to 143.
The 1961 Davidson Wildcats football team was an American football team that represented Davidson College as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1961 college football season. In their tenth year under head coach Bill Dole, the Wildcats compiled a 4–4 record, finished in eighth place in the SoCon, and were outscored by a total of 163 to 138.
