1961 Illinois State Normal Redbirds football team

1961 Illinois State Normal Redbirds football
Official 1961 team portrait from "The Index" yearbook
Conference	Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Record	5–4 (4–2 IIAC)
Head coach	Edwin Struck (17th season)
MVP	Ron Schieber
Captain	Keith Rieger, Dave Babcock
Home stadium	McCormick Field
Seasons ← 1960 1962 →

1961 Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
Southern Illinois $	5	–	1	–	0			7	–	3	–	0
Western Illinois	4	–	2	–	0			5	–	3	–	0
Illinois State Normal	4	–	2	–	0			5	–	4	–	0
Eastern Illinois	3	–	2	–	1			4	–	3	–	1
Northern Illinois	3	–	2	–	1			4	–	4	–	1
Central Michigan	1	–	5	–	0			2	–	8	–	0
Eastern Michigan	0	–	6	–	0			0	–	8	–	1
$ – Conference champion

The 1961 Illinois State Normal Redbirds football team was an American football team that represented Illinois State Normal University (now known as Illinois State University) as a member of the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1961 college football season. In their 17th year under head coach Edwin Struck, the Redbirds compiled a 5–4 record (4–2 in conference games), tied for second place in the IIAC, and were outscored by a total of 142 to 129. ^[1]

The team played its home games at McCormick Field in Normal, Illinois.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 23	Millikin *	McCormick Field Normal, IL	L 16–22	1,000	[2]
September 30	at Eastern Illinois	Lincoln Field Charleston, IL (rivalry)	W 18–0	2,000	[3]
October 6	at Eastern Michigan	Briggs Field Ypsilanti, MI	W 13–0		[4]
October 14	Central Michigan	McCormick Field Normal, IL	W 32–21	5,000	[5]
October 21	at Northern Michigan *	Memorial Stadium Marquette, MI	L 6–47		[6]
October 28	Southern Illinois	McCormick Field Normal, IL	L 14–34	6,000	[7]
November 4	at Northern Illinois	Glidden Field DeKalb, IL	W 7–0	11,500	[8]
November 11	at Western Illinois	Hanson Field Macomb, IL	L 7–12	4,000	[9] [10]
November 18	Illinois Wesleyan *	McCormick Field Normal, IL	W 16–6	4,000	[11]
*Non-conference game Homecoming

^{[12] [1]}

Statistics

Ron Schieber carries the ball against Central Michigan

The 1961 Redbirds gained 1,913 yards of total offense (212.5 per game) consisting of 1,358 rushing yards (150.8 per game) and 555 passing yards (61.6 per game). On defense, they gave up 2,279 yards (253.2 per game), including 1,431 rushing yard (159 per game) and 848 passing yards (94.2 per game). ^[12]

The team's leading rushers were halfbacks Ron Schieber (577 yards, 134 carries) and Bert Popejoy (424 yards, 100 carries, 4.24-yard average). Schieber also led the team in total offense (577 yards) and scoring (54 points on nine touchdowns). ^[12]

Quarterback Keith Rieger completed 52 of 121 passes (42.9%) for 540 yards with five touchdowns and six interceptions. End Bill Monken was the leading receiver with 22 catches for 304 yards and two touchdowns. ^[12]

Awards and honors

Senior quarterback Keith Rieger from Forrest, Illinois, and senior tackle Dave Babock from Cerro Gordo, Illinois, were the team's co-captains.

Halfback Ron Schieber was selected as the team's most valuable player for the 1961 season. ^[13]

Three Illinois State players received first-team honors on the 1961 All-IIAC football team: Bill Monken at offensive end; Tom Mackiewicz at defensive end; and Dave Babcock at defensive tackle. ^[14]

Gallery

• 
  Tackle Dave Babcock
• 
  Quarterback Keith Rieger
• 
  Halfback Ron Schieber

References

1. Official Collegiate Football Record Book 1962, p. .
2. Ron Janecke (September 24, 1961). "ISNU's Rally in 2nd Half Too Late -- Millikin Wins, 22-16: Redbirds Scare Big Blue After Trailing, 22 to 0". The Pantagraph. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
3. Barnhart, Jim (October 1, 1961). "State Normal Pummels Eastern Illinois, 18-0". The Pantagraph . p. 13. Retrieved June 11, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
4. "State Normal Tops Eastern Michigan". The Pantagraph. October 7, 1963. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "State Normal Raps Central". The Pantagraph. October 15, 1961. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Northern Michigan Whips ISNU: No. 1 Rated Team Rolls Past Redbirds, 47 to 6". The Pantagraph. October 22, 1961. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Southern Ill. Wins; Takes IIAC Lead". Chicago Tribune. October 29, 1961. p. 4 (section 2) – via Newspapers.com.
8. "ISNU Whips Northern, 7-0, Boosts IIAC Record to 4-1". The Pantagraph. November 5, 1961. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Western Rallies To Upset State". Jacksonville Journal Courier. November 12, 1961. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Brief Summary of Cumulative Football Statistics (Western Illinois)". National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved July 31, 2024.
11. "All's Quiet At Wesleyan: 7th Defeat". The Pantagraph. November 19, 1961. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Cumulative Football Statistics Report". National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved August 3, 2024.
13. The Index 1962 (Illinois State Normal yearbook), p. 206.
14. "SIU Places Seven on IIAC All-Star Teams". Alton Evening Telegraph. November 21, 1961. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.