1961 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team

1961 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football
Conference	Gulf States Conference
Record	5–4 (3–2 GSC)
Head coach	Joe Aillet (21st season)
Captain	Jack Lestage, Don Tippit, Hershel Vinyard
Home stadium	Tech Stadium
Seasons ←  1960 1962  →

1961 Gulf States Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 7 Southeastern Louisiana +	4	–	1	–	0			9	–	1	–	0
No. 10 McNeese State +	4	–	1	–	0			7	–	2	–	0
Northwestern State	3	–	2	–	0			7	–	3	–	0
Louisiana Tech	3	–	2	–	0			5	–	4	–	0
Northeast Louisiana State	1	–	4	–	0			3	–	7	–	0
Southwestern Louisiana	0	–	5	–	0			2	–	8	–	0
+ – Conference co-champions Rankings from NAIA poll

The 1961 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team was an American football team that represented the Louisiana Polytechnic Institute (now known as Louisiana Tech University) as a member of the Gulf States Conference (GSC) during the 1961 college football season. In their twenty-first year under head coach Joe Aillet, the team compiled a 5–4 record (3–2 in conference games) and outscored opponents by a total of 156 to 109. ^[1]

The team played its home games at Tech Stadium in Ruston, Louisiana.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 23	Arkansas State *	Tech Stadium Ruston, LA	W 47–8	6,500–7,500	[2] [3]
September 30	at McNeese State	Wildcat Stadium Lake Charles, LA	W 21–16	7,500–8,000	[4]
October 7	Southwestern Louisiana	Tech Stadium Ruston, LA (rivalry)	W 12–0	7,500	[5]
October 14	at Arlington State *	Memorial Stadium Arlington, TX	L 7–8	5,000–7,000	[6] [7]
October 21	vs. Northwestern State	State Fair Stadium Shreveport, LA	L 7–19	22,000–27,000	[8] [9]
October 28	at Tennessee Tech *	Overall Field Cookeville, TN	W 21–10	6,500	[10]
November 4	at No. 3 Southeastern Louisiana	Strawberry Stadium Hammond, LA	L 14–34	6,000–8,500	[11] [12]
November 11	Mississippi Southern *	Tech Stadium Ruston, LA (rivalry)	L 0–7	4,500	[13]
November 18	Northeast Louisiana State	Tech Stadium Ruston, LA (rivalry)	W 27–7	7,000–7,500	[14] [15]
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

^[1]

Statistics

The Bulldogs gained 2,272 yards of total offense (252 per game), consisting of 1,143 rushing yards (127 per game) and 1,129 passing yards (129 per game). On defense, they allowed opponents to gain 1,806 yards (200 per game) with 1,186 rushing yards (131 per game) and 620 passing yard 68.8 per game). ^[1]

Quarterback Mickey Slaughter completed 82 of 127 passes (64.6%) for 856 yards with six touchdowns and four interceptions. He also led the team with 829 yards of total offense (diminished by negative 27 rushing yads). ^[1]

End Jerry Griffin was the leading receiver with 45 catches for 435 yards. ^[1] The team's rushing leaders were halfbacks Jack Lestage and Andy Farless, both with 213 yards on 57 carries. ^[1]

Bud Alexander led the team in scoring with 28 points on 19 extra points and three field goals. David Lee was the punter, averaging 40.1 yards on 49 punts. ^[1]

Awards and honors

Five Louisiana Tech players received honors on the 1961 All-Gulf States Conference football teams selected by the coaches and writers. The honorees were: end Jerry Griffin (writers-1; coaches-1); tackle Herschel Vinyard (writers-1; coaches-1); center John Williamson (writers-2; coaches-2); quarterback Mickey Slaughter (writers-2; coaches-2); and guard Don Tippit (writers-3; coaches-3). ^{[16] [17]}

References

1. "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics". National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved February 27, 2023.
2. "La. Tech bombards Ark. State, 47 to 8". The Shreveport Times. September 24, 1961. Retrieved June 27, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
3. "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Arkansas State)". National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved October 15, 2022.
4. "Slaughter leads Bulldogs by Pokes in 21–16 GSC thriller". Lake Charles American-Press. October 1, 1961. Retrieved June 27, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
5. "Bulldogs fall to Tech by 12–0 in Gulf States grid contest". The Daily Advertiser. October 8, 1961. Retrieved June 27, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
6. "Louisiana Tech is trimmed by Arlington State Rebs, 8–7". The Shreveport Times. October 15, 1961. p. 3D. Retrieved March 28, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
7. "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Arlington State)". National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved August 2, 2024.
8. "NSC wallops Tech in Fair game, 19–7". The Shreveport Times. October 22, 1961. Retrieved June 27, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
9. "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Northwestern State)". National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved July 3, 2024.
10. "TPI bows to passes". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. October 29, 1961. Retrieved June 27, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
11. "Lions beat Tech". The Daily Advertiser. November 5, 1961. Retrieved June 27, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
12. "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Southeastern Louisiana)". National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved August 3, 2024.
13. "Louisiana Tech drops 7–0 game to Southern in mud". Monroe Morning World. November 12, 1961. Retrieved March 28, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
14. "Slaughter puts Tech past Northeast, 27–7". The Shreveport Times. November 19, 1961. p. 4D. Retrieved March 28, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
15. "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Northeast Louisiana State)". National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved August 2, 2024.
16. "Breaux, Bossier, Steed, Sestak Make All-GSC". Lake Charles American Press. December 12, 1961. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
17. "Clayton, Slaughter, Sestak Head GSC Team". Alexandria Daily Town Talk. December 12, 1961. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.