1961 Navy Midshipmen football team

1961 Navy Midshipmen football
Conference	Independent
Record	7–3
Head coach	Wayne Hardin (3rd season)
Captain	John Hewitt
Home stadium	Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium
Seasons ←  1960 1962  →

1961 Southern college football independents records

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
Washington and Lee			–					9	–	0	–	0
Tampa			–					8	–	1	–	0
Mississippi College			–					8	–	1	–	0
Mississippi Southern			–					8	–	2	–	0
Memphis State			–					8	–	2	–	0
Delta State			–					7	–	2	–	1
Howard (AL)			–					7	–	2	–	0
South Carolina Trade			–					6	–	2	–	0
Maryville (TN)			–					6	–	2	–	0
Sewanee			–					5	–	2	–	1
Miles			–					5	–	2	–	0
Navy			–					7	–	3	–	0
Arlington State			–					7	–	3	–	0
Louisville			–					6	–	3	–	0
Miami (FL)			–					7	–	4	–	0
McMurry			–					6	–	4	–	0
Houston			–					5	–	4	–	1
Livingstone			–					5	–	4	–	0
Southwestern (TN)			–					4	–	4	–	0
Emory & Henry			–					4	–	4	–	0
Florida State			–					4	–	5	–	1
Norfolk State			–					3	–	4	–	0
Abilene Christian			–					4	–	6	–	0
Chattanooga			–					4	–	6	–	0
Georgetown (KY)			–					2	–	3	–	1
Arkansas State			–					3	–	6	–	0
Austin			–					2	–	7	–	0
Trinity (TX)			–					2	–	7	–	0
Millsaps			–					1	–	5	–	2
Centre			–					1	–	7	–	0

The 1961 Navy Midshipmen football team represented the United States Naval Academy (USNA) as an independent during the 1961 college football season. The team was led by third-year head coach Wayne Hardin. ^[1]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 23	at Penn State	Beaver Stadium University Park, PA	L 10–20	39,340	[2]
September 30	William & Mary	Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Annapolis, MD	W 44–6	17,803	[3]
October 6	at Miami (FL)	Miami Orange Bowl Miami, FL	W 17–6	53,182
October 14	at Cornell	Schoellkopf Field Ithaca, NY	W 31–7	22,000	[4]
October 20	at Detroit	University of Detroit Stadium Detroit, MI	W 37–19	31,279	[5]
October 28	at Pittsburgh	Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA	L 14–28	36,875	[6]
November 4	at Notre Dame	Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)	W 13–10	59,075	[7]
November 11	vs. Duke	Foreman Field Norfolk, VA (Oyster Bowl)	L 9–30	32,000–32,127	[8]
November 18	Virginia	Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Annapolis, MD	W 13–3	23,565	[9]
December 2	vs. Army	Philadelphia Municipal Stadium Philadelphia, PA (Army–Navy Game)	W 13–7	101,000	[10]
Homecoming

^[11]

References

1. "Football History" (PDF). United States Naval Academy. p. 192. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
2. "Penn State Squeaks By Middies, 20-10". Elmira Star-Gazette. September 24, 1961. p. D1 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Navy thumps W&M, 44–6". The Baltimore Sun. October 1, 1961. Retrieved October 24, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
4. Danzig, Allison (October 15, 1961). "Navy Eleven Victor over Cornell, 31-7". The New York Times . New York, N.Y. p. S1.
5. Jack Berry (October 21, 1961). "Navy Humbles U-D, 37-19: Titans' Rally Is Wasted". Detroit Free Press. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
6. Chester L. Smith (October 29, 1961). "Pitt Submerges Navy, 28-14: Panthers End 4-Game Losing Streak Here Before 36,875 Fans". The Pittsburgh Press. pp. 1, 7 (section 3) – via Newspapers.com.
7. Joe Doyle (November 5, 1961). "Field Goal Tips Irish, 13-10: N.D. Fumble Helps Set Up Winning Kick". The South Bend Tribune. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Devils pin loss on Navy". Fort Lauderdale News. November 12, 1961. Retrieved January 19, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
9. "Sai's heroics push Navy past Virginia". The Charlotte Observer. November 19, 1961. Retrieved January 19, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
10. Joseph C. Goulden and Harry J. Karafin (December 3, 1961). "President, 101,000 See Navy Win: Kennedy Arrives Minus Topcoat For Service Game". The Philadelphia Inquirer. pp. 1, 20 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Schedule/Results (1961 Navy)". NCAA Statistics. National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved May 13, 2025.