1961 Rocky Mountain Conference football season

1961 Rocky Mountain Conference football season
Sport	Football
Teams	5
Champion	Adams State
Football seasons

1961 Rocky Mountain Conference football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
Adams State $	4	–	0	–	0			8	–	2	–	0
Colorado College	2	–	2	–	0			5	–	3	–	1
Western State (CO)	2	–	2	–	0			4	–	5	–	0
Colorado Mines	2	–	2	–	0			3	–	6	–	0
Colorado State–Greeley	0	–	4	–	0			1	–	9	–	0
$ – Conference champion

The 1961 Rocky Mountain Conference football season was the season of college football played by the five member schools of the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) as part of the 1961 college football season. The 1961 Adams State Indians football team defeated all four conference opponents to win the conference championship and compiled an 8–2 overall record.

Teams

Adams State

1961 Adams State Indians football
RMC champion
Conference	Rocky Mountain Conference
Record	8–2 (4–0 RMC)
Head coach	Darrell Mudra (3rd season)
Home stadium	Rex Field
Seasons ←  1960 1962  →

The 1961 Adams State Indians football team represented Adams State College (now known as the Adams State University) of Alamosa, Colorado. In their third year under head coach Darrell Mudra, the team compiled an 8–2 record (4–0 against RMC opponents) and won the RMC championship. ^[1]

Five Adams State players were named to the 1961 all-conference team: halfback Bill Farnsworth; backs Walt Weaver, Bob Hidalgo, and Jim Edwards; and tackle Bob Dando. ^{[2] [3]}

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 16	New Mexico Western *	Rex Field Alamosa, CO	W 43–12		[4]
September 23	Arizona State–Flagstaff *	Rex Field Alamosa, CO	W 14–6	4,700	[5] [6]
September 30	at Eastern New Mexico *	Portales, NM	L 13–32		[7]
October 7	at Panhandle A&M *	Goodwell, OK	L 7–30		[8]
October 14	at Western State (CO)	Gunnison CO	W 29–0		[9]
October 21	New Mexico Highlands *	Rex Field Alamosa, CO	W 32–8	5,100	[10]
October 28	at Colorado State–Greeley	Greeley, CO	W 7–0		[11]
November 4	at Colorado College	Colorado Springs, CO	W 25–8		[12]
November 11	at Cal Poly *	Mustang Stadium San Luis Obispo, CA	W 10–6	4,500	[13]
November 18	Colorado Mines	Alamosa, CO	W 23–17		[14]
*Non-conference game

^[1]

Colorado College

1961 Colorado College Tigers football
Conference	Rocky Mountain Conference
Record	5–3–1 (2–3 RMC)
Head coach	Jerry Carle (5th season)
Home stadium	Washburn Field
Seasons ← 1960 1962 →

The 1961 Colorado College Tigers football team represented Colorado College of Colorado Springs, Colorado. In their fifth year under head coach Jerry Carle, the team compiled a 5–3–1 record (2–3 against RMC opponents) and finished in second place in the RMC.

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 16	Washburn *	Washburn Field Colorado Springs, CO	L 14–18	1,000
September 23	at St. Mary of the Plains *	Dodge City, KS	W 9–6
September 30	Fort Hays State *	Washburn Field Colorado Springs, CO	W 14–6	1,000
October 7	at Westminster (UT) *	Salt Lake City, UT	T 6–6		[15]
October 13	at Colorado State–Greeley	Jackson Field Greeley, CO	W 24–13		[16]
October 28	at Western State (CO)	Gunnison, CO	W 34–7		[17]
November 4	Adams State	Washburn Field Colorado Springs, CO	L 8–25		[12]
November 11	Colorado Mines	Washburn Field Colorado Springs, CO	L 7–10		[18]
November 18	Nebraska Wesleyan *	Washburn Field Colorado Springs, CO	W 34–14		[19]
*Non-conference game

^{[20] [21]}

Western State

1961 Western State Mountaineers football
Conference	Rocky Mountain Conference
Record	4–5 (2–2 RMC)
Head coach	Kay Dalton (1st season)
Home stadium	Perkins Stadium
Seasons ← 1960 1962 →

The 1961 Western State Mountaineers football team represented Western State College (now known as Western Colorado University) of Gunnison, Colorado. In their first year under head coach Kay Dalton, the team compiled a 4–5 record (2–2 against RMC opponents) and finished in a tie for third place in the RMC.

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 16	Chadron State	Perkins Stadium Gunnison, CO	W 56–12		[22]
September 23	New Mexico Highlands	Perkins Stadium Gunnison, CO	L 3–33	3,100	[23]
September 30	at Idaho State	Spud Bowl Pocatello, ID	L 10–22	3,500	[24]
October 7	Colorado State–Greeley	Perkins Stadium Gunnison, CO	W 10–8
October 14	Adams State	Perkins Stadium Gunnison, CO	L 0–29		[9]
October 21	Eastern New Mexico	Perkins Stadium Gunnison, CO	W 10–9
October 28	Colorado College	Washburn Field Gunnison, CO	L 7–34		[17]
November 4	at Colorado Mines	Golden, CO	W 20–13
November 10	at Central State (OK) *	Edmond, OK	L 0–30	5,000	[25]
*Non-conference game

^[26]

Colorado Mines

1961 Colorado Mines Orediggers football
Conference	Rocky Mountain Conference
Record	3–6 (2–2 RMC)
Head coach	Fritz S. Brennecke (15th season)
Seasons ← 1960 1962 →

The 1961 Colorado Mines Orediggers football team represented Colorado School of Mines of Golden, Colorado. In their 15th year under head coach Fritz S. Brennecke, the team compiled a 3–6 record (2–2 against RMC opponents) and finished in a tie for third place in the RMC.

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 16	New Mexico Highlands *	Golden, CO	L 0–12
September 23	at Idaho State *	Spud Bowl Pocatello, ID	L 6–50	3,000	[27]
September 30	Omaha *	Golden, CO	W 13–12		[28]
October 7	at Washburn *	Topeka, KS	L 6–20
October 14	Westminster (UT) *	Golden, CO	L 0–6		[29]
October 21	Colorado State-Greeley	Golden, CO	W 13–6		[30]
November 4	Western State (CO)	Golden, CO	L 13–20
November 11	at Colorado College	Washburn Field Colorado Springs, CO	W 10–7		[18]
November 18	at Adams State	Alamosa, CO	L 17–23		[14]
*Non-conference game Homecoming

^[21]

Colorado State–Greeley

1961 Colorado State–Greeley Bears football
Conference	Rocky Mountain Conference
Record	1–9 (0–4 RMC)
Head coach	Joe Lindahl (8th season)
Home stadium	Jackson Field
Seasons ← 1960 1962 →

The 1961 Colorado State–Greeley Bears football team represented Colorado State College of Greeley, Colorado (now known as Northern Colorado University). In their eighth year under head coach Joe Lindahl, the team compiled a 1–9 record (0–4 against RMC opponents) and finished in last place in the RMC.

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 16	at South Dakota State *	Brookings, SD	L 13–36	5,000	[31]
September 23	Omaha *		L 6–27		[32]
September 30	Drake *	Jackson Field Greeley, CO	L 0–7	4,000	[33]
October 7	at Western State (CO)	Gunnison, CO	L 8–10
October 13	Colorado College	Jackson Field Greeley, CO	L 13–24		[16]
October 21	at Colorado Mines	Golden, CO	L 6–13	3,200	[30]
October 28	Adams State	Greeley, CO	L 0–7		[11]
November 4	Idaho State *	Jackson Field Greeley, CO	W 27–22		[34]
November 11	South Dakota *	Jackson Field Greeley, CO	L 14–16		[35] [36]
November 18	Nevada *	Mackay Stadium Reno, NV	L 0–17	2,250	[37]
*Non-conference game

^[21]

References

1. Official Collegiate Football Record Book. National Collegiate Athletic Association. 1962. p. 95.
2. "5 Adams State Gridders Make All-Loop Team". Fort Collins Coloradoan. November 30, 1961. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Bears Place Trio on All-RMC Team". Greeley Daily Tribune. November 27, 1961. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "Adams State Raps N.M. Western". The Daily Sentinel. September 17, 1961. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
5. Bill Nixon (September 24, 1961). "Adams State Rally Edges Axers, 14-6". Arizona Republic. p. 2C – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Arizona State–Flagstaff)". National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved December 22, 2022.
7. "Adams State Suffers Its First Loss". Greeley Daily Tribune. October 2, 1961. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Adams Bows To Panhandle". The Daily Oklahoman. October 8, 1961. p. 6E – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Adams Tops Western State". The Daily Sentinel. October 15, 1961. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
10. Eddie Groth (October 23, 1961). "HU Pokes Fall To Adams State 32-8". Las Vegas Daily Optic. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Adams State Nips CSC Bears, 7-0". Fort Collins Coloradoan. October 29, 1961. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Adams State Whips Tigers". The Daily Sentinel. November 5, 1961. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
13. "Indians Edge Cal Poly, 10-6". San Luis Obispo County Telgram-Tribune. November 13, 1961. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
14. "Indians Lick Mines 23-17". The Daily Sentinel. November 19, 1961. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
15. Dave Kadleck (October 9, 1961). "Westminster Linemen Sparkle As Parsons Tie Colorado, 6-6". Deseret News. p. 6B – via Newspapers.com.
16. Bob Scales (October 16, 1961). "CC Razzle-Dazzle Trips Bears, 24-13". Greeley Tribune. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
17. "Western Scores First, But CC Gains 34-6 Triumph". The Daily Sentinel. October 29, 1961. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
18. "Miners Whip Tigers 10-7". The Daily Sentinel. November 12, 1961. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
19. "Plainsmen Handed 17th Loss in a Row: Tough Colorado College Is Out-Downed But Wins, 34-14". The Lincoln Sunday Journal and Star. November 19, 1961. p. 4D – via Newspapers.com.
20. "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Colorado College)". National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved August 6, 2024.
21. Official Collegiate Football Record Book. National Collegiate Athletic Association. 1962. p. 103.
22. "Chadron Eagles Swamped By Western State, 56-12". Chadron Record. September 18, 1961. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
23. "Cowboys Outclass Western Of Colorado By 33-3 Rout". The Optic. September 25, 1961. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
24. "Bengals rally to beat Western State, 22–10". Idaho State Journal. October 1, 1961. Retrieved June 20, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
25. "Coloradoans Fall To Central State". Tulsa World. November 11, 1961. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
26. Official Collegiate Football Record Book. National Collegiate Athletic Association. 1962. p. 104.
27. "Idaho State romps over Miners, 50–6". The Spokesman-Review. September 24, 1961. Retrieved June 20, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
28. "Mines Halts Omaha Win String, 13-12". Omaha World-Herald. October 1, 1961. p. 1C – via Newspapers.com.
29. Dave Kadleck (October 16, 1961). "Parsons 'Kick' Way To Victory". Deseret News. p. 6B – via Newspapers.com.
30. "Miners Dump Winless Bears". The Daily Sentinel. October 22, 1961. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
31. Craig Stolze (September 17, 1961). "Rabbits Jolt Bears 36-13". Argus-Leader. p. 4D – via Newspapers.com.
32. Maurice Shadle (September 24, 1961). "O. U. Strikes Fast for 27-6 Decision". Omaha World-Herald. pp. 1C, 7C – via Newspapers.com.
33. Bob Scales (October 2, 1961). "Drake U. Squeaks BY CSC Bears, 7-0". Greeley Tribune. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
34. "Bears Shock 6th Ranked Idaho State, 27-22". Greeley Tribune. November 6, 1961. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
35. Paul Moloney (November 13, 1961). "Holdsberg Leads SDU To 16-14 Win Over CSC". Greeley Tribune. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
36. "Coyotes Shock Bears: USD Ends Loss Streak 16-14". Argus-Leader. November 12, 1961. p. 1D – via Newspapers.com.
37. Ty Cobb (November 19, 1961). "Nevada Blanks Colorado State; Winds Up Best Year Since '48". Nevada State Journal. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.