1961 Sam Houston State Bearkats football team

1961 Sam Houston State Bearkats football
LSC champion
Conference	Lone Star Conference
Record	8–1 (7–0 LSC)
Head coach	Paul Pierce (10th season)
Home stadium	Pritchett Field
Seasons ←  1960 1962  →

1961 Lone Star Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
Sam Houston State $	7	–	0	–	0			8	–	1	–	0
Texas A&I	5	–	2	–	0			7	–	2	–	0
Lamar Tech	4	–	2	–	1			8	–	2	–	1
Howard Payne	4	–	3	–	0			4	–	5	–	0
East Texas State	3	–	4	–	0			4	–	6	–	0
Southwest Texas State	2	–	4	–	1			4	–	5	–	1
Sul Ross	1	–	6	–	0			3	–	7	–	0
Stephen F. Austin	1	–	6	–	0			1	–	9	–	0
$ – Conference champion

The 1961 Sam Houston State Bearkats football team was an American football team that represented Sam Houston State Teachers College (now known as Sam Houston State University) as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC) during the 1961 college football season. In their tenth year under head coach Paul Pierce, the Bearkats compiled an 8–1 record (7–0 in conference games), won the LSC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 154 to 73. ^[1]

The team played its home games at Pritchett Field in Huntsville, Texas.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 16	Louisiana College *	Pritchett Field Huntsville, TX	L 3–17	5,500	[2]
September 23	at Corpus Christi *	UCC Stadium Corpus Christi, TX	W 13–6		[3]
October 7	Howard Payne	Pritchett Field Huntsville, TX	W 10–6	4,500	[4]
October 14	at East Texas State	Memorial Stadium Commerce, TX	W 14–0		[5]
October 21	No. 7 Texas A&I	Pritchett Field Huntsville, TX	W 28–14	7,500	[6]
October 28	at Southwest Texas State	Evans Field San Marcos, TX	W 9–7	5,000–6,000	[7] [8]
November 4	Sul Ross	Pritchett Field Huntsville, TX	W 27–0	5,500	[9]
November 11	at Stephen F. Austin	Memorial Stadium Nacogdoches, TX (rivalry)	W 41–16	5,500	[10]
November 18	Lamar Tech	Pritchett Field Huntsville, TX	W 9–7	7,300–7,500	[11] [12]
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

^{[1] [13]}

Statistics

The Bearkats gained 2,337 yards of total offense (259.7 per game), consisting of 1,578 rushing yards (175.3 per game) and 759 passing yards (84.3 per game). On defense, they held opponents to 1,603 yards (178.1 per game), including 997 rushing yard (110.8 per game) and 606 passing yards (67.3 per game). ^[1]

The team was led on offense by quarterbacks Calvin Pope and Ken Wigington. Pope led the team in passing (32-for-55, 363 passing yards, three touchdowns, six interceptions) and scoring (58 points, three tuchdowns, 16 extra point kicks, eight field goals). Wigington led the team with 435 yards of total offense, consisting of 312 passing yards and 123 rushing yards. ^[1]

The team's leading rushers were Eliseo Villareal (356 yards, 86 carries) and Sammy McDonald (285 yards, 56 carries). ^[1]

The leading receivers were halfbacks Larry May (12 receptions, 163 yards) and Eliseo Villareal (11 receptions, 106 yards). ^[1]

Dave Smith was the team's punter. He had 40 punts for a 34.3-yard average. ^[1]

Awards and honors

Two Sam Houston players received first-team honors on the 1961 All-Lone Star Conference football team: tackle Walter Dollar and guard Steve Shaver. Two others were named to the second team: halfback Eliseo Villareal and end Henry Adair. Five others received honorable mention: quarterback Calvin Pope; halfbacks Sammy McDonald and Larry May; fullback Albert Thompson; and center Pat Derrick. ^[14]

References

1. "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics". National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved January 9, 2022.
2. "Wildcats trim Texans by 17–3". Lake Charles American-Press. September 17, 1961. Retrieved January 9, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
3. "Sam Houston State edges Tarpons, 13–6". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. September 24, 1961. Retrieved January 9, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
4. "Sam Houston scores 10–6 win". Victoria Advocate. October 8, 1961. Retrieved January 9, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
5. "Sam Houston State tops East Texas St". Wichita Falls Times. October 14, 1961. Retrieved January 9, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
6. "Texas A&I loses, 28–14, to Bearkats". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. October 22, 1961. Retrieved January 9, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
7. "Sam Houston holds lead in Lone Star". The Abilene Reporter-News. October 29, 1961. Retrieved January 9, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
8. "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics". National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved July 4, 2022.
9. "Sam Houston routs Sul Ross with Pope". The Abilene Reporter-News. November 5, 1961. Retrieved January 9, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
10. "Sam Houston smashes SF Austin". The Austin American-Statesman. November 12, 1961. Retrieved January 9, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
11. "Sharp-footed Sam Houston edges Cards". The Tyler Courier-Times. November 19, 1961. Retrieved January 9, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
12. "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics". National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved January 9, 2023.
13. "1961 Football Schedule". Sam Houston State University . Retrieved January 9, 2023.
14. "Lone Star: Two Hogs Named All-Conference". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. November 28, 1961. p. C1 – via Newspapers.com.