1961 Auburn Tigers football team explained
The 1961 Auburn Tigers football team was an American football team that represented Auburn University as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 1961 college football season. In their 11th year under head coach Ralph "Shug" Jordan, the Tigers compiled a 6–4 record (3–4 in conference games), finished in seventh place in the SEC, and outscored opponents by a total of 174 to 137. It was the Tigers' 70th overall and 28th season as a member of the SEC.[1]
The team's statistical leaders included Bobby Hunt (703 passing yards, 1,051 yards of total offense), Larry Rawson (448 rushing yards), and Dave Edwards (372 receiving yards).[2]
The team played five of its home games at Cliff Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama, and two at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama.
Schedule
[3] [4]
Statistics
The Tigers gained an average of 243.7 yards per game (143.6 rushing, 100.1 passing). On defense, they gave up 144.3 rushing yards and 79.7 passing yards per game.[5]
The offense was led by senior quarterback Bobby Hunt who completed 54 of 118 passes (45.8%) for 703 yards with two touchdowns, eight interceptions, and an 87.8 quarterback rating.[2] Hunt also ranked second in rushing (247 yards) and pass interceptions (three). He led the team with 1,050 yards of total offense; he finished his Auburn career with 2,279 yards of total offense, third best in Auburn history to that date.[6] Hunt and kicking specialist Woody Woodall tied for the team's scoring lead with 36 points each.[6] After the season, head coach Jordan said, "I don't know what we'd have done without [Hunt]."[6]
The rushing defense was led by sophomore fullback Larry Rawson (448 yards, 121 carries, 3.7-yard average), Bobby Hunt (347 yards, 101 carries, 3.4-yard average), Don Machen (187 yards, 38 carries, 4.9-yard average), Jimmy Burson (187 yards, 44 carries, 4.3-yard average), and Larry Laster (187 yards, 44 carries, 4.4-yard average).[2]
The team's leading receivers were Dave Edwards (372 yards, 25 receptions) and Bobby Foret (131 yards, 10 receptions).[2]
Bo Davis was the team's punter, kicking 55 times for 2,034 yards, an average of 36.9 yards per punt.[6]
Awards and honors
Four Auburn players were recognized by the Associated Press (AP) or United Press International (UPI) on the 1961 All-SEC football team: end Dave Edwards (AP-1, UPI-1); halfback Bobby Hunt (UPI-3); center Wayne Frazier (AP-3); and tackle Billy Wilson (UPI-3).[7] [8]
Personnel
Players
- Joe Baughan (#76), guard, junior, 6'3", 225 pounds, Bessemer, AL
- Jimmy Burson (#22), halfback, junior, 5'10", 178 pounds, LaGrange, GA
- Bo Davis, punter
- Don Downs (#88), end, junior, 6'0", 200 pounds, Birmingham, AL
- Dave Edwards (#80), end, senior, 6'1", 198 pounds, Abbeyville, AL
- Bobby Foret (#85), end, senior, 6'1", 198 pounds, New Orleans, LA
- Wayne Frazier (#51), center, senior, 6'2", 230 pounds, Evergreen, AL
- Winky Giddens (#79), tackle, junior, 6'2", 225 pounds, Childersburg, AL
- George Gross
- Bobby Hunt (#12), quarterback, senior, 6'1, 180 pounds, Lanett, AL
- Mailon Kent (#15), quarterback, sophomore, 6'2", 185 pounds, Birmingham, AL
- Larry Laster (#35), fullback, junior, 5'11", 195 pounds, Covington, GA
- Don Machen (#23), halfback, senior, 5'9", 150 pounds, Sylacauga, AL
- John McGeever (#36), halfback, senior, 6'0", 195 pounds, Birmingham, AL
- Joe Overton (#16), quarterback, junior, 6'2", 190 pounds, Greenville, MS
- Jim Price (#58), center, junior, 6'3", 225 pounds, Birmingham, AL
- Jimmy Putnam (#65), guard, senior, 6'0", 200 pounds, Birmingham, AL
- Larry Rawson (#30), fullback, sophomore, 6'0", 202 pounds, Pensacola, FL
- Billy Wilson (#78), tackle, senior, 6'2", 250 pounds, Birmingham, AL
- Woody Woodall, kicking specialist
Coaches
- Head coach: Ralph Jordan
- Assistant coaches: George Atkins, Joe Connally, Vince Dooley, Joel Eaves, Hal Herring, Billy Kinard, Gene Lorendo, Dick McGovern, J. D. Roberts, Erk Russell, C.L. Senn[9]
Notes and References
- Web site: 1961 Auburn Tigers Schedule and Results. Sports Reference LLC. SR/College Football. October 4, 2024.
- Web site: 1961 Auburn Tigers Stats. Sports Reference LLC. SR/College Football. October 4, 2024.
- Book: 2009 Auburn Football Media Guide . 2009 . 188 . Auburn Media Relations Office . Auburn, Alabama . PDF . 2012-12-19 . 2014-10-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141006152710/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/aub/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/09-fb-mg-sec5.pdf . dead .
- Web site: 1961–1962 Auburn University Football Schedule. https://web.archive.org/web/20120901133511/http://www.auburntigers.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/aub-m-footbl-sched-1961.html. dead. September 1, 2012. Auburn University Athletics. December 18, 2012.
- Web site: 1961 Auburn Tigers Stats. Sports Reference LLC. SR/College Football. October 4, 2024.
- News: Hunt And Rawson Offensive Leaders. Birmingham Post-Herald. December 7, 1961. 3. Newspapers.com.
- News: Trammell, Watson Head AP All-SEC. The Atlanta Constitution. Vernon Butler. December 6, 1961. 41. Newspapers.com.
- News: Four Tiders Selected For UPI All-SEC Team: Tech Guard Dave Watson Only Jacket on Dream Team. The Atlanta Constitution. November 30, 1961. 37. Newspapers.com.
- Web site: Football 1961. Auburn Tigers. October 4, 2024.
