| Year: | 1961 |
| Team: | Tampa Spartans |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Independent |
| Record: | 8–1 |
| Head Coach: | Marcelino Huerta |
| Hc Year: | 10th |
| Stadium: | Phillips Field |
The 1961 Tampa Spartans football team was an American football team that represented the University of Tampa as an independent during the 1961 college football season. In their 25th season of college football and their 10th season under head coach Marcelino Huerta, the Spartans compiled an 8–1 record and outscored opponents by a total of 188 to 98.
Huerta resigned as the Spartans' head coach on January 8, 1962, to take the same position at Wichita State.[1]
The team played its home games at Phillips Field in Tampa, Florida.
The team gained 2,203 yards of total offense (244.8 yards per game), consisting of 1,500 rushing yards (166.6 yards per game) and 803 passing yards (79.2 yards per game). On defense, the Spartans held opponents to 1,689 yards (187.7 yards per game) with 1,250 rushing yards and 439 passing yards.[2]
Quarterback Vaden Bessent led the team in both passing (38-for-65, 557 yards, six touchdowns, zero interceptions) and total offense (627 yards).[2]
The team's leading rushers were fullback Bob Moore (356 yards, 82 carries) and Dick O'Brien (232 yards, 56 carries). Moore also led the team in scoring with 60 points on 10 touchdowns.[2]
The leading receivers were halfback Dick O'Brien (12 receptions, 157 yards) and end Charlie Rose (12 receptions, 137 yards).[2]