1961 Virginia Tech Gobblers football team explained

Year:1961
Team:Virginia Tech Gobblers
Sport:football
Conference:Southern Conference
Short Conf:SoCon
Record:4–5
Conf Record:2–3
Head Coach:Jerry Claiborne
Hc Year:1st
Stadium:Miles Stadium

The 1961 Virginia Tech Gobblers football team, also known as the VPI Gobblers, was an American football team that represented the Virginia Polytechnic Institute (now known as Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University or Virginia Tech) as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1961 college football season. In their first year under head coach Jerry Claiborne, the Gobblers compiled a 4–5 record (2–3 in conference games), finished seventh in the SoCon, and were outscored by a total of 112 to 93.[1] [2]

Quarterback Warren Price led the team in passing yards (381), rushing yards (356), and total offense (736 yards). Price was described as "the heart and soul of the Tech offense, a genuine triple-threater."[3]

The team played its home games at Miles Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia.

Statistics

Quarterback Warren Price led the team in passing (37-for-93, 39.8%, 381 yards, five touchdowns, five interceptions), rushing (356 yards on 93 carries, 3.8-yard average), total offense (736 yards), and scoring.[4]

Other significant contributors included Gerald Bobbitte (261 rushing yards, 62 carries, 4.2-yard average) and Terry Strock (223 rushing yards, 68 receiving yards), Buddy Perry (212 rushing yards, 61 receiving yards), and Buddy Weihe (148 rushing yards, 85 receiving yards).[4]

Awards and honors

Three Virginia Tech players were selected as first-team players on the 1961 Virginia All-Big Five football team: quarterback Warren Price; back Terry Strock; and tackle Joe Moss. Two others were placed on the second team: end Leon Tomblin and guard Ray Barile. Three others received honorable mention: back Gerald Bobbitte; tackle Gene Breen; and guard Newt Green.[5]

Tackle Gene Breen was selected as a first-team player on the 1961 All-Southern Conference football team. Tackle Joe Moss and quarterback Warren Price were named to the second team.[6]

Personnel

Players

The following players received varsity letters for their participation on the 1961 Virginia Tech football team:

Other players identified from the roster published in the 1962 edition of The Bugle, the Virginia Tech yearbook, included:

[7]

Coaches and administration

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 1961 Virginia Tech Hokies Schedule and Results. Sports Reference LLC. September 30, 2024.
  2. Web site: Footbal 1961. HokieSports.com. September 30, 2024.
  3. News: 'Heart and Soul': Price Is Key Man Of Tech Football Team. The Times (Roanoke, VA). October 20, 1961. 28. Newspapers.com.
  4. Web site: 1961 Virginia Tech Hokies Stats. Sports Reference LLC. SR/College Football. October 1, 2024.
  5. News: Richmond, Virginia Tech Dominate Honor Grid Team: Each Lands Three Players On 1961 All-Big Five Teams Picked By AP. The Register. Ed Yount. December 1, 1961. 8B. Newspapers.com.
  6. News: Spiders' Earl Stoudt Is SC's Player Of Year. The Roanoke Times. Ed Young . November 29, 1961 . 18. Newspapers.com.
  7. Web site: Virginia Tech Bugle. The Bugle 1962. 213. 1962. 2018-01-21.
  8. 1962 Virginia Tech yearbook, p. 212.

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