1961 Buffalo Bulls football team

1961 Buffalo Bulls football
ConferenceIndependent
Record4–5
Head coach
CaptainBill Selent, Jack Hartman
Home stadiumRotary Field
Seasons
← 1960
1962 →
1961 Eastern college football independents records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Middlebury   –   5 – 1 – 1
Villanova   –   8 – 2 – 0
Southern Connecticut State   –   7 – 2 – 0
Alfred   –   6 – 2 – 0
Montclair State   –   6 – 2 – 0
Delaware Valley   –   6 – 2 – 0
No. 17 Penn State   –   8 – 3 – 0
No. 14 Syracuse   –   8 – 3 – 0
Trinity (CT)   –   5 – 2 – 1
Holy Cross   –   7 – 3 – 0
C. W. Post   –   6 – 3 – 0
Army   –   6 – 4 – 0
Merchant Marine   –   6 – 4 – 0
Tufts   –   5 – 3 – 0
Rochester   –   5 – 3 – 0
Hamilton   –   4 – 3 – 0
Cortland State   –   4 – 3 – 0
American International   –   5 – 4 – 0
Colgate   –   5 – 4 – 0
Northeastern   –   4 – 4 – 0
Coast Guard   –   4 – 4 – 0
Ithaca   –   4 – 4 – 0
Boston University   –   4 – 5 – 0
Buffalo   –   4 – 5 – 0
Bridgeport   –   4 – 5 – 0
Norwich   –   3 – 4 – 1
Worcester Tech   –   3 – 4 – 0
Boston College   –   4 – 6 – 0
Union (NY)   –   3 – 5 – 0
Pittsburgh   –   3 – 7 – 0
Nichols   –   2 – 3 – 0
Trenton State   –   1 – 6 – 0
King's (PA)   –   1 – 8 – 0
Springfield   –   0 – 7 – 1
Brockport   –   0 – 7 – 0
RPI   –   0 – 7 – 0
Hobart   –   0 – 8 – 0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1961 Buffalo Bulls football team was an American football team that represented the University of Buffalo as an independent during the 1961 college football season. In their seventh season under head coach Dick Offenhamer, the Bulls compiled a 4–5 record and were outscored by a total of 163 to 136.[1] The team played home games at Rotary Field in Buffalo, New York.

Quarterback John Stofa broke Buffalo's single-season record for total offense with 807 passing yards and 92 rushing yards for a total of 899 yards in total offense.

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 16Gettysburg
W 14–610,800[2]
September 23at Boston University
W 24–1211,500[3]
September 30at Delaware
L 12–366,200–7,000[4][5]
October 7Holy Cross
  • Rotary Field
  • Buffalo, NY
L 8–209,327[6][7]
October 14at Villanova
L 6–2810,000[8]
October 21Templedagger
  • Rotary Field
  • Buffalo, NY
W 30–36,921–7,500[9][10]
October 28at Connecticut
W 30–77,087[11]
November 4Bucknell
  • Rotary Field
  • Buffalo, NY
L 6–128,100–8,126[12][13]
November 11VMI
  • Rotary Field
  • Buffalo, NY
L 6–396,093–6,300[14]
  • daggerHomecoming

[15]

Statistics

The Bulls gained 2,182 yards of total offense (242.4 yards per game) consisting of 994 rushing yards (110.4 yards per game) and 1,188 passing yards (132 yards per game). On defense, they gave up 2,111 yards (234.5 yards per game) by opponents, including 876 rushing yards (97.2 yards per game) and 1,236 passing yards (137.3 yards per game)[15]

The team's passing leaders were sophomore quarterback John Stofa (64-for 127, 807 yards, 50.4 completion percentage, six touchdowns, five interceptions) and quarterback Eugene Querrie (21-for-64, 304 yards, 32.8 completion percentage, three touchdowns, nine interceptions).[16] Stofa and Querrie also led the team in total offense with 899 and 327 yards, respectively.[15] Stofa's 899 yards of total offense set a new Buffalo single-season record.[16]

The team's rushing leaders were fullback Jack Valentic (252 yards, 59 carries, 4.3 yards per carry), halfback Bob Baker (185 yards, 53 carries, 3.2 yards per carry), Ron Clayback (133 yards, 42 carries, 3.2 yards per carry), and quarterback John Stofa (92 yards, 66 carries, 1.4 yards average).[16]

Valentic was also the team's leading scorer with three touchdowns for 18 points.[15]

The team's leading receivers were halfback Bob Baker (23 receptions for 233 yards, 0 touchdowns), end Bill Selent (12 receptions, 171 yards, 2 touchdowns), Clayback (12 receptions, 136 yards, 1 touchdown), John Cimba (11 receptions, 115 yards, 1 touchdown), and Dick Dickman (9 receptions, 130 yards, 1 touchdown).[16]

End John Michno handled punting for the team, tallying 1,298 yards on 38 punts for an average of 34.2 yards per punt.[15] John Cimba led the team in punt returns, gaining 89 yards on eight returns (11.1 yards per return).[16]

References

  1. ^ "Buffalo Football 2018 Information Guide" (PDF). University of Buffalo. 2019. p. 87. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  2. ^ Phil Ranallo (September 17, 1961). "10,800 See Bulls Subdue Bullets, 14-6". Buffalo Courier Express. p. 45 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Clif Keane (September 24, 1961). "Heads-Up Buffalo Eleven Tips Erring B.U., 24-12". The Boston Globe. pp. 83, 87 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Kelley, Bob (October 2, 1961). "Buffalo Battered by Hens, 36 to 12". Wilmington Morning News. Wilmington, Del. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Delaware)". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
  6. ^ Phil Ranallo (October 8, 1961). "Hennessy of Holy Cross 'Blurs' UB, 20-8: 9,237 Crowd Sees Crusader Ace Make Two Opening Scores". Buffalo Courier Express. p. 49 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Holy Cross Wallops Buffalo Eleven, 20-8". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, N.Y. October 8, 1961. p. 8C – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Bob Fachet (October 15, 1961). "Richman Ace as Villanova Beats Buffalo". The Philadelphia Inquirer. pp. 1S, 3S – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Phil Ranallo. "UB Blasts Temple Before 7,500, 30-3". Buffalo Courier Express. p. 53 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Buffalo Beats Temple, 30-3". The Scrantonian. Scranton, Pa. United Press International. October 22, 1961. p. 51 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Bill Newell (October 29, 1961). "Buffalo Whips Connecticut by 30-7: Bulls' 12th Man Spoils Long TD for Sgruletta". The Hartford Courant. p. 1C – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Bisons Upset Buffalo 12-6". Sunday News. Lancaster, Pa. Associated Press. November 5, 1961. p. 40 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Bucknell)". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  14. ^ "Mitchell sparkles as VMI wallops UB". Buffalo Courier Express. November 12, 1961. Retrieved January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ a b c d e "Brief Summary of Cumulative Football Statistics (Buffalo)". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  16. ^ a b c d e "Stofa Leads Bulls On Total Offense". Buffalo Courier-Express. November 15, 1961. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.