1961 Michigan Tech Huskies football team

1961 Michigan Tech Huskies football
ConferenceNorthern State College Conference
Record1–6–1 (1–4 NSCC)
Head coach
Home stadiumSherman Field
Seasons
← 1960
1962 →
1961 Northern State College Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Mankato State $ 5 – 0 – 0 6 – 3 – 0
Moorhead State 3 – 2 – 0 5 – 4 – 0
Bemidji State 3 – 2 – 0 3 – 6 – 0
Winona State 2 – 2 – 1 4 – 3 – 1
Michigan Tech 1 – 4 – 0 1 – 6 – 1
St. Cloud State 0 – 4 – 1 1 – 6 – 1
  • $ – Conference champion

The 1961 Michigan Tech Huskies football team was an American football team that represented Michigan Technological University of Houghton, Michigan, as a member of the Northern State College Conference (NSCC) during the 1961 college football season. In their fifth season under head coach Omer LaJeunesse, the Huskies compiled a 1–6–1 record (1–4 in conference games) and finished in fifth place out of six teams in the NSCC.[1][2] They were outscored by a total of 144 to 52.[3]

The season ended with a 61–6 defeat against Northern Michigan. It was the most points ever scored by a Northern Michigan team and the most one-sided loss Tech had suffered in the long Michigan Tech-Northern Michigan football rivalry.[4]

The team averaged 188.7 yards of total offense per game. On defense, they gave up an average of 221.5 yards per game.[3] Individual statistical leaders included Jack Boldt with 424 rushing yards and 32 points scored (five touchdowns and one two-point conversion) and Marv Lilley with 18 receptions for 263 yards. Quarterbacks Fred Pastori and Ralph Abata combined to complete 38 of 104 passes for 478 yards and five interceptions.[3]

Tackle Roger Hettinga was a standout on defense.[5]

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 16at Superior State*Superior, WIT 0–01,500[6]
September 23St. Norbert*Houghton, MIL 6–71,929[7]
September 30St. Cloud StateHoughton, MIW 20–6716[8][9]
October 7at Mankato StateMankato, MNL 0–193,000[10]
October 14Bemidji StateHoughton, MIL 2–161,345
October 21Moorhead StatedaggerHoughton, MIL 16–191,766[11]
October 28at Winona State
L 2–163,000[12]
November 4 No. 4 Northern Michigan*
L 6–615,000[4]
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[13][3]

References

  1. ^ "Football Standings; NSCC". The St. Cloud Daily Times. St. Cloud, Minnesota. November 1, 1961. p. 29. Retrieved June 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  2. ^ "Football Media Guide & Yearbook" (PDF). Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. p. 108. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "It's Northern, 61-6!". Detroit Free Press. November 5, 1961. p. D7 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Bill Robersen (September 29, 1961). "Roger Hettinga Is Defensive Standout". Wausau Daily Record-Herald. p. 19.
  6. ^ "Game summary". Leader-Telegram. September 17, 1961. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "St. Norbert Nips Michigan Tech, 7-6". Green Bay Press-Gazette. September 24, 1961. p. 1D – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "State Opens NSCC Play at Mich. Tech". St. Cloud Times. September 30, 1961. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Much-Improved State Looks to Winona Game". St. Cloud Times. October 2, 1961. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Mankato Halts Huskies 19-0". Ironwood Daily Globe. October 9, 1961. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Tech to Have Homecoming". Ironwood Daily Globe. October 17, 1961. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Gray Evans (October 30, 1961). "Warriors Rout Michigan Tech in Rain, 16-2". The Winona Daily News. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "1961-62 Football". Michigan Technological University. Retrieved July 21, 2024.