1961 Millikin Big Blue football team

1961 Millikin Big Blue football
CCI champion
Conference	College Conference of Illinois
Record	8–0 (7–0 CCI)
Head coach	Don Shroyer (6th season)
Captain	Jerry Domescik, Ryan Jorstad
Home stadium	Millikin Field

1961 College Conference of Illinois football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 14 Millikin $	6	–	0	–	0			8	–	0	–	0
Carroll (WI)	5	–	1	–	0			6	–	3	–	0
Carthage	4	–	2	–	0			7	–	2	–	0
North Central (IL)	3	–	3	–	0			5	–	4	–	0
Augustana (IL)	2	–	4	–	0			5	–	4	–	0
Illinois Wesleyan	1	–	5	–	0			2	–	7	–	0
Lake Forest	0	–	6	–	0			0	–	8	–	0
$ – Conference champion Rankings from NAIA poll

The 1961 Millikin Big Blue football team was an American football team that represented Millikin University as a member of the College Conference of Illinois during the 1961 college football season. In their sixth and final year under head coach Don Shroyer, the Big Blue compiled a perfect 8–0 record (6–0 against conference opponents), won the CCI championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 305 to 79.[1] Millikin was ranked 14th in the final National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) poll.[2] The 1961 campaign was one of only four undefeated seasons in Millikin football history.[3]

Senior halfback and co-captain Jerry Domescik rushed for 799 yards, scored 20 touchdowns, and led the NAIA with 120 points scored.[3][4] He was also named to the 1961 NAIA All-America team.[5]

Six Milliken players were named to the 1961 All-CCI football team: Domescik; Ryan Jorstad (offensive and defensive tackle); Bob Martin (offensive tackle); Bill Severino (offensive and defensive guard); Chuck Siebel (defensive end); Delmar Rutz (defensive halfback).[6]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 23	at Illinois State Normal*	McCormick Field Normal, IL	W 22–0	1,000	[7]
September 30	Carthage	Millikin Field Decatur, IL	W 32–30		[8]
October 7	North Park*	Millikin Field Decatur, IL	W 72–0
October 14	at Augustana (IL)	Rock Island, IL	W 39–7		[9]
October 21	Lake Forest	Millikin Field Decatur, IL	W 47–7	3,000	[10]
October 28	at Illinois Wesleyan	IWU Stadium Bloomington, IL	W 27–16		[11]
November 4	North Central (IL)	Millikin Field Decatur, IL	W 19–0		[12]
November 11	at Carroll (WI)	Haertel Field Waukesha, WI	W 47–13		[13]
*Non-conference game Homecoming

References

1. "CCIW Football History" (PDF). College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. p. 6. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
2. "Linfield Third As Whittier Fourth; Pittsburgh Top Team". Humboldt Standard. Eureka, California. November 22, 1961. p. 10. Retrieved June 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
3. "Millikin Announces 2023 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees". Millikin University. September 19, 2023.
4. "Domescik NAIA Champ: Blue Halfback Wins Scoring Title by 6 Points". The Decatur Daily Review. December 6, 1961. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "J. Domescik Named NAIA All-America". The Decatur Daily Review. December 8, 1961. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Augie's Tingle Linebacker Pick on CCI All-Conference". The Rock Island Argus. November 23, 1961. p. 36 – via Newspapers.com.
7. Ron Janecke (September 24, 1961). "ISNU's Rally in 2nd Half Too Late -- Millikin Wins, 22-16: Redbirds Scare Big Blue After Trailing, 22 to 0". The Pantagraph. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Millikin Football Team Opens CCI Play Against Carthage Here Today". Decatur Herald. September 30, 1961. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
9. Dave Krone (October 16, 1961). "Powerful Millikin Dampens Augie Homecoming; Coasts to 39-7 Win". The Rock Island Argus. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Lake Forest Routed, 47-7, at Millikin". Chicago Tribune. October 22, 1961. p. Part 2, page 4 – via Newspapers.com.
11. Fred Young (October 29, 1961). "Millikin Rips Titans, 27-16: Big Blue Powers Way to Fourth CCI Win". The Pantagraph. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Domescik Paces Millikin to 5th CCI Win, 19-0". The Pantagraph. November 5, 1961. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
13. "Millikin Captures CCI Crown, 47-13: Jerry Domescik Leads Big Blue To Easy Triumph Over Carroll". The Pantagraph. November 12, 1961. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.