The 1961 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the
University of Michigan in the
1961 Big Ten Conference football season. In its third year under head coach
Bump Elliott, Michigan compiled a 6–3 record (3–3 against conference opponents), finished in sixth place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a combined total of 212 to 163.[1][2]
After opening the season with convincing wins over No. 9
UCLA (29–6) and
Army (38–8), Michigan was ranked No. 2 in the
Coaches Poll. The team fell from the rankings after being shut out by Michigan State (0–28) the following week.
The team's statistical leaders included
Dave Glinka with 588 passing yards,
Dave Raimey with 496 rushing yards and 36 points scored, and Bennie McRae with 210 receiving yards.[5]
The
1960 Michigan Wolverines football team compiled a 5–4 record and tied for fifth place in the Big Ten.[6] At the end of the 1960 season, end
George Mans was selected by his teammates to be the captain of the 1961 team.[7]
In May 1961, halfback
Dave Raimey received the Meyer W. Morton Trophy as the player who showed the most improvement in spring practice.[9]
In June 1961, halfback Harvey E. Chapman received the John F. Maulbetsch Scholarship, presented each year to a freshman player "on the basis of scholarship, need, and promise and desire for leadership."[10]
On September 30, 1961, Michigan opened its season with a 29-6 victory over 1961
AAWU champion
UCLA (ranked No. 9 in the AP Poll) before a crowd of 73,019 (including 13,000 high school band members) at
Michigan Stadium. Michigan gained 253 yards, including 227 rushing yards, and held UCLA to 172 total yards. The Wolverines took a 16-0 lead at halftime on touchdowns by Bill Tunnicliff (one-yard run) and
Dave Raimey (20-yard run) and a 29-yard field goal by Douglas Bickle. Michigan extended its lead to 29 points in the third quarter on a four-yard touchdown run by
Bennie McRae and a 92-yard interception return by Ken Tureaud. UCLA scored its lone touchdown in the fourth quarter on a one-yard run by Dimkich.[11]
On October 7, 1961, Michigan defeated
Army, 38-8, before a crowd of 65,012 at Michigan Stadium. Michigan's point total was its highest in 39 games, dating back to 1956. Michigan touchdowns were scored by
Dave Raimey (13-yard run),
Bennie McRae (47-yard run), Bill Tunnicliff (three-yard run),
Bruce McLenna (seven-yard run), and Bob Brown (36-yard pass from Bob Chandler). Doug Bickle added a field goal and five extra points.[12]
On October 14, 1961, Michigan (ranked No. 6 in the AP Poll) lost to
Michigan State (ranked No. 5), 28-0, before a crowd of 103,198 and a national television audience at
Michigan Stadium. The Spartans led, 14-0, at the end of the first quarter and 21-0 at halftime. Michigan was held to 92 rushing yards and 84 passing yards.[13]
On October 21, 1961, Michigan defeated
Purdue, 16–14, before a crowd of 66,805 at Michigan Stadium.
Michigan opened the scoring with a safety in the first quarter, when Purdue fumbled a pitchout in the end zone.
Dave Raimey also scored in the opening quarter on a one-yard run.
Bennie McRae caught six passes for 144 yards, including a touchdown reception that covered 72 yards in the third quarter.[14]
On October 28, 1961, Michigan lost to Minnesota, 23–20, at
Memorial Stadium in
Minneapolis. Michigan led, 20-8, through the first three quarters as Tunnicliff ran eight yards for a touchdown and
Dave Raimey scored twice on runs of 27 and four yards. Late in the fourth quarter, Michigan stopped a Minnesota drive at the nine-yard line, but
Bennie McRae fumbled on the first play after Michigan took over, and Minnesota scored the winning touchdown with one minute and 24 seconds remaining.[15]
On November 4, 1961, Michigan defeated 1961
ACC champion
Duke, 28–14, before a crowd of 56,488 at Michigan Stadium.
Bennie McRae scored three touchdowns on a five-yard run in the first quarter, a 15-yard pass from
Dave Glinka in the second quarter, and a 34-yard interception return in the second quarter.
Dave Raimey also rushed for 116 yards on 15 carries.[16]
On November 11, 1961, Michigan defeated
Illinois, 38–6, before a crowd of 40,179 at
Memorial Stadium in
Champaign, Illinois. The outcome was the second consecutive Michigan victory in the seven-year rivalry between head coaching brothers
Bump Elliott and
Pete Elliott. Michigan played all 38 players who traveled to Champaign in an effort to keep the score down. Michigan gained 309 rushing yards and held Illinois to 55 rushing yards.
Dave Raimey began the scoring on a 54-yard punt return. J. Paul Raeder scored two touchdowns, and
George Mans caught a touchdown pass from
Dave Glinka.[17]
On November 18, 1961, Michigan defeated
Iowa, 23–14, before a crowd of 61,925 at Michigan Stadium. Iowa was led by first-year head coach
Jerry Burns who had played quarterback for Michigan. Michigan lost
Bennie McRae with a shoulder separation in the first quarter, and Iowa took a 14-3 lead at halftime. Michigan rallied with three unanswered touchdowns in the second half.
Dave Glinka ran 44 yards for his first collegiate touchdown.
Dave Raimey totaled 102 rushing yards and scored on a one-yard run (set up by a 54-yard run by Harvey Chapman). Glinka threw a touchdown pass to Bob Brown that covered 20 yards. Iowa was held to two first downs and negative 16 rushing yards in the second half. Michigan outgained Iowa by 266 rushing yards to 97. In the Detroit Free Press,
Joe Falls praised the courage of
Bump Elliott's team and called the game "Elliott's finest victory of the season."[18]
On November 25, 1961, Michigan lost to
Ohio State, 50-20, before a crowd of 80,444 at Michigan Stadium. Ohio State fullback
Bob Ferguson scored four touchdowns in the game. The Buckeyes' 50 points was the fourth highest point total allowed by a Michigan team up to that time, with two of the prior occasions occurring in the 1890s. Michigan's three touchdowns were scored on a 90-yard kickoff return by
Dave Raimey and one-yard runs by
Bruce McLenna and James Ward.[19]
Post-season
At the end of the 1961 season, center and linebacker John Walker received the team's most valuable player award.[20]
The following 40 players received varsity letters for their participation on the 1961 team.[23] Players who started at least four games are shown with their names in bold.[2]
Doug Bickle, 6'3", 210 pounds, sophomore, Traverse City, MI - started 4 games at right tackle, 3 games at left tackle
Robert M. Brown, 6'4", 225 pounds, senior, Kalamazoo, MI - end
Bob Chandler, 6'3", 210 pounds, junior, LaGrange Park, IL - quarterback
Harvey Chapman, 5'11", 175 pounds, sophomore, Farmington Hills, MI - started 1 game at left halfback
Guy Curtis, 6'0", 215 pounds, senior, South Bend, IN - tackle
William Dougall Jr., 6'2", 190 pounds, senior, Detroit - quarterback
Dave Glinka, 5'11", 195 pounds, junior, Toledo, OH - started 2 games at quarterback
Todd Grant, 6'4", 230 pounds, senior, Lathrup Village, MI - started 6 games at center
Lee Hall, 6'0", 210 pounds, senior, Charlotte, MI - started 5 games at right guard, 3 games at left guard
Edward Hood, 5'9", 175 pounds, junior, Detroit - halfback
William Hornbeck, 6'1", 185 pounds, senior, Los Angeles - halfback
John Houtman, 6'4", 235 pounds, junior, Adrian, MI - started 6 games at left tackle
Tom Keating, 6'3", 220 pounds, sophomore, Chicago - tackle
James Korowin, 6'2", 195 pounds, senior, Wyandotte, MI - end
Dave Kurtz, 6'0", 201 pounds, sophomore, Toledo, OH - started 1 game at right guard
John J. Lehr, 6'0", 225 pounds, junior, Cincinnati - tackle
Scott Maentz, 6'3", 230 pounds, senior, East Grand Rapids, MI - started 9 games at left end
Frank Maloney, 5'11", 195 pounds, senior, Chicago - started 1 game at right guard
George Mans, 6'4", 212 pounds, senior, Trenton, MI - started 9 games at right end
Bruce McLenna, 6'3", 218 pounds, sophomore, Fenton, MI - halfback
Bennie McRae, 6'0", 172 pounds, senior, Newport News, VA - started 8 games at left halfback
John Minko, 6'1", 222 pounds, junior, Connellsville, PA - started 6 games at left guard
Delbert Nolan, 5'11", 205 pounds, sophomore, Clare, MI - guard
^"Michigan Football Statistic Archive Query Page". Mgoblue.com. University of Michigan. Archived from
the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved November 6, 2017.(statistics retrieved by entering "1961" in the box for "Games & Totals by Season" and then, at the next screen, choosing "Display Season Totals")
The 1961 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the
University of Michigan in the
1961 Big Ten Conference football season. In its third year under head coach
Bump Elliott, Michigan compiled a 6–3 record (3–3 against conference opponents), finished in sixth place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a combined total of 212 to 163.[1][2]
After opening the season with convincing wins over No. 9
UCLA (29–6) and
Army (38–8), Michigan was ranked No. 2 in the
Coaches Poll. The team fell from the rankings after being shut out by Michigan State (0–28) the following week.
The team's statistical leaders included
Dave Glinka with 588 passing yards,
Dave Raimey with 496 rushing yards and 36 points scored, and Bennie McRae with 210 receiving yards.[5]
The
1960 Michigan Wolverines football team compiled a 5–4 record and tied for fifth place in the Big Ten.[6] At the end of the 1960 season, end
George Mans was selected by his teammates to be the captain of the 1961 team.[7]
In May 1961, halfback
Dave Raimey received the Meyer W. Morton Trophy as the player who showed the most improvement in spring practice.[9]
In June 1961, halfback Harvey E. Chapman received the John F. Maulbetsch Scholarship, presented each year to a freshman player "on the basis of scholarship, need, and promise and desire for leadership."[10]
On September 30, 1961, Michigan opened its season with a 29-6 victory over 1961
AAWU champion
UCLA (ranked No. 9 in the AP Poll) before a crowd of 73,019 (including 13,000 high school band members) at
Michigan Stadium. Michigan gained 253 yards, including 227 rushing yards, and held UCLA to 172 total yards. The Wolverines took a 16-0 lead at halftime on touchdowns by Bill Tunnicliff (one-yard run) and
Dave Raimey (20-yard run) and a 29-yard field goal by Douglas Bickle. Michigan extended its lead to 29 points in the third quarter on a four-yard touchdown run by
Bennie McRae and a 92-yard interception return by Ken Tureaud. UCLA scored its lone touchdown in the fourth quarter on a one-yard run by Dimkich.[11]
On October 7, 1961, Michigan defeated
Army, 38-8, before a crowd of 65,012 at Michigan Stadium. Michigan's point total was its highest in 39 games, dating back to 1956. Michigan touchdowns were scored by
Dave Raimey (13-yard run),
Bennie McRae (47-yard run), Bill Tunnicliff (three-yard run),
Bruce McLenna (seven-yard run), and Bob Brown (36-yard pass from Bob Chandler). Doug Bickle added a field goal and five extra points.[12]
On October 14, 1961, Michigan (ranked No. 6 in the AP Poll) lost to
Michigan State (ranked No. 5), 28-0, before a crowd of 103,198 and a national television audience at
Michigan Stadium. The Spartans led, 14-0, at the end of the first quarter and 21-0 at halftime. Michigan was held to 92 rushing yards and 84 passing yards.[13]
On October 21, 1961, Michigan defeated
Purdue, 16–14, before a crowd of 66,805 at Michigan Stadium.
Michigan opened the scoring with a safety in the first quarter, when Purdue fumbled a pitchout in the end zone.
Dave Raimey also scored in the opening quarter on a one-yard run.
Bennie McRae caught six passes for 144 yards, including a touchdown reception that covered 72 yards in the third quarter.[14]
On October 28, 1961, Michigan lost to Minnesota, 23–20, at
Memorial Stadium in
Minneapolis. Michigan led, 20-8, through the first three quarters as Tunnicliff ran eight yards for a touchdown and
Dave Raimey scored twice on runs of 27 and four yards. Late in the fourth quarter, Michigan stopped a Minnesota drive at the nine-yard line, but
Bennie McRae fumbled on the first play after Michigan took over, and Minnesota scored the winning touchdown with one minute and 24 seconds remaining.[15]
On November 4, 1961, Michigan defeated 1961
ACC champion
Duke, 28–14, before a crowd of 56,488 at Michigan Stadium.
Bennie McRae scored three touchdowns on a five-yard run in the first quarter, a 15-yard pass from
Dave Glinka in the second quarter, and a 34-yard interception return in the second quarter.
Dave Raimey also rushed for 116 yards on 15 carries.[16]
On November 11, 1961, Michigan defeated
Illinois, 38–6, before a crowd of 40,179 at
Memorial Stadium in
Champaign, Illinois. The outcome was the second consecutive Michigan victory in the seven-year rivalry between head coaching brothers
Bump Elliott and
Pete Elliott. Michigan played all 38 players who traveled to Champaign in an effort to keep the score down. Michigan gained 309 rushing yards and held Illinois to 55 rushing yards.
Dave Raimey began the scoring on a 54-yard punt return. J. Paul Raeder scored two touchdowns, and
George Mans caught a touchdown pass from
Dave Glinka.[17]
On November 18, 1961, Michigan defeated
Iowa, 23–14, before a crowd of 61,925 at Michigan Stadium. Iowa was led by first-year head coach
Jerry Burns who had played quarterback for Michigan. Michigan lost
Bennie McRae with a shoulder separation in the first quarter, and Iowa took a 14-3 lead at halftime. Michigan rallied with three unanswered touchdowns in the second half.
Dave Glinka ran 44 yards for his first collegiate touchdown.
Dave Raimey totaled 102 rushing yards and scored on a one-yard run (set up by a 54-yard run by Harvey Chapman). Glinka threw a touchdown pass to Bob Brown that covered 20 yards. Iowa was held to two first downs and negative 16 rushing yards in the second half. Michigan outgained Iowa by 266 rushing yards to 97. In the Detroit Free Press,
Joe Falls praised the courage of
Bump Elliott's team and called the game "Elliott's finest victory of the season."[18]
On November 25, 1961, Michigan lost to
Ohio State, 50-20, before a crowd of 80,444 at Michigan Stadium. Ohio State fullback
Bob Ferguson scored four touchdowns in the game. The Buckeyes' 50 points was the fourth highest point total allowed by a Michigan team up to that time, with two of the prior occasions occurring in the 1890s. Michigan's three touchdowns were scored on a 90-yard kickoff return by
Dave Raimey and one-yard runs by
Bruce McLenna and James Ward.[19]
Post-season
At the end of the 1961 season, center and linebacker John Walker received the team's most valuable player award.[20]
The following 40 players received varsity letters for their participation on the 1961 team.[23] Players who started at least four games are shown with their names in bold.[2]
Doug Bickle, 6'3", 210 pounds, sophomore, Traverse City, MI - started 4 games at right tackle, 3 games at left tackle
Robert M. Brown, 6'4", 225 pounds, senior, Kalamazoo, MI - end
Bob Chandler, 6'3", 210 pounds, junior, LaGrange Park, IL - quarterback
Harvey Chapman, 5'11", 175 pounds, sophomore, Farmington Hills, MI - started 1 game at left halfback
Guy Curtis, 6'0", 215 pounds, senior, South Bend, IN - tackle
William Dougall Jr., 6'2", 190 pounds, senior, Detroit - quarterback
Dave Glinka, 5'11", 195 pounds, junior, Toledo, OH - started 2 games at quarterback
Todd Grant, 6'4", 230 pounds, senior, Lathrup Village, MI - started 6 games at center
Lee Hall, 6'0", 210 pounds, senior, Charlotte, MI - started 5 games at right guard, 3 games at left guard
Edward Hood, 5'9", 175 pounds, junior, Detroit - halfback
William Hornbeck, 6'1", 185 pounds, senior, Los Angeles - halfback
John Houtman, 6'4", 235 pounds, junior, Adrian, MI - started 6 games at left tackle
Tom Keating, 6'3", 220 pounds, sophomore, Chicago - tackle
James Korowin, 6'2", 195 pounds, senior, Wyandotte, MI - end
Dave Kurtz, 6'0", 201 pounds, sophomore, Toledo, OH - started 1 game at right guard
John J. Lehr, 6'0", 225 pounds, junior, Cincinnati - tackle
Scott Maentz, 6'3", 230 pounds, senior, East Grand Rapids, MI - started 9 games at left end
Frank Maloney, 5'11", 195 pounds, senior, Chicago - started 1 game at right guard
George Mans, 6'4", 212 pounds, senior, Trenton, MI - started 9 games at right end
Bruce McLenna, 6'3", 218 pounds, sophomore, Fenton, MI - halfback
Bennie McRae, 6'0", 172 pounds, senior, Newport News, VA - started 8 games at left halfback
John Minko, 6'1", 222 pounds, junior, Connellsville, PA - started 6 games at left guard
Delbert Nolan, 5'11", 205 pounds, sophomore, Clare, MI - guard
^"Michigan Football Statistic Archive Query Page". Mgoblue.com. University of Michigan. Archived from
the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved November 6, 2017.(statistics retrieved by entering "1961" in the box for "Games & Totals by Season" and then, at the next screen, choosing "Display Season Totals")