1961 UCLA Bruins football team

Summary

The 1961 UCLA Bruins football team was an American football team that represented the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) as a member of the Athletic Association of Western Universities (AAWU) during the 1961 NCAA University Division football season. In their fourth year under head coach William F. Barnes, the Bruins compiled an overall record of 7–4 record with a mark of 3–1 in conference play, winning the AAWU title. UCLA Was invited to the Rose Bowl, where they lost to Minnesota.[1]

1961 UCLA Bruins football
AAWU champion
Rose Bowl, L 3–21 vs. Minnesota
ConferenceAthletic Association of Western Universities
Ranking
APNo. 16
Record7–4 (3–1 AAWU)
Head coach
Home stadiumLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Seasons
← 1960
1962 →
1961 Athletic Association of Western Universities football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 16 UCLA $ 3 1 0 7 4 0
USC 2 1 1 4 5 1
Washington 2 1 1 5 4 1
Stanford 1 3 0 4 6 0
California 1 3 0 1 8 1
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

UCLA's offensive leaders in 1961 were quarterbacks Bobby Smith and Mike Haffner with 327 passing yards each, Haffner with 703 rushing yards, and Kermit Alexander with 297 receiving yards.[2]

Schedule edit

DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 23at Air Force*W 19–627,500[3]
September 30at Michigan*No. 9L 6–2973,019[4]
October 7at No. 8 Ohio State*L 3–1382,992
October 14Vanderbilt*W 28–2123,704[5]
October 21Pittsburgh*
  • Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
  • Los Angeles, CA
W 20–627,688[6]
October 28at StanfordW 20–035,000[7]
November 4California
  • Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
  • Los Angeles, CA (rivalry)
W 35–1533,792[8]
November 10TCU*
  • Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
  • Los Angeles, CA
W 28–729,236
November 18Washington
  • Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
  • Los Angeles, CA
L 13–1733,969
November 25at USC
W 10–757,580
January 1vs. No. 6 Minnesota*L 3–2198,214
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[9]

References edit

  1. ^ "1961 UCLA Bruins Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
  2. ^ "1961 UCLA Bruins Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
  3. ^ Curran, J. (September 24, 1961). "Bruins' bobby smith (3 TDs) ruins air force, 19-6". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 167989404.
  4. ^ Lyall Smith (October 1, 1961). "U-M, MSU Open with Bang: UCLA Ripped, 29 to 6". Detroit Free Press. pp. D1, D3 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Fighting Uclans edge still Vanderbilt 11". The Idaho Statesman. October 15, 1961. Retrieved October 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Curran, J. (October 22, 1961). "Bruins' defense rescues offense, beats pitt, 20-6". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 167984444.
  7. ^ "UCLA backs speed by stanford, 20-0". The Washington Post. October 29, 1961. ProQuest 141383308.
  8. ^ Curran, J. (November 5, 1961). "SMITH STARS AS BRUINS 'FIGHT' TO WIN". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 167970976.
  9. ^ "2015 UCLA Bruins Football Media Guide Year-by-Year Results" (PDF). Retrieved December 19, 2016.