1961 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team
American college football season
| 1961 Texas Tech Red Raiders football | |
|---|---|
 1961 team portrait from La Ventana yearbook | |
| Conference | Southwest Conference |
| Record | 4–6 (2–5 SWC) |
| Head coach |
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| Offensive scheme | T formation |
| Base defense | 4–3 |
| Home stadium | Jones Stadium |
Seasons | |
| Conf | Overall | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 3 Texas + | 6 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 10 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 9 Arkansas + | 6 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 8 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rice | 5 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Texas A&M | 3 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 5 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TCU | 2 | – | 4 | – | 1 | 3 | – | 5 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Baylor | 2 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Texas Tech | 2 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SMU | 1 | – | 5 | – | 1 | 2 | – | 7 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1961 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team was an American football team that represented Texas Technological College (now known as Texas Tech University) as a member of the Southwest Conference (SWC) during the 1961 college football season. In their first season under head coach J. T. King, the Red Raiders compiled a 4–6 record (2–5 in conference games), tied for sixth place in the SWC, and were outscored by a combined total of 201 to 94.[1][2] The Raiders won conference games over TCU and Baylor and non-conference games over Boston College and West Texas State.
The team played its home games at Clifford B. and Audrey Jones Stadium in Lubbock, Texas.
Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 23 | at Mississippi State* | L 0–6 | 33,000 | [3][4] | |
| September 30 | at No. 6 Texas | L 14–42 | 43,500 | [5] | |
| October 7 | Texas A&M | L 7–38 | 38,500 | [6] | |
| October 14 | TCU |
| W 10–0 | 25,500 | [7] |
| October 21 | Baylor |
| W 19–17 | 32,500 | [8] |
| October 28 | at SMU |
| L 7–8 | 17,000 | [9] |
| November 4 | Rice |
| L 7–42 | 34,000 | [10] |
| November 11 | Boston College* |
| W 14–6 | 20,000 | [11] |
| November 25 | at No. 9 Arkansas |
| L 0–28 | 41,000 | [12] |
| December 2 | West Texas State* |
| W 16–14 | 25,000 | [13] |
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[1][2]
Statistics
Texas Tech gained an average of 172.0 rushing yards and 89.1 passing yards per game. On defense, they gave up 202.7 rushing yards and 102.9 passing yards per game.[14]
The Red Raiders' rushing offense was led by Coolidge Hunt who gained 486 yards on 128 carries for a 3.8-yard average. Other significant contributors included Johnny Lovelace (282 yards, 89 carries, 3.2-yard average), Bill Worley (217 yards, 49 carries, 4.4-yard average), David Rankin (190 yards, 58 carries, 3.3-yard average), Bake Turner (185 yards, 41 carries, 4.5-yard average), and H.L. Daniels (144 yards, 45 carries, 3.2-yard average).[14]
The passing offense was led by quarterbacks Doug Cannon (37-for-77, 442 yards, one touchdown, six interceptions) and Johnny Lovelace (28-for-69, 359 yards, no touchdowns, four interceptions). The only two players with more than five receptions were Bob Witucki (26 receptions, 335 yards) and David Parks (16 receptions, 209 yards)[14]
Awards and honors
Back Coolidge Hunt received second-team honors from the Associated Press (AP) on the 1961 All-Southwest Conference football team. End David Parks received honorable mention.[15]
References
- ^ a b "1961 Texas Tech Red Raiders Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
- ^ a b "Texas Tech Football 2017 Media Guide". Texas Tech University. 2017. p. 99. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
- ^ Joe Kelly (September 24, 1961). "Bulldogs Shut Out Tech, 6 To 0: Weaver Raps Tech Defense". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. pp. 1, 6 (sports) – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Bulldogs turn back Raiders by 6–0". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. September 24, 1961. Retrieved October 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Longhorns slaughter Tech in opener, 42–14". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. October 1, 1961. Retrieved April 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Joe Kelly (October 8, 1961). "Aggies Sail Past Raiders, 38-7: Farmers Halt Losing Skein". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. p. 1B – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Tony Slaughter (October 15, 1961). "Dad's Night, Saddle inspire Techsans". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 6 (section 1) – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Jim Montgomery (October 22, 1961). "Raiders Deal Deadly Blow to Bruins, 19-17: Tech Soph Kicks BU Lights Out". Waco Tribune-Herald. pp. 1B, 2B – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Galyn Wilkins (October 29, 1961). "Ponies Pin 8-7 Defeat On Raiders". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. pp. 1, 4 (section 3) – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Blume, Jackson Pace Rice To 42-7 Victory Over Tech". Corpus Christi Times. Associated Press. November 5, 1961. p. 1C – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Paul Brookside (November 12, 1961). "Worley Fuels Raiders to 14-6 Victory Over Boston College". Fort Worth Star-Telegraph. p. 3 (section 2) – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Raiders Couldn't Move Hogs". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. November 27, 1961. p. B3 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Pat Truly (December 3, 1961). "Daniels' Toe Boots Tech Past Buffs". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. pp. 1, 4 (section 2) – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c "1961 Texas Tech Red Raiders Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
- ^ "Saxton, Alworth Lead Coaches' All-Southwest Conference Teams". Corsicana Daily Sun. December 4, 1961. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
