Sports season
1961 Ohio Athletic Conference football season Sport Football Number of teams 14 Champion Wittenberg
The 1961 Ohio Athletic Conference football season was the season of college football played by the 14 member schools of the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC), commonly referred to as the "Ohio Conference", as part of the 1961 college football season .
The 1961 Wittenberg Tigers football team , in their seventh season under head coach Bill Edwards , won the OAC championship with an 8–1 record (6–0 against OAC opponents). The team ranked fourth among small college teams with an average of 400.9 yards per game of total offense . The Tigers also ranked fifth nationally in total deffense, allowing an average of only 118.3 yards per game.
The 1961 Akron Zips football team , led by second-year head coach Bob Winterburn, finished in second place with a 6–2 record (6–1 against OAC opponents). Quarterback Joe Mackey led the team with 978 yards of total offfense, and fullback George Deo led the team with 860 rushing yards.[ 1]
The 1961 Wittenberg Tigers football team compiled an 8–1 record (6–0 against OAC opponents) and won the OAC championship.
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 23 Akron W 7–05,100 [ 2] September 30 at Alma * Alma, MI W 43–0 October 7 at Heidelberg Tiffin, OH W 28–63,500 [ 3] October 14 Marietta Wittenberg Stadium Springfield, OH W 52–0[ 4] October 21 at Capital Columbus, OH W 36–0[ 5] October 28 Lenoir Rhyne * Wittenberg Stadium Springield, OH L 14–34[ 6] November 4 Denison Wittenberg Stadium Springfield, OH W 26–0[ 7] November 11 at Ohio Wesleyan Delaware, OH W 41–7[ 8] November 18 Wayne State * Wittenberg Stadium Springfield, OH W 77–0[ 9] *Non-conference game Homecoming
The 1961 Akron Zips football team compiled a 6–2 record (6–1 against OAC opponents) and finished in second place in the OAC.
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 23 at Wittenberg L 0–7 5,100 [ 2] September 30 Denison W 28–0 35,061 [ 10] October 7 vs. Ohio Wesleyan W 32–21 4,500 [ 11] October 14 at Heidelberg Tiffin, OH W 12–0 4,000 [ 12] October 21 at Wooster Wooster, OH W 31–8 4,700 [ 13] October 28 vs. No. 3 Baldwin–Wallace * L 0–7 6,531 [ 14] November 4 Muskingum W 35–14 6,511 [ 15] November 18 at Mount Union W 47–0 3,500 [ 16] *Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
[ 17] [ 18]
The 1961 Otterbein Cardinals football team compiled a 8–1 record (5–1 against OAC opponents) and finished in a tie for third place in the OAC.
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 23 Findlay * Westerville, OH W 20–6[ 19] September 30 at Heidelberg Tiffin, OH W 14–73,200 [ 20] October 7 at Kenyon Gambier, OH W 35–0[ 21] October 14 Oberlin Westerville, OH W 28–74,000 [ 22] October 21 at Hiram Hiram, OH W 31–7[ 23] October 28 Marietta Westerville, OH W 10–8[ 24] November 4 Ashland * Westerville, OH W 15–13[ 25] November 11 Capital Westerville, OH L 17–23[ 26] November 18 at Centre * Danville, KY W 50–14[ 27]
The 1961 Muskingum Fighting Muskies football team compiled a 7–2 record (5–1 against OAC opponents) and finished ina tie for third place in the OAC.
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 23 at Marietta Marietta, OH W 14–0[ 28] September 30 at Baldwin-Wallace * Berea, OH L 6–35[ 29] October 7 Denison New Concord, OH W 13–7[ 30] October 14 Mount Union New Concord, OH W 36–0[ 31] October 21 Heidelberg McConagha Stadium New Concord, OH W 23–03,200 [ 32] October 28 at West Chester * West Chester, PA W 19–16[ 33] November 4 at Akron L 14–356,511 [ 15] November 11 at Wooster Wooster, OH W 6–0[ 34] November 18 Findlay * New Concord, OH W 32–0[ 35] *Non-conference game Homecoming
The 1961 Capital Crusaders football team compiled a 5–2–1 record ( 5–2–1 against OAC opponents) and finished in fifth place in the OAC.
The 1961 Wooster Fighting Scots football team compiled a 6–3 record (5–3 against OAC opponents) and finished in sixth place in the OAC.
The 1961 Ohio Wesleyan Battling Bishops football team compiled a 6–3 record (4–3 against OAC opponents) and finished in seventh place in the OAC.
The 1961 Kenyon Lords football team represented Kenyon College of Gambier, Ohio . In their first year under head coach Arthur Lave, the Lords compiled a 3–4–1 record (2–4–1 against OAC opponents), finished in a three-way tie for eighth place in the OAC, and were outscored by a total of 204 to 137.[ 52]
The 1961 Mount Union Purple Raiders football team represented the University of Mount Union of Alliance, Ohio . In their sixth and final season under head coach Duke Barret, the Purple Raiders compiled a 3–6 record (2–5 against OAC opponents), finished in ninth place in the OAC, and were outscored by a total of 208 to 121.[ 58]
Venues People Seasons National championship seasons in bold
The 1961 Denison Big Red football team represented Denison University of Granville, Ohio . In their eighth year under head coach Keith W. Piper , the Big Red compiled a 3–6 record (2–5 against OAC opponents), finished in tenth place in the OAC, and were outscored by a total of 149 to 105.[ 63]
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 23 Centre Granville, OH W 35–6 September 30 at Akron Akron, OH L 0–28[ 10] October 7 at Muskingum L 7–13[ 30] October 14 Wooster Granville, OH L 0–32,368 [ 43] October 21 Mount Union Alliance, OH W 21–20[ 60] October 28 Heidelberg Granville, OH L 7–353,000 [ 64] November 4 at Wittenberg Springfield, OH L 0–26[ 7] November 11 Oberlin Granville, OH W 35–10[ 65] November 18 Ohio Wesleyan Granville, OH L 0–8[ 51] Homecoming
The 1961 Heidelberg Student Princes football team represented Heidelberg College of Tiffin, Ohio . In their second and final year under head coach Bob Winterburn , the Student Princes compiled a 1–7–1 record (1–4–1 against OAC opponents), finished in eleventh place in the OAC, and were outscored by a total of 159 to 68.
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 23 at Capital Columbus, OH T 0–02,500 [ 36] September 30 Otterbein Tiffin, OH L 7–143,200 [ 20] October 7 Wittenberg Tiffin, OH L 6–282,500–3,500 [ 3] [ 66] October 14 Akron Tiffin, OH L 0–123,900 [ 12] October 21 at Muskingum New Concord, OH L 0–233,200 [ 32] October 28 at Denison Granville, OH W 35–73,600 [ 64] November 4 at No. 2 Baldwin-Wallace * Berea, OH L 7–338,300 [ 67] November 11 Wabash * Tiffin, OH L 6–212,500 November 18 at Hillsdale * Hillsdale, MI L 7–21[ 68] *Non-conference game Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game
[ 69]
The 1961 Hiram Terriers football team represented the Hiram College of Hiram, Ohio . In their third and final year under head coach Mike Koval , the Terriers compiled a 1–7 record (1–5 against OAC opponents), tied for twelfth place in the OAC, and were outscored opponents by a total of 229 to 71.[ 70]
The 1961 Oberlin Yeomen football team represented Oberlin College of Oberlin, Ohio . In their fourth season under head coach J. William Grice, the Yeomen compiled a 2–5–1 record (1–5 against OAC opponents).
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 30 Hiram Oberlin, OH W 35–152,000 [ 71] October 7 Carnegie Tech * Oberlin, OH W 26–7[ 73] October 14 at Otterbein Westerville, OH L 7–284,000 [ 22] October 21 Ohio Wesleyan Oberlin, OH L 10–20[ 49] October 28 Kenyon Oberlin, OH L 13–28[ 55] November 4 at Susquehanna * T 7–73,000 [ 74] November 11 at Denison Granville, OH L 10–35[ 65] November 18 at Wooster Wooster, OH L 7–22[ 45]
Venues Bowls & rivalries People Seasons
The 1961 Marietta Pioneers football team represented the Marietta College of Marietta, Ohio . In their fifth year under head coach Kenneth A. Mead, the Pioneers compiled a 0–8–1 record (0–5–1 against OAC opponents), finished in last place in the OAC, and were outscored by a total of 223 to 101.[ 75]
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 23 Muskingum Marietta, OH L 0–14[ 28] September 30 Mount Union Marietta, OH L 7–12[ 59] October 7 West Liberty State * Marietta, OH L 12–21 October 14 at Wittenberg Springield, OH L 0–52[ 4] October 21 at Kenyon Gambier, OH T 41–41[ 54] October 28 at Otterbein Westerville, OH L 8–10[ 24] November 4 Capital Marietta, OH L 6–15[ 40] November 11 at Waynesburg * Waynesburg, PA L 7–32[ 76] November 18 at Geneva * Beaver Falls, PA L 20–265,000 [ 77]
^ "Brief Summary of Cumulative Football Statistics (Akron)" . NCAA. Retrieved June 23, 2024 . ^ a b Dick Hibbett (September 24, 1961). "Wittenberg Takes Grid Opener, 7-0, Over Zips" . Springfield News-Sun . pp. Sports 1, 2 – via Newspapers.com . ^ a b "Tigers Win Third Straight" . Springfield News-Sun . October 8, 1961. pp. Sports 1, 2 – via Newspapers.com . ^ a b Dick Hibbett (October 15, 1961). "Unbeaten Wittenberg Rolls Over Hapless Marietta Squad, 52-0" . Springfield News-Sun . pp. Sports 1, 2 – via Newspapers.com . ^ a b "Wittenberg Stays Unbeaten, Rolls Over Cap, 36-0" . Springfield News-Sun . October 22, 1961. pp. Sports 1, 2 – via Newspapers.com . ^ Dick Hibbett (October 29, 1961). "Lenoir Rhyne Stops Wittenberg, 34-14" . Springfield News-Sun . pp. Sports 1, 2 – via Newspapers.com . ^ a b Dick Hibbert (November 5, 1961). "Wittenberg Dumps Denison, 26-0; Carpenter Breaks Two Marks" . Springfield News-Sun . pp. Sports 1, 2 – via Newspapers.com . ^ a b "Wittenberg Drubs Ohio Wesleyan, Captures Ohio Conference Crown" . Springfield News-Sun . November 12, 1961. pp. Sports 1, 2 – via Newspapers.com . ^ Dick Hibbett (November 19, 1961). "Wittenberg Ends Season With 77-0 Romp Over Wayne State" . Springfield News-Sun . p. Sports 1 – via Newspapers.com . ^ a b Tom Melody (October 1, 1961). "Record 35,061 See Akron U Victory: Denison 28-0 Victim In Acme-Zip Feature" . The Akron Beacon-Journal . p. C1 – via Newspapers.com . ^ a b Tom Melody (October 8, 1961). "Akron U Chips OW By 32-21: Deo Gains 186 Yards" . The Akron Beacon-Journal . pp. 1B, 2B – via Newspapers.com . ^ a b "Deo Scores 2; Zips Top Heidelberg, 12-0" . The Plain Dealer . October 15, 1961. p. 10C – via Newspapers.com . ^ a b Tom Melody (October 22, 1961). "Zips Rip Wooster, 31-8; Mackey, Deo, Adolph Pace Akron" . The Akron Beacon Journal . pp. 1B, 7B – via Newspapers.com . ^ Tom Melody (October 29, 1961). "Zips Fail Twice Inside B-W Six" . The Akron Beacon Journal . pp. 1B, 8B – via Newspapers.com . ^ a b Tom Melody (November 5, 1961). "Mackey Scores 3 In 35-14 Frolic" . The Akron Beacon-Journal . p. B1 – via Newspapers.com . ^ a b Tom Melody (November 19, 1961). "Zips Romp: Akron Rips Mount By 47-0; Finishes 2nd In OC" . The Akron Beacon Journal . pp. 1B, 2B – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics" . National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved December 15, 2021 . ^ "2019 Akron Zips Football Media Guide: Records" (PDF) . University of Akron. p. 168. Retrieved July 29, 2020 . ^ "Otterbein's Aerial Blitz Conquers Findlay, 20 To 6" . The Lima News . September 24, 1961. p. B1 – via Newspapers.com . ^ a b "Otterbein Rally Tops Heidelberg" . The Plain Dealer . October 1, 1961. p. 11C – via Newspapers.com . ^ a b "Otterbein Passes Rip Kenyon, 35-0" . The Plain Dealer . October 8, 1961. p. 3C – via Newspapers.com . ^ a b "Otterbein 28 Oberlin 7" . The Lima News . October 15, 1961. p. C2 – via Newspapers.com . ^ a b "Otterbein Aerials Sink Hiram, 31-7" . The Akron Beacon Journal . October 22, 1961. p. 8B – via Newspapers.com . ^ a b "Otterbein Has League Lead; Nips Marietta" . The Plain Dealer . October 29, 1961. p. 8C – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Otterbein Edges Ashland, 15 To 13" . The Mansfield News-Journal . November 5, 1961. p. 33 – via Newspapers.com . ^ a b "Capital 23 Otterbein 17" . The Akron Beacon Journal . November 12, 1981. p. 8B – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Otterbein Beats Centre 50 To 14" . Kentucky Advocate . November 19, 1961. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com . ^ a b "Muskies Top Marietta 14-0 In Rugged Defensive Battle" . The Times Recorder . September 24, 1961. p. 1D – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Muskingum Beaten By Baldwin-Wallace" . The Sunday Times Recorder . October 1, 1961. p. D1 – via Newspapers.com . ^ a b "Muskingum Defeats Denison Big Reds In O.C. Battle" . The Times Recorder . October 8, 1961. p. 2D – via Newspapers.com . ^ a b "Muskingum Defense Shines In Victory Over Mt. Union: Sam Miller Scored 2 TD's" . Times Recorder . October 18, 1961. p. 1D – via Newspapers.com . ^ a b "Muskie Gridders Present Ed Sherman With 100th Victory; Princes Beaten By 23-0n" . Times Recorder . October 22, 1961. p. 1D – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Muskingum Gridders Upset Mighty West Chester 19-16: Bixler Scores Winnng TD In Fourth Period" . The Times Recorder . October 29, 1961. p. 1D – via Newspapers.com . ^ a b "Last Quarter Touchdown Gives Muskingum 6-0 Win" . The Times Recorder . November 12, 1961. p. 1D – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Fighting Muskies End Season By Crushing Findlay 32-0: 5 Players Share In Scoring" . The Sunday Times Recorder . November 19, 1961. p. 1D – via Newspapers.com . ^ a b "Capital Ties Heidelberg, 0-0" . The Ironton Tribune . September 24, 1961. p. B1 – via Newspapers.com . ^ a b c "Capital Survives" . The Lima Citizen . October 29, 1961. p. E3 – via Newspapers.com . ^ a b "Capital Slashes Terriers, 40-0" . The Plain Dealer . October 8, 1961. p. 10C – via Newspapers.com . ^ a b "Capital Offense Shocks Kenyon" . The Plain Dealer . October 15, 1961. p. 8C – via Newspapers.com . ^ a b "Capital Runs Ruin Marietta" . The Plain Dealer . November 5, 1961. p. 9C – via Newspapers.com . ^ a b "Wooster Jars Kenyon, 41-0" . The Lima Citizen . October 1, 1961. p. E6 – via Newspapers.com . ^ a b "Wooster Tops Mount Union" . The Lima News . October 8, 1961. p. B2 – via Newspapers.com . ^ a b "Scots Ruin DU Homecoming" . The Newark Advocate . October 16, 1961. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com . ^ a b "Scots Score Two in 4th, Top Bishops" . The Plain Dealer . November 5, 1961. p. 9C – via Newspapers.com . ^ a b "Wooster Downs Oberlin, 22-7" . The Ironton Tribune . November 19, 1961. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "O. Wesleyan 32 Kalamazoo 6" . The Akron Beacon Journal . September 24, 1961. p. 43 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Ohio Wesleyan Trips Capital" . The Times Recorder . October 1, 1961. p. 27 – via Newspapers.com . ^ a b "Ohio Wesleyan Routs Hiram, 29-0" . The Cincinnati Enquirer . October 15, 1961. p. 4G – via Newspapers.com . ^ a b "Ohio Wesleyan Defeat Oberlin" . The Lima News . October 22, 1961. p. D2 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "O. Wesleyan 13, Wabash 7" . The Indianapolis Star . October 29, 1961. p. 4B – via Newspapers.com . ^ a b "Ohio Wesleyan Downs Denison" . The Plain Dealer . November 19, 1961. p. 6C – via Newspapers.com . ^ "1961 - Kenyon (OH)" . College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2015-09-15. Retrieved June 23, 2024 . ^ Art Rosser (September 25, 1961). "Kenyon Shuts Out WC In Grid Opener, 26-0" . Wilmington News-Journal . p. 7 – via Newspapers.com . ^ a b "Kenyon, Marietta Call It Off at 41" . The Plain Dealer . October 22, 1961. p. 7C – via Newspapers.com . ^ a b "Wood Paces Kenyon Over Oberlin, 28-13" . The Ironton Tribune . October 29, 1961. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com . ^ a b "Mount Repels Kenyon, 32-18" . The Plain Dealer . November 6, 1961. p. 34 – via Newspapers.com . ^ a b "Wooden Win" . News Journal . November 12, 1961. p. 34 – via Newspapers.com. ^ "Mount Union Yearly Results" . College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2015-09-05. Retrieved June 23, 2024 . ^ a b "Mt. Union Pass Bags 12-7 Victory" . The Plain Dealer . October 1, 1961. p. 11C – via Newspapers.com . ^ a b "Denison Takes Squeaker, 21-20" . The Plain Dealer . October 22, 1961. p. 3C – via Newspapers.com . ^ a b "Hiram Wins First in 22, Nips Raiders" . THe Plain Dealer . October 29, 1961. p. 6C – via Newspapers.com . ^ Howard Honaker (November 12, 1961). "Ashland College Eagles Grounded" . The Mansfield News-Journal . p. 29 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "1961 - Denison (OH)" . College Football Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2015-09-19. Retrieved June 23, 2024 . ^ a b "Denison Falls to Student Princes" . The Plain Dealer . October 29, 1961. p. 4C – via Newspapers.com . ^ a b "Denison Uses Power Plays, Rips Oberlin" . The Plain Dealer . November 12, 1961. p. 6C – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Wittenberg)" . National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved August 2, 2024 . ^ "B-W Gets 10th in Row" . Dayton Daily News . November 5, 1961. p. IV-6 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Hillsdale Defeats Heidelberg, 24-7" . Battle Creek Enquirer . November 19, 1961. p. 33 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Brief Summary of Cumulative Football Statistics - Heidelberg College (1961)" . National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved June 23, 2024 – via NCAA.org . ^ "1961 - Hiram (OH)" . College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2015-09-12. Retrieved June 23, 2024 . ^ a b "Oberlin Downs Hiram, 35 To 15" . The Lima News . October 1, 1961. p. B2 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Groves Rally, Clip Hiram, 22-8" . The Plain Dealer . November 19, 1961. p. 4C – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Oberlin Zips, 26-7, Behind Spiegelberg" . The Plain Dealer . October 8, 1961. p. 6C – via Newspapers.com . ^ "S.U., Oberlin Battle To 7-7 Tie On Muddy Terrain" . The Daily Item . November 6, 1961. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "1961 - Marietta (OH)" . College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2015-09-10. Retrieved June 23, 2024 . ^ "Domination" . Mansfield News-Journal . November 12, 1961. p. 34 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Marietta Falls to Geneva, 26-20" . The Plain Dealer . November 19, 1961. p. 10C – via Newspapers.com .
Current teams Championships & awards Seasons