1961 Albion Britons football team

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1961 Albion Britons football
MIAA champion
ConferenceMichigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Record8–0 (5–0 MIAA)
Head coach
CaptainDale Springer, Ray Hoag[1]
Home stadiumAlumni Field
Seasons
← 1960
1962 →
1961 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Albion $ 5 – 0 – 0 8 – 0 – 0
Olivet 4 – 1 – 0 8 – 1 – 0
Kalamazoo 3 – 2 – 0 4 – 4 – 0
Alma 2 – 3 – 0 2 – 6 – 0
Adrian 1 – 4 – 0 2 – 6 – 0
Hope 0 – 5 – 0 0 – 7 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion

The 1961 Albion Britons football team was an American football team that represented Albion College as a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) during the 1961 NCAA College Division football season. In their eighth season under head coach Morley Fraser, the Britons compiled a perfect 8–0 record (5–0 against MIAA members), won the MIAA championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 186 to 56.[2][3] It was Albion's first perfect season since 1928.[4]

The team was inducted into Albion's Ahletic Hall of Fame in 1991. Nine coaches or players from the team have also been inducted as individuals: Morley Fraser; Darwin Christiansen; Frank Gould; Ray Hag; Ken Neal; Robert Porritt; Fritz Shurmur; Joe Shurmur; and Dale Springer.[3]

The team's individual statistical leaders included fullback J.B. Elzy with 752 rushing yards, quarterback Frank Gould with 604 passing yards and 818 yards of total offense, and end Gary Methner with 49 pass receptions for 604 yards.[2]

Junior Joe Shurmur was named to the 1961 MIAA all-conference team on both offense (guard) and defense (linebacker);[5] he was also voted as the team's most valuable player.[1] Albion took nine of the 22 spots on the 1961 all-conference team. In addition to Shurmur, Albion's other honorees were quarterback Frank Gould; running backs J.B. Elzy and Ray Hoag; end Gary Menther; defensive tackle Terry Menther; defensive guard Milt Moore; and defensive halfback Bob Porritt.[5]

The team played its home games at Alumni Field in Albion, Michigan.

Schedule[edit]

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 16Eastern Michigan*
W 13–01,500-4,000[6]
September 30Kalamazoo
  • Alumni Field
  • Albion, MI
W 15–02,000-3,820[7]
October 7at Hope
W 26–144,500-4,850[8]
October 14Anderson (IL)*
  • Alumni Field
  • Albion, MI
W 35–61,100[9]
October 21Olivetdagger
  • Alumni Field
  • Albion, MI
W 13–06,000[10]
October 28at Ferris Institute*Big Rapids, MIW 28–62,700[11]
November 4at AlmaAlma, MIW 27–124,030[12]
November 11at AdrianAdrian, MIW 35–174,285[4]
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming

[2]

Roster[edit]

The following 37 players received block "A" varsity letters for their participation on the 1961 Albion football team:[1]

  1. Dom Adamson - junior, Grand Rapids, Michigan
  2. Dave Barrett - sophomore, Grand Rapids, Michigan
  3. Bruce Blakeman - junior, Paw Paw, Michigan
  4. Jesse Bommarito - sophomore, Albion, Michigan
  5. Jerry Chandler - freshman, Dearborn, Michigan
  6. Dar Christiansen - junior, Flushing, Michigan
  7. Monte Clute - senior, Rochester, Michigan
  8. Dick Dana - freshman, Williamston, Michigan
  9. Roger Dunn - sophomore, Flint, Michigan
  10. Keith Galloway - freshman, Grosse Ile, Michigan
  11. Frank Gould - junior, St. Charles, Michigan
  12. George Eisener - junior, Jonesville, Michigan
  13. J.B. Elzy - sophomore, Flint, Michigan
  14. Bob Gardner - freshman, Wayne, Michigan
  15. Ray Hoag - senior, Lowell, Michigan
  16. Mike Hornus - sophomore, Owosso, Michigan
  17. Les Knickerbacker - sophomore, Flint, Michigan
  18. Jim Livingston - freshman, Flint, Michigan
  19. Tom Lutz - junior, Wyandotte, Michigan
  20. Jim Madill - junior, Midland, Michigan
  21. Bruce Martens - junior, Vicksburg, Michigan
  22. Gary Methner - senior, Midland, Michigan
  23. Terry Methner - sophomore, Midland, Michigan
  24. Milton Moore - senior, Chicago
  25. Ken Neal - freshman, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
  26. Jim Osgood - sophomore, Mount Pleasant, Michigan
  27. Bob Porritt - sophomore, Clarkston, Michigan
  28. Steve Richards - sophomore, South Lake, Michigan
  29. Mike Shafer - freshman, Findlay, Ohio
  30. Bob Smith - senior, Grosse Ile, Michigan
  31. Jon Rise - senior, Pontiac, Michigan
  32. Tom Sagendorf - senior, Grand Rapids, Michigan
  33. Joe Shurmur - junior, Wyandotte, Michigan
  34. Dale Springer - senior, co-captain, Lansing, Michigan
  35. John Ulmanis - freshman, Midland, Michigan
  36. Russ Wallis - freshman, Durand, Michigan
  37. Phil Willis - junior, Grass Lake, Michigan

Varsity letters were also presented to team managers Fred Clawson, John Gorton, and Richard Yeager.[1]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d "Joe Shurmur Named Most Valuable Briton". The Battle Creek Enquirer and News. November 17, 1961. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b c "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Albion 1961)". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Albion's '61 MIAA title team to celebrate reunion". Mlive.com. September 6, 2012.
  4. ^ a b "Albion Wraps Up Perfect Season". The Battle Creek Enquirer and News. November 12, 1961. p. IV-1 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b "MIAA Team Is Dominated By Albion". The Herald-Palladium. November 16, 1961. p. II-3 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Albion Wins, 13-0: Elzy Paces Grid Opener; Britons Victorious Before 1,500 Fans". The Battle Creek Enquirer and News. September 17, 1961. p. IV-2 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Olivet, Albion Win MIAA Grid Battles". The Battle Creek Enquirer and News. October 1, 1961. p. IV-1 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Strong 2nd Half Gives Albion Win Over Hope: Britons Score 26-14 Victory Over Dutch". The Holland Sentinel. October 9, 1961. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Albion, Mich. Eleven Hands Anderson 1st Setback In Four Starts, 35-6". Anderson Herald. October 15, 1961. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Albion Knocks Off Olivet in MIAA Showdown, 13-0: 6,000 Watch Grid Thriller". The Battle Creek Enquirer and News. October 22, 1961. p. IV-2 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Albion '11' Runs Over Ferris, 28-6". The Battle Creek Enquirer and News. October 29, 1961. p. IV-2 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Albion Whips Alma, 21-12, For 7th Straight Victory". The Battle Creek Enquirer and News. November 5, 1961. p. IV-2 – via Newspapers.com.
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