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1961 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team

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1961 Texas Tech Red Raiders football
1961 team portrait from La Ventana yearbook
ConferenceSouthwest Conference
Record4–6 (2–5 SWC)
Head coach
Offensive schemeT formation
Base defense4–3
Home stadiumJones Stadium
Seasons
← 1960
1962 →
1961 Southwest Conference football standings
Conf Overall
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
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

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

[edit]
DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 23at Mississippi State*
L 0–6 33,000[3][4]
September 30at No. 6 Texas
L 14–4243,500[5]
October 7Texas A&M
L 7–3838,500[6]
October 14TCU
W 10–025,500[7]
October 21Baylor
W 19–1732,500[8]
October 28at SMU
L 7–817,000[9]
November 4Ricedagger
  • Jones Stadium
  • Lubbock, TX
L 7–4234,000[10]
November 11Boston College*
  • Jones Stadium
  • Lubbock, TX
W 14–620,000[11]
November 25at No. 9 Arkansas
L 0–2841,000[12]
December 2West Texas State*
  • Jones Stadium
  • Lubbock, TX
W 16–1425,000[13]
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[1][2]

Statistics

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "1961 Texas Tech Red Raiders Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Texas Tech Football 2017 Media Guide". Texas Tech University. 2017. p. 99. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ "Bulldogs turn back Raiders by 6–0". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. September 24, 1961. Retrieved October 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Longhorns slaughter Tech in opener, 42–14". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. October 1, 1961. Retrieved April 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Joe Kelly (October 8, 1961). "Aggies Sail Past Raiders, 38-7: Farmers Halt Losing Skein". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. p. 1B – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Tony Slaughter (October 15, 1961). "Dad's Night, Saddle inspire Techsans". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 6 (section 1) – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ Galyn Wilkins (October 29, 1961). "Ponies Pin 8-7 Defeat On Raiders". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. pp. 1, 4 (section 3) – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Blume, Jackson Pace Rice To 42-7 Victory Over Tech". Corpus Christi Times. Associated Press. November 5, 1961. p. 1C – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ "Raiders Couldn't Move Hogs". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. November 27, 1961. p. B3 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Pat Truly (December 3, 1961). "Daniels' Toe Boots Tech Past Buffs". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. pp. 1, 4 (section 2) – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ a b c "1961 Texas Tech Red Raiders Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  15. ^ "Saxton, Alworth Lead Coaches' All-Southwest Conference Teams". Corsicana Daily Sun. December 4, 1961. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
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