Jump to content

1961 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
1961 Western Illinois Leathernecks football
ConferenceInterstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Record5–3 (4–2 IIAC)
Head coach
Home stadiumHanson Field
Seasons
← 1960
1962 →
1961 Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Southern Illinois $ 5 1 0 7 3 0
Western Illinois 4 2 0 5 3 0
Illinois State Normal 4 2 0 5 4 0
Eastern Illinois 3 2 1 4 3 1
Northern Illinois 3 2 1 4 4 1
Central Michigan 1 5 0 2 8 0
Eastern Michigan 0 6 0 0 8 1
  • $ – Conference champion

The 1961 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team was an American football team that represented Western Illinois University as a member of the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1961 college football season. In their second year under head coach Art Dufelmeier, the Leathernecks compiled a 5–3 record (4–2 in conference games) and tied for second place in the IIAC.[1]

Halfback Leroy Jackson led the team with 560 rushing yards and 56 points scored.[2] He also finished third in the NCAA in the 100-yard dash, received first-team honors on the 1961 Little All-America college football team, and was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the first round (11th overall pick) of the 1962 NFL draft.[3]

Quarterback Bill Roper led the team with 635 passing yards.[2]

Schedule

[edit]
DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 30Eastern MichiganW 43–04,000[4]
October 7at Central Michigan
W 12–75,000–5,100[5][6]
October 14 No. 5 Southern Illinois
  • Hansn Field
  • Macomb, IL
W 22–139,500
October 21at Northern IllinoisL 22–2312,000–14,000[7][8]
October 28at Evansville*Evansville, INW 26–03,800–5,000[9]
November 4at Eastern Illinois
L 0–14997–4,000[10][11]
November 11Illinois State Normal
  • Hanson Field
  • Macomb, IL
W 12–74,000
November 18Bradley*
  • Hanson Field
  • Macomb, IL
L 18–234,500[12]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[1][2]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Official Collegiate Football Record Book 1962, p. 141.
  2. ^ a b c "Brief Summary of Cumulative Football Statistics (Western Illinois)". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  3. ^ Harold Claassen (December 6, 1961). "Annual Little All-Americans -- Small College Stars Selected". The Shreveport Journal. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Western Whips Eastern Michigan". The Pantagraph. October 1, 1961. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Chips Fall, 12-7". Detroit Free Press. October 8, 1961. p. 48 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Central Michigan)". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  7. ^ "Homecomings Are Wonderful: Ask Anyone at Northern . . ". The De Kalb Daily Chronicle. October 23, 1961. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Northern Illinois)". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  9. ^ Tony Chamblin (October 29, 1961). "Jackson, Aces Blanked As Old Grads Mourn". Evansville Press. p. 1C – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "EIU Upsets Western Ill". Mattoon Journal Gazette. November 6, 1961. p. 5. Retrieved June 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Eastern Illinois)". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  12. ^ "Bradley Tops Western In 23-18 Game". The Pantagraph. November 19, 1961. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.