1961 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team

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

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

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

  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