Jump to content

1961 Houston Cougars football team

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1961 Houston Cougars football
ConferenceIndependent
Record5–4–1
Head coach
CaptainKen Bolin, Bill Brown, Joe Bob Isbell
Home stadiumRice Stadium
Seasons
← 1960
1962 →
1961 Southern college football independents records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Washington and Lee   –   9 – 0 – 0
Tampa   –   8 – 1 – 0
Mississippi College   –   8 – 1 – 0
Mississippi Southern   –   8 – 2 – 0
Memphis State   –   8 – 2 – 0
Delta State   –   7 – 2 – 1
Howard (AL)   –   7 – 2 – 0
South Carolina Trade   –   6 – 2 – 0
Maryville (TN)   –   6 – 2 – 0
Sewanee   –   5 – 2 – 1
Miles   –   5 – 2 – 0
Navy   –   7 – 3 – 0
Arlington State   –   7 – 3 – 0
Louisville   –   6 – 3 – 0
Miami (FL)   –   7 – 4 – 0
McMurry   –   6 – 4 – 0
Houston   –   5 – 4 – 1
Livingstone   –   5 – 4 – 0
Southwestern (TN)   –   4 – 4 – 0
Emory & Henry   –   4 – 4 – 0
Florida State   –   4 – 5 – 1
Norfolk State   –   3 – 4 – 0
Abilene Christian   –   4 – 6 – 0
Chattanooga   –   4 – 6 – 0
Georgetown (KY)   –   2 – 3 – 1
Arkansas State   –   3 – 6 – 0
Austin   –   2 – 7 – 0
Trinity (TX)   –   2 – 7 – 0
Millsaps   –   1 – 5 – 2
Centre   –   1 – 7 – 0

The 1961 Houston Cougars football team was an American football team that represented the University of Houston as an independent during the 1961 college football season. In their fifth and final season under head coach Hal Lahar, the Cougars compiled a 5–4–1 record.[1]

Ken Bolin, Bill Brown, and Joe Bob Isbell were the team captains.[2]

The team played its home games at Rice Stadium in Houston.

Schedule

[edit]
DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 23at Texas A&M
T 7–722,000[3]
September 30Mississippi State
L 7–1027,000[4]
October 7Boston College
  • Rice Stadium
  • Houston, TX
W 21–012,000[5]
October 14vs. No. 1 Ole Miss
L 7–4715,610[6]
October 21at Cincinnati
W 13–711,000[7]
October 28 No. 4 Alabama
  • Rice Stadium
  • Houston, TX
L 0–1724,000[8]
November 11at Tulsa
W 14–210,278[9]
November 18at Oklahoma State
L 24–2810,000[10]
November 25Florida State
  • Rice Stadium
  • Houston, TX
W 28–87,000[11]
December 2Oregon State
  • Rice Stadium
  • Houston, TX
W 23–1212,000[12]
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[1]

Statistics

[edit]

The Cougars gained an average of 127.3 rushing yards and 96.9 passing yards per game during the 1961 season. On defense, they held opponents to 107.3 rushing yards and 106.6 passing yards per game.[13]

The team's passing leaders were quarterbacks Don Sessions (48 of 111 for 549 yards, four touchdowns, 10 interceptions) and Billy Roland (41 of 79 for 420 yards, four touchdowns, five interceptions).[13]

The team's rushing leaders were Ken Bolin (355 yards, 50 carries, 5.9 yard average), Billy Roland (288 yards, 108 carries, 2.7 yard average), Bobby Brezina (236 yards, 60 carries, 3.9 yard average), and Larry Broussard (213 yards, 65 carries, 3.3 yard average).[13]

The team's receiving leaders were Bill McMillan (15 receptions, 244 yards) and Clem Beard (10 receptions, 124 yards).[13]

Billy Roland and Larry Broussard tied as the team's leading scorers with 24 points each. Ken Bolin and Milt Perkins followed with 18 points each.[13]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "1961 Houston Cougars Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  2. ^ "2018 Houston Football Media Guide" (PDF). University of Houston. pp. 126, 145. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  3. ^ Paul Brookshire (September 24, 1961). "Aggies, Cougars In 7-7 Deadlock". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 3 (part 2) – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Mississippi State trips Houston, 10–7". The Kilgore News Herald. October 1, 1961. Retrieved October 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Benny Moskowitz (October 9, 1961). "BC Big, But UH Victim". The Baytown Sun. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Slow-starting Rebels smash Houston, 47–7". The Commercial Appeal. October 15, 1961. Retrieved October 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Dick Forbes (October 22, 1961). "Battling Bearcats Succumb To Comeback Cougars, 13-7". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. 1E – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Alabama slaps Houston, 17–0". The Tyler Courier-Times. October 29, 1961. Retrieved October 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ B. A. Bridgewater (November 12, 1961). "Houston Clips Stubborn TU: Cougars Forced All Out in 14-2 Win Over Tulsa". Tulsa World. pp. 1, 6 (sports) – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Poke Surge Downs Houston, 28-24". Stillwater News-Press. November 19, 1961. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Houston Whips Florida State". The Corpus Christi Caller-Times. November 26, 1961. p. 4C – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Houston Trips Oregon State". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. December 3, 1961. p. 2 (section 2) – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ a b c d e "1961 Houston Cougars Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1961_Houston_Cougars_football_team&oldid=1240722701"