1961 Clemson Tigers football team


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The 1961 Clemson Tigers football team was an American football team that represented Clemson University as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) during the 1961 college football season. In their 22nd season under head coach Frank Howard, the Tigers compiled a 5–5 record (3–3 in conference games), tied for third place in the ACC, and outscored opponents by a total of 199 to 126.[2][3]

1961 Clemson Tigers football

Team portrait from Taps (Clemson yearbook)

ConferenceAtlantic Coast Conference
Record5–5 (3–3 ACC)
Head coach
CaptainRon Andreo, Calvin West
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium

Seasons

← 1960

1962 →

1961 Atlantic Coast Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 20 Duke $   5 – 1     7 – 3  
North Carolina   4 – 3     5 – 5  
Maryland   3 – 3     7 – 3  
Clemson   3 – 3     5 – 5  
NC State   3 – 4     4 – 6  
South Carolina   3 – 4     4 – 6  
Wake Forest   3 – 4     4 – 6  
Virginia   2 – 4     4 – 6  
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll[1]

Senior fullback Ron Scrudato led the ACC with 48 points scored. Sophomore quarterback Jim Parker led the team in passing (736 yards), total offense (975 yards) and led the ACC with an average gain of 16.0 yards per completion.

The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina.

DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 23 2:00 p.m.at Florida* L 17–2142,000[4]
September 30 2:00 p.m. Maryland L 21–2428,000[5]
October 7 2:00 p.m.at North Carolina W 27–026,000[6][7]
October 14 2:00 p.m. Wake Forest
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Clemson, SC
L 13–1726,000[8]
October 21 2:00 p.m.at Duke W 17–730,000[9]
October 28 3:00 p.m.at Auburn* L 14–2436,000[10]
November 4 2:00 p.m. Tulane* 
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Clemson, SC
W 21–6 [11]
November 11 2:00 p.m.at South Carolina L 14–2144,000[12]
November 18 2:00 p.m. Furman*
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Clemson, SC
W 35–630,000[13]
November 25 2:00 p.m. NC State
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Clemson, SC (rivalry)
W 20–023,000[14]
  • *Non-conference game
  •  Homecoming
  • All times are in Eastern time

[15]

The 1961 Clemson Tigers gained an average of 178.3 rushing yards and 129.2 passing yards per game. On defense, they allowed opponents to gain an average of 127.5 rushing yards and 126.5 passing yards per game.[16]

Senior fullback Ron Scrudato led the ACC in scoring with 48 points on eight touchdowns. He also ranked sixth in the conference with 341 rushing yards.[17][16]

The quarterback role was split between sophomore Jim Parker and junior Joe Anderson. Parker completed 46 of 98 passes (46.9%) for 736 yards with five touchdowns, nine interceptions and a 108.5 quarterback rating. Anderson completed 43 of 104 for 531 yards (41.3%) for 531 yards with two touchdowns, five interceptions and an 81.0 quarterback rating.[16] Parker also led the team with 975 yards of total offense and led the ACC with an average gain of 16.0 yards per completion.[17]

The Tigers had six backs who had over 55 carries during the 1961 season:

  • Ron Scrudato gained 341 yards on 99 carries for a 3.4-yard average.
  • Joe Anderson gained 310 yards on 97 carries for a 3.2-yard average.
  • Elmo Lam gained 270 yards on 50 carries for a 5.4-yard average
  • Jim Parker gained 239 yards on 68 carries for a 3.5-yard average.
  • Bill McGuirt gained 235 yards on 69 carries for a 3.4-yard average.
  • Wendall Black gained 191 yards on 56 carries for a 3.4-yard average.

[16]

The team had five players with at least 10 receptions:

  • Gary Barnes had 16 receptions for 247 yards, a 15.4-yard average
  • Elmo Lam had 17 receptions for 237 yards, a 13.9-yard average.
  • Tommy King had 14 catches for 227 yards, a 16.2-yard average.
  • Harry Pavilack had 10 receptions for 153 yards, a 15.3-yard aveage.
  • Wendall Black had 11 receptions for 137 yards, a 12.5-yard average.

[16]

Center Ron Andreo and guard Calvin West were selected as the team captains.

Four Clemson players were recognized by one or more of the Associated Press (AP), United Press International (UPI), and the Atlantic Coast Sports Writers Association (ACSWA) on the 1961 All-Atlantic Coast Conference football team: end Tommy King (AP-1); center Ron Andreo (UPI-1); quarterback Jim Parker (AP-2, UPI-2, ACSWA-2); and guard Calvin West (AP-2, UPI-2, ACSWA-2).[18][19][20]

  • Joe Anderson, quarterback, junior, 6'3", 201 pounds, Greenwood, SC
  • Ron Andreo, center and co-captain, senior, 6'0", 196 pounds, Leechburg, PA
  • Lon Armstrong, guard, senior, 6'0", 199 pounds, Eddystone, PA
  • Gary Barnes, halfback, senior, 6'4", 190 pounds, Fairfax, SC
  • Wendall Black, halfback, senior, 6'0", 198 pounds, Saluda, SC
  • Bob Coleman, halfback, senior, 5'10", 166 pounds, Anderson, SC,
  • Ronnie Crolley, end, senior, 6'2", 192 pounds, Columbia, SC
  • Tommy Gue, guard
  • Dave Hynes, tackle, junior, 6'1", 218 pounds, Atlanta, GA
  • Jimmy King, tackle, senior, 6'3", 267 pounds, Anderson, SC
  • Tommy King, end, senior, 6'1", 179 pounds, Atlanta, GA
  • Elmo Lam, halfback, junior, 6'0", 170 pounds, Elkton, VA
  • Milt McGuirt, fullback, junior, 6'1", 205 pounds, Lancaster, SC
  • Ronnie Osborne, tackle, senior, 6'4", 270 pounds, Cleveland, GA
  • Jim Parker, quarterback, sophomore, 6'1", 194 pounds, Haverford, PA
  • Harry Pavilack, halfback, senior, 6'1", 197 pounds, Pittsburgh, PA
  • Bob Poole, end, sophomore, 6'4", 205 pounds, Florence, AL
  • Ron Scrudato, fullback, senior, 6'0", 200 pounds, Nutley, NJ
  • Jerry Taylor, halfback, sophomore, 5'10", 189 pounds, Winnsboro, SC
  • Jack Veronee, center, senior, 6'2", 205 pounds, Charleston Heights, SC
  • Eddie Werntz, punter, junior, 6'0", 192 pounds, Savannah, GA
  • Calvin West, guard and co-captain, senior, 6'1", 194 pounds, Kershaw, SC
  • Fred Whittemore, tackle, sophomore, 6'1", 241 pounds, Forsyth, GA

[21][22]

  • Head coach: Frank Howard
  • Assistant coaches: Charlie Waller (5th year, backfield), Bob Smith (9th year, interior line), Banks McFadden (defensive backfield), Don Wade (assistant to Smith), Covington McMillan (recruiting and freshmen), Whitey Jordan (assistant to McMillan)[23]
  • Athletic director: Frank Howard
  1. ^ "1961 Atlantic Coast Conference Year Summary". sports-reference.com. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  2. ^ "2016 Media Guide" (PDF). clemsontigers.com. Clemson Athletics. 2016. pp. 200–208. Retrieved June 23, 2017.
  3. ^ "1961 Clemson Tigers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 5, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Libertore, Infante lead Florida". Pensacola News Journal. September 24, 1961. Retrieved October 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Terps' late FG shades Clemson 24–21". St. Petersburg Times. October 1, 1961. Retrieved January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Clemson whips Carolina 27–0". Greensboro Daily News. October 8, 1961. Retrieved January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Tigers Rout UNC: Fiery Tigers Humble tar Heels, 27-0". The News and Observer. Raleigh, North Carolina. October 8, 1961. pp. 1, 4 (section II) – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Wake snaps jinx with 17–13 upset". The Charlotte Observer. October 15, 1961. Retrieved January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Clemson topples Duke, 17–7, in ACC contest". Johnson City Press-Chronicle. October 22, 1961. Retrieved January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Tigers bounce back on Hunt's passes, top Clemson". The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. October 29, 1961. Retrieved October 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Lam runs 68 yards in 21–6 Tiger win". The Greenville News. November 5, 1961. Retrieved September 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Carolina Wins Thriller Over Clemson, 21-14". The Greenville News. November 12, 1961. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Tigers rip Furman, 35–6". Durham Morning Herald. November 19, 1961. Retrieved September 15, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Clemson dumps Gabriel and N.C. State, 20–0". The Greenville News. November 26, 1961. Retrieved January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Clemson Football Media Guide - 1961". Clemson University. 1961. p. 1. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  16. ^ a b c d e "1961 Clemson Tigers Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 5, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ a b "Clemson's Scrudato Tops In Scoring -- Duke's Rappold Leads ACC In Average Gain Per Play". The Durham Sun. December 7, 1961. p. C1 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ Ken Alyta (November 30, 1961). "Terps' Gary Collins Is All-ACC Lineman; Gabriel of NC State Chosen". The Morning Herald (MD).
  19. ^ "Gabriel Leads All-ACC Club". Statesville Record & Landmark. December 1, 1961. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Collins Paces Writers' Vote For All-ACC". Daily Press. December 1, 1961. p. 29 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "1961 Clemson College Varsity Football Roster" (PDF). Clemson Tigers. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
  22. ^ 1962 Taps (Clemson yearbook), pp. 438-440.
  23. ^ 1962 Taps (Clemson yearbook), p. 437.