1961 Ohio Bobcats football team

1961 Ohio Bobcats football
Conference	Mid-American Conference
Record	5–3–1 (3–2–1 MAC)
Head coach	Bill Hess (4th season)
Home stadium	Peden Stadium

1961 Mid-American Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
Bowling Green $	5	–	1	–	0			8	–	2	–	0
Western Michigan	4	–	1	–	1			5	–	4	–	1
Miami (OH)	3	–	2	–	0			6	–	4	–	0
Ohio	3	–	2	–	1			5	–	3	–	1
Toledo	2	–	4	–	0			3	–	7	–	0
Marshall	1	–	4	–	0			2	–	7	–	1
Kent State	1	–	5	–	0			2	–	8	–	0
$ – Conference champion

The 1961 Ohio Bobcats football team was an American football team that represented Ohio University in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 1961 college football season. In their fourth season under head coach Bill Hess, the Bobcats compiled a 5–3–1 record (3–2–1 against MAC opponents), finished in fourth place in the MAC, and outscored all opponents by a combined total of 129 to 116.^[1][2] They played their home games in Peden Stadium in Athens, Ohio.^[3]

The team's statistical leaders included Otis Wagner with 441 rushing yards, Bob Babbitt with 573 passing yards, and John Trevis with 258 receiving yards.^[4]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 23	at Toledo	Glass Bowl Toledo, OH	W 10–6	10,100	[5]
September 30	Kent State	Peden Stadium Athens, OH	L 17–23
October 7	at Dayton	Baujan Field Dayton, OH	W 14–13	12,000	[6]
October 14	Xavier*	Peden Stadium Athens, OH	L 3–6	14,000	[7]
October 21	at Miami (OH)	Miami Field Oxford, OH (rivalry)	W 28–18
October 28	at Delaware*	Delaware Stadium Newark, DE	W 17–16	8,750	[8]
November 4	at Marshall	Fairfield Stadium Huntington, WV (rivalry)	W 14–7		[9]
November 11	Bowling Green	Peden Stadium Athens, OH	L 6–7		[10]
November 18	Western Michigan	Peden Stadium Athens, OH	T 20–20
*Non-conference game

References

1. "2015 Ohio Football Media Guide" (PDF). Ohio University. 2015. pp. 91, 94. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 7, 2016. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
2. "Bill Hess". Sports Reference.
3. "Peden Stadium". Ohio University Athletics. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
4. 2015 Media Guide, pp. 71, 75, 77.
5. "Bobcats Whip Toledo, 10-6, In Downpour". Springfield News-Sun. September 24, 1961. p. 1 (sports) – via Newspapers.com.
6. Joe Burns (October 8, 1961). "Dayton's Dreams Ruined By Ohio U. Rally, 14-13". Dayton Daily News. pp. IV-1, IV-8 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Xavier nips Ohio U." Springfield News-Sun. October 15, 1961. Retrieved May 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
8. Kelley, Bob (October 30, 1961). "48-Yard Goal Fatal to Hens". Wilmington Morning News. Wilmington, Del. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
9. Bill Smith (November 6, 1961). "Marshall Almost Pulls Upset -- Snyder: How Close Can You Come?". Charleston Daily Mail. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
10. Gene Welty (November 13, 1961). "Falcons Won't 'Kick' About 7-6 MAC Victory: Hepner, Elsea Tally; BG Ties For Crown". The Daily Sentinel-Tribune. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.