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1961 Miami Hurricanes football
1961 Miami Hurricanes football
Liberty Bowl, L 14–15 vs. Syracuse
Conference	Independent
Ranking
Coaches	No. 19
Record	7–4
Head coach	Andy Gustafson (14th season);
Home stadium	Miami Orange Bowl
	Seasons ← 1960 1962 →

1961 Southern college football independents records
v t e	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 Miami Hurricanes football team was an American football team that represented the University of Miami as an independent during the 1961 college football season. In their 14th year under head coach Andy Gustafson, the Hurricanes compiled a 7–4 record, outscored opponents by a total of 146 to 85, and were ranked No. 19 in the final UPI poll. They defeated Penn State (25–8), Georgia (32–7), and Florida (15–6) in the regular season and lost to Syracuse (14–15) in the 1961 Liberty Bowl.

The team was led on offense by quarterback George Mira (896 passing yards), end Bill Miller (637 receiving yards), and fullback Jim Vollenweider (472 yards). Miller was a consensus first-team pick on the 1961 All-America college football team.

The team played its home games at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 16	Pittsburgh	Orange Bowl Miami, FL	L 7–10	33,292	^[1]
September 23	at Kentucky	McLean Stadium Lexington, KY	W 14–7	35,000	^[2]
September 29	No. 8 Penn State	Orange Bowl Miami, FL	W 25–8	45,657	^[3]
October 6	Navy	Orange Bowl Miami, FL	L 6–17
October 13	Colorado	Orange Bowl Miami, FL	L 7–9	40,393–40,397	^[4]^[5]
October 27	North Carolina	Orange Bowl Miami, FL	W 10–0	29,671	^[6]^[7]
November 3	Georgia	Orange Bowl Miami, FL	W 32–7	38,210	^[8]
November 11	at Tulane	Tulane Stadium New Orleans, LA	W 6–0	15,000	^[9]
November 24	Northwestern	Orange Bowl Miami, FL	W 10–6	46,282	^[10]
December 2	at Florida	Florida Field Gainesville, FL (rivalry)	W 15–6	42,000	^[11]
December 16	vs. No. 14 Syracuse	Philadelphia Municipal Stadium Philadelphia, PA (Liberty Bowl)	L 14–15	15,712	^[12]
Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

^[13]

Statistics

Miami players led the State of Florida in passing, total offense, rushing, and receiving:

Quarterback George Mira led in passing, completing 74 of 151 passes for 896 yards. Mira also led the state in total offense with 1,075 yards.

Miami's ends took first and second place in the state in receiving: Bill Miller with 43 receptions for 637 yards and Larry Wilson with 18 receptions for 257 yards.

Fullback Jim Vollenweider led in rushing with 472 yards on 101 carries. Vollenweider's rushing yardage also qualified him for fifth place in the state in total offense. He also tied for fourth in the state with 18 points scored.

^[14]

Awards and honors

End Bill Miller was a consensus first-team pick on the 1961 All-America college football team, receiving first-team honors from the Associated Press (AP), United Press International (UPI), and the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), among others.^[15]

Miller and quarterback George Mira were unanimous picks on the 1961 all-state football team selected in a poll of 12 Florida sports writers. Guard Bob Eggert and halfback Nick Ryder were also named to the first team. Five Miami players were named to the second team: end Larry Wilson; tackle Billy Watts; guard Jerry Reynolds; center Charley Livingston; and fullback Jim Vollenweider.^[16]