1961 New Hampshire Wildcats football team

1961 New Hampshire Wildcats football
ConferenceYankee Conference
Record3–5 (1–3 Yankee)
Head coach
Home stadiumCowell Stadium
Seasons
← 1960
1962 →
1961 Yankee Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Maine $ 5 – 0 – 0 8 – 0 – 1
UMass 3 – 1 – 0 5 – 4 – 0
Connecticut 2 – 2 – 0 2 – 7 – 0
New Hampshire 1 – 3 – 0 3 – 5 – 0
Rhode Island 1 – 4 – 0 2 – 6 – 1
Vermont 0 – 2 – 0 3 – 3 – 1
  • $ – Conference champion

The 1961 New Hampshire Wildcats football team was an American football team that represented the University of New Hampshire as a member of the Yankee Conference during the 1961 college football season. In its 13th year under head coach Chief Boston, the Wildcats compiled a 3–5 record (1–3 in conference games), outscored opponents by a total of 103 to 101, and finished fourth out of six teams in the Yankee Conference.[1]

The team played its home games at Cowell Stadium in Durham, New Hampshire.

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 23American International*
L 0–64,000–4,500[2][3]
September 30at Dartmouth*
L 3–2810,500[4]
October 7at Rhode Island
W 20–02,000–3,500[5][6]
October 14Maine
L 6–77,500–8,500[7][8]
October 28Merchant Marine*
  • Cowell Stadium
  • Durham, NH
W 8–74,000–5,000[9][10]
November 4at Connecticut
L 23–307,400–7,464[11]
November 11at Springfield*Springfield, MAW 36–142,500–3,300[12][13]
November 18UMass
L 7–93,800–5,500[14]
  • *Non-conference game

[15]

Statistics

The 1961 Wildcats tallied 1,615 yards of total offense (202 per game), consisting of 1,032 rushing yards (129 per game) and 583 passing yards (72.9 per game). On defense, they gave up 1,537 yards (192 per game) with 1,050 rushing yards (131.2 per game) and 387 passing yards (48.2 per game).[15]

Quarterback Robert Dickson completed 59 of 139 passes (42.4%) for 560 yards with 11 interceptions and five touchdowns. The leading receiver was end Edward Facey with 19 receptions for 160 yards and one touchdown.[15]

Halfback Richard Mezquita led the team in both rushing (407 yards on 96 carries) and scoring (18 points on three touchdowns). Fullback Charles Beach ranked second in rushing with 184 yards on 34 carries.[15]

Awards and honors

Two New Hampshire players received first-team honors on the 1961 All-Yankee Conference football team selected by the conference coaches. The New Hampshire honorees, Paul D'Allesandro and Ed Cramer, were both named at the guard position.[16]

References

  1. ^ "2017 New Hampshire Media Guide". University of New Hampshire. 2017. p. 67. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  2. ^ "Aces Dull Claws Of Cats; Indians Next UNH Goal". The Portsmouth Herald. September 25, 1961. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (American International)". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  4. ^ "Poised Dartmouth Rips New Hampshire Wildcats 28-3". The Portsmouth Herald. October 2, 1961. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "New Hampshire Blanks Rhode Island, Prepares for Maine". The Portsmouth Herald. October 9, 1961. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Rhode Island)". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  7. ^ "Maine Tips UNH: Win 7-6 For 4th Victory". Bangor Daily News. October 16, 1961. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Maine)". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  9. ^ "Wildcats Squeak By Mariners, 8-7". New York Daily News. October 29, 1961. p. 145 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Merchant Marine)". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  11. ^ "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Connecticut)". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  12. ^ "Wildcats Claw Maroon, Play Redmen Saturday". The Portsmouth Herald. November 13, 1961. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Springfield)". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  14. ^ "Field Goal Saves UMass". The Boston Globe. November 19, 1961. p. 72 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ a b c d "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  16. ^ "New Hampshire Men On Yankee Loop Team". The Portsmouth Herald. December 6, 1961. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.