1961 Pennsylvania State College Conference football season

1961 Pennsylvania State College Conference football season
Sport	Football
Number of teams	14
Champion	West Chester

1961 Pennsylvania State College Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
East Division
No. 20 West Chester xy$	4	–	0	–	0			7	–	2	–	0
East Stroudsburg	5	–	1	–	0			7	–	1	–	0
Bloomsburg	2	–	2	–	0			4	–	4	–	0
Millersville	2	–	3	–	0			5	–	3	–	0
Mansfield	2	–	3	–	0			4	–	4	–	0
Kutztown	2	–	3	–	0			2	–	6	–	0
Cheyney	0	–	5	–	0			0	–	7	–	1
West Division
Slippery Rock xy	4	–	1	–	0			6	–	3	–	0
California (PA)	4	–	1	–	1			5	–	2	–	1
Clarion	3	–	2	–	1			4	–	3	–	1
Lock Haven	2	–	2	–	1			5	–	2	–	2
Edinboro	1	–	3	–	1			3	–	4	–	1
Indiana (PA)	1	–	4	–	0			2	–	7	–	0
Shippensburg	0	–	4	–	0			0	–	8	–	0
Championship: West Chester 21, Slippery Rock 0
$ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant Edinboro forfeited to Clarion. Rankings from NAIA poll

The 1961 Pennsylvania State College Conference football season was the season of college football played by the 14 member schools of the Pennsylvania State College Conference (PSTC) as part of the 1961 college football season.

The 1961 West Chester Golden Rams football team compiled a 7–2 overall record during the regular season (4–0 in PSCC games) and won the East Division championship.

The 1961 Slippery Rock Rockets football team compiled at 6–2 overall record in the regular season (4–1 in PSCC games) and won the West Division title.

In the PSCC championship game, West Chester defeated Slippry Rock, 21–0, to in the PSCC championship.

East Division

West Chester

1961 West Chester Golden Rams football
PSCC champion PSCC East Division champion
PSCC Championship Game, W 21–0 vs. Slippery Rock
Conference	Pennsylvania State College Conference
Division	East Division
Record	7–2 (4–0 PSCC)
Head coach	James Bonder (2nd season)
Home stadium	Farrell Field

The 1961 West Chester Golden Rams football team represented West Chester State College (now known as West Chester University) of West Chester, Pennsylvania. In their second year under head coach James Bonder, the Golden Rams compiled a 7–2 record (4–0 against PSCC opponents), won the PSCC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 271 to 107.^[1] They were ranked 20th in the final NAIA poll.

West Chester's junior fullback Joe Iacone rushed for 1,059 yards in 1961; ^[2] he was selected as a first-team player on the 1961 Little All-America college football team.^[3]

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 23	at Ithaca*	South Hill Field Ithaca, NY	W 13–7	700–3,000	[4][5]
September 30	at East Stroudsburg	East Stroudsburg, PA	W 28–7	5,500	[6]
October 6	Millersville	West Chester, PA	W 56–6	6,000–7,000	[7]
October 13	Clarion	West Chester, PA	W 51–20	6,000–6,500	[8]
October 21	at Kutztown	Kutztown, PA	W 47–0	500	[9]
October 28	Muskingum*	West Chester, PA	L 16–19	9,000	[10]
November 4	at Villanova*	Villanova Stadium Villanova, PA	L 13–40	14,500	[11]
November 11	at Bloomsburg	Bloomsburg, PA	W 26–7	4,000	[12]
November 18	Slippery Rock	West Chester, PA (PSCC Championship Game)	W 21–0	5,500	[13]
*Non-conference game

^[14][15]

East Stroudsburg

1961 East Stroudsburg Warriors football
Conference	Pennsylvania State Teachers College Conference
Record	7–1 (5–1 PSTCC)
Head coach	Jack Gregory (3rd season)

The 1961 East Stroudsburg Warriors football team represented East Stroudsburg State College (now known as East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania) of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. In their third year under head coach Jack Gregory, the Warriors compiled a 7–1 record (5–1 against PSCC opponents), finished in second place in the PSCC East Division, and outscored opponents by a total of 288 to 45.

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 15	Millersville	East Stroudsburg, PA	W 37–7
September 23	at Kutztown	Kutztown, PA	W 45–0
September 30	West Chester	East Stroudsburg, PA	L 7–28	5,500	[6]
October 7	at Shippensburg	Shippensburg, PA	W 47–7
October 14	Mansfield	East Strousburg, PA	W 38–3
October 21	at Cheyney	Cheyney, PA	W 54–0
October 28	at Bloomsburg	Bloomsburg, PA	W 36–0
November 4	Cortland*	East Stroudsburg, PA	W 24–0		[16]
*Non-conference game

Bloombsburg

1961 Bloomsburg Huskies football
Conference	Pennsylvania State College Conference
Record	4–4 (2–2 PSTCC)
Head coach	Walter R. Blair (5th season)

The 1961 Bloomsburg Huskies football team represented Bloomsburg State College (now known as Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania) of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. In their fifth year uner head coach Walter R. Blair, the Huskies compiled a 4–4 record (2–3 against PSCC opponents), finished in third place in the East Division of the PSCC, and outscored opponents by a total of 136 to 122.

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 23	Shippensburg	Bloomsburg, PA	W 34–7
September 29	King's (PA)	Bloomsburg, PA	W 31–12
October 7	at Cortland*	Cortland, NY	L 8–16		[17]
October 14	at Lock Haven	Lock Haven, PA	L 7–18
October 21	at Mansfield	Mansfield, OH	W 21–7
October 28	East Stroudsburg	Bloomsburg, PA	L 0–36
November 4	at Cheyney	Cheyney, PA	W 28–0
November 11	West Chester	Bloomsburg, PA	L 7–26
*Non-conference game

Millersville

1961 Millersville Marauders football
Conference	Pennsylvania State College Conference
Record	5–3 (2–3 PSCC)
Head coach	George Katchmer (8th season)

The 1961 Millersville Marauders football team represented Millersville State College (now known as Millersville University of Pennsylvania) of Millersville, Pennsylvania. In their eighth year under head coach George Katchmer, the Marauders compiled a 5–3 record (2–3 against PSCC opponents) and finished in a tie for fourth place in the East Division of the PSCC.

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 15	at East Stroudsburg	East Stroudsburg, PA	L 7–37
	Randolph–Macon*		W 20–12
	Kutztown		L 0–7
October 6	at West Chester	West Chester, PA	L 6–56	6,000	[7]
	Cheyney		W 48–6
	Trenton State*		W 26–0
	Mansfield		W 26–6
November 4	Montclair State*	Millersville, PA	W 31–14	2,000	[18]
*Non-conference game

^[19]

Mansfield

1961 Mansfield Mountaineers football
Conference	Pennsylvania State College Conference
Record	4–4 (2–3 PSCC)
Head coach	Ed Stelmack (7th season)

The 1961 Mansfield Mountaineers football team represented Mansfield State College (now known as Mansfield University of Pennsylvania) of Mansfield, Pennsylvania. In their seventh and final year under head coach Ed Stelmack, the Mountaineers compiled a 4–4 record (2–3 against PSCC opponents) and finished in a tie for fourth place in the East Division of the PSCC.

Kutztown

1961 Kutztown Golden Bears football
Conference	Pennsylvania State College Conference
Record	2–6 (2–3 PSCC)
Head coach	Bud Heilman (2nd season)

The 1961 Kutztown Golden Bears football team represented Kutztown State College (now known as Kutztown University of Pennsylvania) of Kutztown, Pennsylvania. In their second year under head coach Bud Heilman, the Golden Bears compiled a 2–6 record (2–3 against PSCC opponents) and finished in a tie for fourth place in the East Division of the PSCC.

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 23	East Stroudsburg	Kutztown, PA	L 0–45
	Cheyney		W 25–0
October 14	at Delaware Valley*	Alumni Field Doylestown, PA	L 6–12	1,500	[20]
October 21	West Chester	Kutztown, PA	L 0–47		[9]
October 28	at Montclair State*	Clifton High School Stadium Clinton, NJ	L 6–20
	Central Connecticut State*		L 7–20
	Millersville		W 7–0
	Mansfield		L 0–20
*Non-conference game

^[21]

Cheyney

1961 Cheyney Wolves football
Conference	Pennsylvania State College Conference
Record	0–7–1 (0–5 PSCC)
Head coach	James Stevenson (4th season)

The 1961 Cheyney Wolves football team represented Cheyney State College (now known as Cheyney University of Pennsylvania) of Cheyney, Pennsylvania. In their fourth year under head coach James Stevenson, the Golden Bears compiled a 0–7–1 record (0–5 against PSCC opponents) and finished in seventh place in the East Division of the PSCC.

West Division

Slippery Rock

1961 Slippery Rock Rockets football
PSCC West Division champion
PSCC Championship Game, L 0–21 at West Chester
Conference	Pennsylvania State College Conference
Record	6–3 (4–1 PSCC)
Head coach	Charles Goldlasky (3rd season)

The 1961 Slippery Rock Rockets football team represented Slippery Rock State College (now known as Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania) of Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania. The team compiled a 6–3 record (4–1 against PSCC opponents), finished in first place in the West Division of the PSCC, and outscored opponents by a total of 176 to 132.

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 23	Delaware State*	Slippery Rock, PA	W 21–12	3,500	[22]
September 30	Edinboro	Slippery Rock, PA	W 36–6
October 7	at Waynesburg*	Waynesburg, PA	L 7–18	2,500	[23]
October 14	at Indiana (PA)	Indiana, PA	L 7–14
October 21	California (PA)	Slippery Rock, PA	W 45–21
October 28	Shippensburg	Slippery Rock, PA	W 19–13
November 4	at Westminster*	New Wilmington, PA	W 21–14		[24]
November 11	at Clarion	Clarion, PA	W 20–13		[25]
November 18	at West Chester	West Chester, PA (PSCC Championship Game)	L 0–21		[13]
*Non-conference game

California (PA)

1961 California Vulcans football
Conference	Pennsylvania State College Conference
Record	5–2–1 (4–1–1 PSCC)
Head coach	Ted Nemeth (12th season)

The 1961 California Vulcans football team represented California State College (now known as California University of Pennsylvania) of California, Pennsylvania. In their 12th and final year under head coach Ted Nemeth, the team compiled a 5–2–1 record and finished in second place in the West Division of the PSCC.

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 23	at Indiana (PA)	Indiana, PA	W 13–7
September 30	at Lock Haven	Lock Haven, PA	W 21–7	2,500
October 7	vs. Saint Vincent*	Charleroi, PA	W 7–0	3,500
October 14	Shippensburg	California, PA	W 47–7	3,000
October 21	at Slippery Rock	Slippery Rock, PA	L 21–45
October 28	at Clarion	Clarion, PA	T 14–14
November 4	Waynesburg*	California, PA	L 7–12		[26]
November 11	Edinboro	California, PA	W 26–19		[27]
*Non-conference game Homecoming

^[28]

Clarion

1961 Clarion Golden Eagles football
Conference	Pennsylvania State College Conference
Record	4–3–1 (3–2–1[29] PSCC)
Head coach	Ernest Johnson (5th season)

The 1961 Clarion Golden Eagles football team represented Clarion State College (now known as Clarion University of Pennsylvania) of Clarion, Pennsylvania. In their fifth year under head coach Ernest Johnson, the Golden Eagles compiled a 4–3–1 record (3–2–1 against PSCC opponents^[29]) and finished in third place in the West Division of the PSCC.

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 23	Edinboro	Edinboro, PA	L 12–13 (forfeit[29])		[30]
September 30	at Grove City*	Grove City, PA	W 20–0		[31]
October 7	Lock Haven	Clarion, PA	W 17–7
October 13	at West Chester	West Chester, PA	L 20–51	6,500	[32]
October 21	Indiana (PA)	Clarion, PA	W 17–6
October 28	California (PA)	Clarion, PA	T 14–14
November 4	at Shippensburg	Shippensburg, PA	W 28–26
November 11	vs. Slippery Rock	Oil City, PA	L 13–20	4,500	[25]
*Non-conference game

^[33][34]

Lock Haven

1961 Lock Haven Bald Eagles football
Conference	Pennsylvania State College Conference
Record	5–2–2 (2–2–1 PSCC)
Head coach	Hubert Jack (16th season)

The 1961 Lock Haven Bald Eagles football team represented Lock Haven State Teachers College (now known as Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania) of Lock Haven, Pennsylvania. In their 16th year under head coach Hubert Jack, the Bald Eagles compiled a 5–2–2 record (2–2–1 against PSTCC opponents) and finished in fourth place in the PSCC.

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
	at Shippensburg		W 20–0
	at Brockport*		W 14–0
	California (PA)	Lock Haven, PA	L 7–21
	at Clarion	Clarion, PA	L 7–17
	Bloomsburg*	Lock Haven, PA	W 18–7
	at Edinboro		T 7–7
	at Indiana (PA)		W 40–19
November 4	St. Vincent*	Lock Haven, PA	T 7–7
	Mansfield	Lock Haven, PA	W 43–19
*Non-conference game

^[35]

Edinboro

1961 Edinboro Fighting Scots football
Conference	Pennsylvania State College Conference
Record	3–4–1 (1–3–1 PSCC)
Head coach	Loyal K. Park (2nd season)

The 1961 Edinboro Fighting Scots football team represented Edinboro State College (now known as Edinboro University of Pennsylvania) of Edinboro, Pennsylvania. In their second year under head coach Loyal K. Park, the Fighting Scots compiled a 3–4–1 record (1–3–1 against PSCC opponents) and finished in fifth place in the West Division of the PSCC.

Indiana (PA)

1961 Indiana Indians football
Conference	Pennsylvania State College Conference
Record	2–7 (1–4 PSCC)
Head coach	Sam Smith (13th season)

The 1961 Indiana Indians football team represented Indiana State College (now known as Indiana University of Pennsylvania) of Indiana, Pennsylvania. In their 13th year under head coach Sam Smith, Indiana compiled a 2–7 record (1–6 against PSCC opponents) and finished in sixth place in the PSCC.

Shippensburg

1961 Shippensburg Red Raiders football
Conference	Pennsylvania State College Conference
Record	0–8 (0–4 PSCC)
Head coach	Jack Roddick (7th season)

The 1961 Shippensburg Red Raiders football team represented Shippensburg State College (now known as Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania) of Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. In their eleventh season under head coach Eddie Gulian, the Raiders compiled a 2–5–1 record (1–5–1 against PSTCC opponents) and finished in seventh place in the PSCC.

References

1. "West Chester Football Record Book: History of WCU Football" (PDF). West Chester University. p. 5. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
2. "WCU All-Time Records & Career Stats: Single-Season History". West Chester University. Archived from the original on 2012-03-30. Retrieved 2011-08-20.
3. Harold Claassen (December 6, 1961). "Annual Little All-Americans -- Small College Stars Selected". The Shreveport Journal. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
4. Kenny Van Sickle (September 25, 1961). "College's Strong Second Half Drive Falls Short". The Ithaca Journal. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Brief Summary of Cumulative Football Statistics (Ithaca)". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
6. "E. Stroudsburg State Defeated By W. Chester". The Morning Call. October 1, 1961. p. D4 – via Newspapers.com.
7. Bill Carroll (October 7, 1961). "3 Quick TD's Send M-ville Tumbling to 56 to 6 Defeat". Lancaster New Era. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "West Chester Runs Wild Over Clarin, 51-20". Daily Intelligencer Journal. October 14, 1961. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "West Chester Coasts, 47-0, Over Kutztown". The Morning Call. October 22, 1961. p. D2 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Muskingum Gridders Upset Mighty West Chester 19-16: Bixler Scores Winnng TD In Fourth Period". The Times Recorder. October 29, 1961. p. 1D – via Newspapers.com.
11. Herb Good (November 5, 1961). "Villanova Jars W. Chester: Rams Hold Early Lead, Then Falter". The Philadelphia Inquirer. pp. Sports 1, 16 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Bonkowski To Gray Passes Lead West Chester To 26-7 Edge Over BSC; English Scores". Berwick Enterprise. November 13, 1961. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
13. "West Chester Jolts Slippery Rock 21-0". The Sunday News. November 19, 1961. p. 41 – via Newspapers.com.
14. "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (West Chester)". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
15. "History of WCU Football" (PDF). West Chester University. p. 5. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
16. "E. Stroudsburg Wins, Closes 'Best' Season". Sunday Call-Chronicle. November 5, 1961. p. D6 – via Newspapers.com.
17. "Cortland Trips Bloomsburg". Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. October 8, 1961. p. 8C – via Newspapers.com.
18. Jim Riley (November 5, 1961). "MSC Routs Montclair". Sunday News. p. 33 – via Newspapers.com.
19. "Season-By-Season Results.pdf" (PDF). static.millersvilleathletics.com. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
20. "Delaware Valley Late Aerial Topples Kutztown State, 12-6". Sunday Call-Chronicle. October 15, 1961. p. D4 – via Newspapers.com.
21. "Football Year-by-Year Results - Kutztown University Athletics". kubears.com. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
22. "Rockets Cop 36-7 Triumph For Parents". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. September 24, 1961 – via Newspapers.com.
23. "Jackets Win 18-7 On Pair Of Late TDs". The Pittsburgh Press. October 8, 1961. p. IV-7 – via Newspapers.com.
24. "Slippery Rock Hands Titans 21-14 Defeat". The Pittsburgh Press. November 5, 1961. p. VIII-4 – via Newspapers.com.
25. "Slippery Rock Rockets To Division Grid Title". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. November 12, 1961. p. IV-6 – via Newspapers.com.
26. "Jackets' Passes Trip California". The Pittsburgh Press. November 5, 1961. p. VIII-4 – via Newspapers.com.
27. "California Beats Edinboro by 26-19". The Philadelphia Inquirer. November 12, 1961. p. 2S – via Newspapers.com.
28. Official Collegiate Football Record Book. National Collegiate Athletic Association. 1962. p. 147.
29. Edinboro defeated Clarion on the field. However, per the Official Collegiate Football Record Book for 1952, page 19, Edinboro later forfeited its victory over Clarion. Accordingly, the loss does not count in Clarion's conference record.
30. "Edinboro Edges Clarion, 13-12". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. September 24, 1961. p. IV-8 – via Newspapers.com.
31. "Grove City 20-0 Victim Of Clarion". The Pittsburgh Press. October 1, 1961. p. IV-7 – via Newspapers.com.
32. "West Chester Runs Wild Over Clarion, 51-20". Daily Intelligencer Journal. October 14, 1961. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
33. Official Collegiate Football Record Book. National Collegiate Athletic Association. 1962. p. 148.
34. "1961 Football Schedule - Clarion Athletics". clariongoldeneagles.com. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
35. "1961 Football Schedule - Lock Haven University Athletics". golhu.com. Retrieved July 23, 2024.