1961 Albion Britons football team
1961 Albion Britons football | |
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MIAA champion | |
Conference | Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association |
Record | 8–0 (5–0 MIAA) |
Head coach |
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Captain | Dale Springer, Ray Hoag[1] |
Home stadium | Alumni Field |
Seasons ← 1960 1962 → |
| Conf | Overall | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Albion $ | 5 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 8 | – | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Olivet | 4 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 8 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kalamazoo | 3 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Alma | 2 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adrian | 1 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hope | 0 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1961 Albion Britons football team was an American football team that represented Albion College of Albion, Michigan, as a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) during the 1961 college football season. In their eighth season under head coach Morley Fraser, the Britons compiled a perfect 8–0 record (5–0 against MIAA members), won the MIAA championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 186 to 56.[2][3] It was Albion's first perfect season since 1928.[4]
The team was inducted into Albion's Ahletic Hall of Fame in 1991. Nine coaches or players from the team have also been inducted as individuals: Morley Fraser; Darwin Christiansen; Frank Gould; Ray Hag; Ken Neal; Robert Porritt; Fritz Shurmur; Joe Shurmur; and Dale Springer.[3]
The team's individual statistical leaders included fullback J.B. Elzy with 752 rushing yards, quarterback Frank Gould with 604 passing yards and 818 yards of total offense, and end Gary Methner with 49 pass receptions for 604 yards.[2]
Junior Joe Shurmur was named to the 1961 MIAA all-conference team on both offense (guard) and defense (linebacker);[5] he was also voted as the team's most valuable player.[1] Albion took nine of the 22 spots on the 1961 all-conference team. In addition to Shurmur, Albion's other honorees were quarterback Frank Gould; running backs J.B. Elzy and Ray Hoag; end Gary Menther; defensive tackle Terry Menther; defensive guard Milt Moore; and defensive halfback Bob Porritt.[5]
The team played its home games at Alumni Field in Albion, Michigan.
Schedule
Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
September 16 | Eastern Michigan* |
| W 13–0 | 1,500–4,000 | [6] | ||
September 30 | Kalamazoo |
| W 15–0 | 2,000–3,820 | [7] | ||
October 7 | at Hope |
| W 26–14 | 4,500–4,850 | [8] | ||
October 14 | Anderson (IN)* |
| W 35–6 | 1,100 | [9] | ||
October 21 | Olivet![]() |
| W 13–0 | 6,000 | [10] | ||
October 28 | at Ferris Institute* | Big Rapids, MI | W 28–6 | 2,700 | [11] | ||
November 4 | at Alma | Alma, MI | W 27–12 | 4,030 | [12] | ||
November 11 | at Adrian | Adrian, MI | W 35–17 | 4,285 | [4] | ||
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[2]
Roster
The following 37 players received block "A" varsity letters for their participation on the 1961 Albion football team:[1]
- Dom Adamson - junior, Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Dave Barrett - sophomore, Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Bruce Blakeman - junior, Paw Paw, Michigan
- Jesse Bommarito - sophomore, Albion, Michigan
- Jerry Chandler - freshman, Dearborn, Michigan
- Dar Christiansen - junior, Flushing, Michigan
- Monte Clute - senior, Rochester, Michigan
- Dick Dana - freshman, Williamston, Michigan
- Roger Dunn - sophomore, Flint, Michigan
- Keith Galloway - freshman, Grosse Ile, Michigan
- Frank Gould - junior, St. Charles, Michigan
- George Eisener - junior, Jonesville, Michigan
- J.B. Elzy - sophomore, Flint, Michigan
- Bob Gardner - freshman, Wayne, Michigan
- Ray Hoag - senior, Lowell, Michigan
- Mike Hornus - sophomore, Owosso, Michigan
- Les Knickerbacker - sophomore, Flint, Michigan
- Jim Livingston - freshman, Flint, Michigan
- Tom Lutz - junior, Wyandotte, Michigan
- Jim Madill - junior, Midland, Michigan
- Bruce Martens - junior, Vicksburg, Michigan
- Gary Methner - senior, Midland, Michigan
- Terry Methner - sophomore, Midland, Michigan
- Milton Moore - senior, Chicago
- Ken Neal - freshman, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
- Jim Osgood - sophomore, Mount Pleasant, Michigan
- Bob Porritt - sophomore, Clarkston, Michigan
- Steve Richards - sophomore, South Lake, Michigan
- Mike Shafer - freshman, Findlay, Ohio
- Bob Smith - senior, Grosse Ile, Michigan
- Jon Rise - senior, Pontiac, Michigan
- Tom Sagendorf - senior, Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Joe Shurmur - junior, Wyandotte, Michigan
- Dale Springer - senior, co-captain, Lansing, Michigan
- John Ulmanis - freshman, Midland, Michigan
- Russ Wallis - freshman, Durand, Michigan
- Phil Willis - junior, Grass Lake, Michigan
Varsity letters were also presented to team managers Fred Clawson, John Gorton, and Richard Yeager.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d "Joe Shurmur Named Most Valuable Briton". The Battle Creek Enquirer and News. November 17, 1961. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Albion 1961)". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
- ^ a b "Albion's '61 MIAA title team to celebrate reunion". Mlive.com. September 6, 2012.
- ^ a b "Albion Wraps Up Perfect Season". The Battle Creek Enquirer and News. November 12, 1961. p. IV-1 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "MIAA Team Is Dominated By Albion". The Herald-Palladium. November 16, 1961. p. II-3 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Albion Wins, 13-0: Elzy Paces Grid Opener; Britons Victorious Before 1,500 Fans". The Battle Creek Enquirer and News. September 17, 1961. p. IV-2 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Olivet, Albion Win MIAA Grid Battles". The Battle Creek Enquirer and News. October 1, 1961. p. IV-1 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Strong 2nd Half Gives Albion Win Over Hope: Britons Score 26-14 Victory Over Dutch". The Holland Sentinel. October 9, 1961. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Albion, Mich. Eleven Hands Anderson 1st Setback In Four Starts, 35-6". Anderson Herald. October 15, 1961. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Albion Knocks Off Olivet in MIAA Showdown, 13-0: 6,000 Watch Grid Thriller". The Battle Creek Enquirer and News. October 22, 1961. p. IV-2 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Albion '11' Runs Over Ferris, 28-6". The Battle Creek Enquirer and News. October 29, 1961. p. IV-2 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Albion Whips Alma, 21-12, For 7th Straight Victory". The Battle Creek Enquirer and News. November 5, 1961. p. IV-2 – via Newspapers.com.