The 1961 Washington State Cougars football team was an American football team that represented Washington State University as an independent during the 1961 college football season. In their sixth season under head coach Jim Sutherland, the Cougars compiled a 3–7 record and were outscored 213 to 163.
End Hugh Campbell led the country with 53 receptions and won the W. J. Voit Memorial Trophy as the outstanding college football player on the Pacific Coast. Fullback George Reed led the team in rushing (489 yards) and scoring (48 points), and quarterback Mel Melin led the team in total offense (842 yards).
Schedule
Statistics Washington State ranked fifth nationally in passing offense with an average of 156.1 yards per game. On the ground, they averaged 140.7 yards per game.
The team's passing leaders were quarterbacks Mel Melin (66 of 134 for 814 yards with seven touchdowns and eight interceptions) and Dave Mathieson (50 of 93 for 743 yards with three touchdowns and seven interceptions. Melin, a senior, broke Washington State's career records for total offense (3,135 yards) and pass attempts (452).
The team's rushing leaders were George Reed (489 yards, 131 carries), John Browne (245 yards, 45 carries), Louis Blakely (226 yards, 54 carries), and Ken Graham (178 yards, 47 carries). Reed scored three touchdowns against Oregon, tying a Washington State record for points scored in a single game.
The team's receiving leaders were Hugh Campbell (53 receptions, 723 yards) and Jim Boylan (28 receptions, 412 yards).
The team's scoring leaders were George Reed (48 points) and Hugh Campbell (30 points).
The leaders in total offense were Mel Melin (842 yards) and Dave Mathieson (691 yards).
Awards Junior end Hugh Campbell led the country with 53 receptions and ranked second with 723 receiving yards. He won the W. J. Voit Memorial Trophy as the outstanding college football player on the Pacific Coast. Campbell was also the only unanimous first-team choice on the 1961 All-Pacific Coast football team. He was selected as a third-team All-American by both the Associated Press (AP) and United Press International (UPI).
Fullback George Reed was named to the second team on the All-Pacific Coast team..
Personnel Players
Mike Abbott, end Leroy Babbitt, guard Glenn Baker, tackle, 6'3", 225 pounds, sophomore Louis Blakely, fullback Jim Boylan, right halfback Al Branco, guard John Browne, left halfback Roy Busse, center Hugh Campbell, end, 6'1", 190 pounds, junior Jerry Campbell, left halfback Mike Carboin, end Lorin Christean, guard Bob Colleran, tackle, 6'0", 230 pounds, senior Jerry Conine, guard, 5'11", 205 pounds, junior Tim Connors, left halfback Bill Cook, end John Cooley, guard Pat Crook, guard Blain Eliot, guard Tom Erlandson, center George Foster, center Bill Gaydosh, left halfback Gery Gehrmann, guard Bob Giachino, guard Ken Graham, right halfback, 6'0", 200 pounds, sophomore Harold Haddock, left halfback Bob Hoien, tackle Bob James, end Jim Jensen, tackle Ralph Jones, end Dean Kalahar, center Dave Kerrone, left halfback Don Knight, quarterback Ron Langhans, end Gary Lewis, left halfback Mike Martin, tackle Dave Mathieson, quarterback, 6'1", 205 pounds, sophomore Herm McKee, fullback, 6'3", 210 pounds, sophomore Mel Melin, quarterback, 6'0", 195 pounds, senior George Reed, fullback, 5'10", 205 pounds, junior Larry Reisbig, end Mike Rowe, guard Paul Rushfeldt, fullback Pete Schenck, right halfback, 6'2", 195 pounds, sophomore Steve Simmons, tackle Wendell Wardell, tackle Harvey West, end John Wyffels, tackle John Zaring, right halfback
Coaches and administration
Jim Sutherland - head coach (6th year) Stan Bates - athletic director C. Clement French - university president Ray Blier - assistant coach Roy E. Carlson - assistant coach Chuck Chatfield - assistant coach Ed Cody - assistant coach Russ Hampton - assistant coach
Professional football draftees The following eight players from the 1961 Washington State team were selected in the professional football drafts:
1962 NFL/AFL drafts Mel Melin, picked 45th by the New York Titans in the 1962 AFL draft Pete Schenck, picked 128th by the Green Bay Packers in the 1962 NFL draft and 138th by the Denver Broncos in the 1962 AFL draft Mike Martin, picked 236th by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1962 NFL draft and 154th by the Denver Broncos in the 1962 AFL draft Herm McKee, picked 275th by the Baltimore Colts in the 1962 draft
1963 NFL/AFL drafts Hugh Campbell picked 50th by the San Francisco 49ers in the 1963 NFL draft and 169th by the Oakland Raiders in the 1963 AFL draft Dave Mathieson, picked 81st by the Chicago Bears in the 1963 NFL draft and 172nd by the Denver Broncos in the 1963 AFL draft
1964 NFL/AFL drafts Kenny Graham, picked 162nd by the Baltimore Colts in the 1964 NFL draft and 104th by the San Diego Chargers in the 1964 AFL draft Glenn Baker, picked 178th by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1963 draft
References
External links Game program: Utah State vs. WSU at Spokane – September 30, 1961 Game program: Idaho at WSU – October 14, 1961 Game program: San Jose State vs. WSU at Spokane – October 28, 1961 Game program: Oregon at WSU – November 11, 1961