The 1961 Virginia Tech Gobblers football team, also known as the VPI Gobblers, was an American football team that represented the Virginia Polytechnic Institute (now known as Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University or Virginia Tech) as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1961 college football season. In their first year under head coach Jerry Claiborne, the Gobblers compiled a 4–5 record (2–3 in conference games), finished seventh in the SoCon, and were outscored by a total of 112 to 93.
Quarterback Warren Price led the team in passing yards (381), rushing yards (356), and total offense (736 yards). Price was described as "the heart and soul of the Tech offense, a genuine triple-threater."
The team played its home games at Miles Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia.
Schedule
Statistics Quarterback Warren Price led the team in passing (37-for-93, 39.8%, 381 yards, five touchdowns, five interceptions), rushing (356 yards on 93 carries, 3.8-yard average), total offense (736 yards), and scoring.
Other significant contributors included Gerald Bobbitte (261 rushing yards, 62 carries, 4.2-yard average) and Terry Strock (223 rushing yards, 68 receiving yards), Buddy Perry (212 rushing yards, 61 receiving yards), and Buddy Weihe (148 rushing yards, 85 receiving yards).
Awards and honors Three Virginia Tech players were selected as first-team players on the 1961 Virginia All-Big Five football team: quarterback Warren Price; back Terry Strock; and tackle Joe Moss. Two others were placed on the second team: end Leon Tomblin and guard Ray Barile. Three others received honorable mention: back Gerald Bobbitte; tackle Gene Breen; and guard Newt Green.
Tackle Gene Breen was selected as a first-team player on the 1961 All-Southern Conference football team. Tackle Joe Moss and quarterback Warren Price were named to the second team.
Personnel Players The following players received varsity letters for their participation on the 1961 Virginia Tech football team: Ray Barile, guard, senior Herb Bowling, end-linebacker, junior Gene Breen, tackle, sophomore, 6'2", 210 pounds Bloice Davison, guard, senior John Farmer, tackle, senior Dave Gillespie, center Dick Goode, end, junior Ron Hawkins, halfback, junior Charlie Hines, center, senior Gerald Holbrook, guard, senior Warren Maccaroni, fullback, senior Ray Massie, halfback, junior Joe Moss, tackle, senior, 6'4", 233 pounds, Burkes Garden, VA Noah Redding "Buddy" Perry, halfback, senior Warren Price, quarterback/halfback, senior, 5'10", 165 pounds, Miami, FL Aster "Cat" Sizemore, back, junior Charlie Speck, end, senior Terry L. Strock, quarterback, senior, 5'10", 172 pounds, Hagerstown, MD Leon Tomblin, end, senior
Other players identified from the roster published in the 1962 edition of The Bugle, the Virginia Tech yearbook, included: Jake Adams, end Kyle Marlon Albright, center William McLemore "Billy" Babb, halfback Gerald Bobbitte Harold Bolden, halfback Mike Cahill, halfback/quarterback Alex Camaioni, guard Phillip W. Cary Pete Cartwright, halfback Dickie Cranwell Lacy Lee Edwards, Jr., halfback Randall Edwards, center Ronald Wayne Frank David Green, guard Walter Newton Green, Jr. Thomas Morgan Hawkins, halfback James Venable Hickam, guard Don Jensen, guard John W. Minichan, tackle Bob Peak, tackle Art Pruett, fullback Bill Robertson, tackle Joseph Gilleece "Skip" Vance, halfback Al Verthein, halfback Thomas Merritt Walker, halfback K. T. "Buddy" Weihe, halfback Roger Whitley, fullback
Coaches and administration Head coach: Jerry Claiborne (1st year) Assistant coaches: John Shelton, Cecil Ingram, Jack Prater, Bob Edwards, Doug Shively, Dick Redding (freshmen coach), Bill Conde1962 Virginia Tech yearbook, p. 212. Athletic director: Frank O. Moseley
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