Wikipedia

1961 Delta State Statesmen football team

The 1961 Delta State Statesmen football team was an American football team that represented Delta State Teachers College (now known as the Delta State University) as an independent during the 1961 college football season. In their first year under head coach Horace McCool, the Statesmen compiled a 7–2–1 record and outscored opponents 210 to 83.[1]

1961 Delta State Statesmen football
ConferenceIndependent
Record7–2–1
Head coach
Home stadiumDelta Field
Seasons
← 1960
1962 →
1961 Southern college football independents records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Washington and Lee   –   9 – 0 – 0
Tampa   –   8 – 1 – 0
Mississippi College   –   8 – 1 – 0
Mississippi Southern   –   8 – 2 – 0
Memphis State   –   8 – 2 – 0
Delta State   –   7 – 2 – 1
Howard (AL)   –   7 – 2 – 0
South Carolina Trade   –   6 – 2 – 0
Maryville (TN)   –   6 – 2 – 0
Sewanee   –   5 – 2 – 1
Miles   –   5 – 2 – 0
Navy   –   7 – 3 – 0
Arlington State   –   7 – 3 – 0
Louisville   –   6 – 3 – 0
Miami (FL)   –   7 – 4 – 0
McMurry   –   6 – 4 – 0
Houston   –   5 – 4 – 1
Livingstone   –   5 – 4 – 0
Southwestern (TN)   –   4 – 4 – 0
Emory & Henry   –   4 – 4 – 0
Florida State   –   4 – 5 – 1
Norfolk State   –   3 – 4 – 0
Abilene Christian   –   4 – 6 – 0
Chattanooga   –   4 – 6 – 0
Georgetown (KY)   –   2 – 3 – 1
Arkansas State   –   3 – 6 – 0
Austin   –   2 – 7 – 0
Trinity (TX)   –   2 – 7 – 0
Millsaps   –   1 – 5 – 2
Centre   –   1 – 7 – 0

The team's assistant coaches were Gene (Chad) Chadwik, John Watts, and student assistant Benny Price.[1]

The team played its home games at Delta Field in Cleveland, Mississippi.

Schedule

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DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 16at Florence StateFlorence, ALL 6–96,000[2]
September 21Arkansas A&M
W 34–03,500
September 30at Jacksonville State
W 32–155,000[3]
October 7Southeast Missouri State
  • Delta Field
  • Cleveland, MS
W 13–64,000
October 14Troy State
  • Delta Field
  • Cleveland, MS
W 48–04,000[4]
October 21at Howard (AL)
L 14–205,500[5]
October 28Tennessee–Martin 
  • Delta Field
  • Cleveland, MS
W 22–84,000[6]
November 4at Northeast Louisiana State
W 9–05,600–5,700[7][8]
November 18Louisiana College
  • Delta Field
  • Cleveland, MS
T 6–61,500[9]
November 23at Ouachita Baptist
W 26–19757[10]
  •  Homecoming

[11]

Statistics

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The team tallied 3,446 yards of total offense (344.6 yards per game), consisting of 2,755 rushing yards (275.5 yards per game) and 691 passing yards (69.1 yards per game). On defense, the team held opponents to 1,282 yards of total offense (128.2 yards per game) with 911 rushing yards (91.1 yards per game) and 610 passing yards (61.0 yards per game).[11]

Despite missing a game due to injury,[12] left halfback Les Henning of Brookhaven, Mississippi, led the team in rushing (502 yards on 84 carries), receiving (141 yards on eight catches), total offense (502 yards), and punting (29 punts for an average of 36.0 yards per punt). Right halfback Billy Bowman led the team in scoring with 50 points on eight touchdowns and a two-point conversion.

Quarterback Sonny Hill completed 14th of 20 passes for 222 yards with four touchdowns and one interception.[11] Hill broke his foot in the Southeast Missouri game and was replaced for the last half of the season by Chester Norris.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Larry Liddell (December 2, 1961). "Delta State Tops: Final Statistics Are Announced". Clarion-Ledger. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Florence Nips Delta, 9-6". The Montgomery Advertiser-Journal. September 17, 1961. p. 5C – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Deltans in 35–15 win at Jax St". The Clarion-Ledger. October 1, 1962. Retrieved December 4, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Larry Lidell (October 15, 1961). "Delta State Wins 48-0 Over Troy". Clarion-Ledger. p. 1D – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Delta State beat 20–14 by Howard". The Clarion-Ledger. October 22, 1961. Retrieved May 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Delta State Raps Tough Vols 22-8". Clarion-Ledger. October 29, 1961. p. 1B – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Indian eleven trims Mexico Polytechnic, 28–0". Monroe Morning World. September 17, 1961. p. 7B. Retrieved January 24, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Northeast Louisiana State)". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
  9. ^ Lee Baker (November 19, 1961). "Delta St. Ties Louisiana Col". Clarion-Ledger. p. 1C – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Larry Lidell (November 25, 1961). "Delta Wins 26-19 Over Ouachita 11". Clarion-Ledger. p. 25 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ a b c "Brief Summary of Cumulative Statistics". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  12. ^ Larry Liddell (November 22, 1961). "Delta And Ouachita In Season's Final". THe Delta Democrat-Times. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
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