The 1961 Millikin Big Blue football team was an American football team that represented Millikin University as a member of the College Conference of Illinois during the 1961 NAIA football season. In their sixth and final year under head coach Don Shroyer, the Big Blue compiled a perfect 8–0 record (6–0 against conference opponents), won the CCI championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 305 to 79.[1] Millikin was ranked 14th in the final National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) poll.[2] The 1961 campaign was one of only four undefeated seasons in Millikin football history.[3]
| 1961 Millikin Big Blue football | |
|---|---|
CCI champion | |
| Conference | College Conference of Illinois |
| Record | 8–0 (7–0 CCI) |
| Head coach |
|
| Captain | Jerry Domescik, Ryan Jorstad |
| Home stadium | Millikin Field |
| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 14 Millikin $ | 6 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 8 | – | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Carroll (WI) | 5 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Carthage | 4 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| North Central (IL) | 3 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Augustana (IL) | 2 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Illinois Wesleyan | 1 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lake Forest | 0 | – | 6 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 8 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Senior halfback and co-captain Jerry Domescik rushed for 799 yards, scored 20 touchdowns, and led the NAIA with 120 points scored.[3][4] He was also named to the 1961 NAIA All-America team.[5]
Six Milliken players were named to the 1961 All-CCI football team: Domescik; Ryan Jorstad (offensive and defensive tackle); Bob Martin (offensive tackle); Bill Severino (offensive and defensive guard); Chuck Siebel (defensive end); Delmar Rutz (defensive halfback).[6]
Schedule edit
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 23 | at Illinois State* |
| W 22–0 | [7] | |||
| September 30 | Carthage |
| W 32–30 | [8] | |||
| October 7 | North Park* |
| W 72–0 | ||||
| October 14 | at Augustana (IL) | Rock Island, IL | W 39–7 | [9] | |||
| October 21 | Lake Forest |
| W 47–7 | 3,000 | [10] | ||
| October 28 | at Illinois Wesleyan |
| W 27–16 | [11] | |||
| November 4 | North Central (IL) |
| W 19–0 | [12] | |||
| November 11 | at Carroll (WI) | Waukesha, WI | W 47–13 | [13] | |||
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References edit
- ^ "CCIW Football History" (PDF). College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. p. 6. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
- ^ "Linfield Third As Whittier Fourth; Pittsburgh Top Team". Humboldt Standard. Eureka, California. November 22, 1961. p. 10. Retrieved June 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com
.
- ^ a b "Millikin Announces 2023 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees". Millikin University. September 19, 2023.
- ^ "Domescik NAIA Champ: Blue Halfback Wins Scoring Title by 6 Points". The Decatur Daily Review. December 6, 1961. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "J. Domescik Named NAIA All-America". The Decatur Daily Review. December 8, 1961. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Augie's Tingle Linebacker Pick on CCI All-Conference". The Rock Island Argus. November 23, 1961. p. 36 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Ron Janecke (September 24, 1961). "ISNU's Rally in 2nd Half Too Late -- Millikin Wins, 22-16: Redbirds Scare Big Blue After Trailing, 22 to 0". The Pantagraph. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Millikin Football Team Opens CCI Play Against Carthage Here Today". Decatur Herald. September 30, 1961. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Dave Krone (October 16, 1961). "Powerful Millikin Dampens Augie Homecoming; Coasts to 39-7 Win". The Rock Island Argus. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Lake Forest Routed, 47-7, at Millikin". Chicago Tribune. October 22, 1961. p. Part 2, page 4 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Fred Young (October 29, 1961). "Millikin Rips Titans, 27-16: Big Blue Powers Way to Fourth CCI Win". The Pantagraph. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Domescik Paces Millikin to 5th CCI Win, 19-0". The Pantagraph. November 5, 1961. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Millikin Captures CCI Crown, 47-13: Jerry Domescik Leads Big Blue To Easy Triumph Over Carroll". The Pantagraph. November 12, 1961. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
