1961 College Football All-America Team
Encyclopedia
The 1961 College Football All-America team is composed of college football players who were selected as All-Americans by various organizations and writers that chose College Football All-America Team
s for the 1961 college football season
. The organizations choosing the teams included the United Press, Associated Press
, Time
, and the Newspaper Editors Association.
voting.
College Football All-America Team
The College Football All-America Team is an honor given annually to the best American college football players at their respective positions. The original usage of the term All-America seems to have been to the 1889 College Football All-America Team selected by Casper Whitney and published in This...
s for the 1961 college football season
1961 college football season
During the 20th century, the NCAA had no playoff for the college football teams that would later be described as "Division I-A". The NCAA did recognize a national champion based upon the final results of "wire service" polls. The extent of that recognition came in the form of acknowledgment in...
. The organizations choosing the teams included the United Press, Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
, Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
, and the Newspaper Editors Association.
Ends
- Gary Collins, Maryland (UPI, NEA, CP, WC, AFCA, FWAA, TSN, Time)
- Bill MillerBill Miller (American football)William Joseph Miller is a former professional American football wide receiver in the American Football League. He played six seasons for the Dallas Texans , the Buffalo Bills , and the Oakland Raiders...
, Miami (Fla.) (AP, NEA, WC, FWAA, TSN, Time) - Greg Mather, Navy (CP, FWAA)
- Gary Hillebrand, Colorado (AP, FWAA)
- Pat RichterPat RichterHugh Vernon Richter is the former University of Wisconsin–Madison athletic director and American football player. He was responsible for hiring Barry Alvarez from Notre Dame in 1990 as head football coach, restoring the Badgers football program to national prominence.-Playing career:Richter was...
, Wisconsin (UPI) - Bob Mitinger, Penn State (AFCA)
Tackles
- Billy NeighborsBilly NeighborsWilliam Wesley "Billy" Neighbors is a former American football guard who played in the American Football League from . He played college football at the University of Alabama where he was an All-American, and was selected in sixth round of the 1962 AFL Draft...
, Alabama (AP, UPI, NEA, CP, WC, AFCA, FWAA [guard], TSN) - Merlin OlsenMerlin OlsenMerlin Jay Olsen was an American football player in the National Football League, NFL commentator, and actor. He played his entire 15-year career with the Los Angeles Rams and was elected to the Pro Bowl in 14 of those seasons, a current record shared with Bruce Matthews...
, Utah State (AP, UPI, NEA, WC, FWAA, TIme) - Bobby BellBobby BellBobby Lee Bell, Sr is a former professional American football linebacker/defensive end. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the College Football Hall of Fame, and was a member of the Chiefs' team that won Super Bowl IV against the Minnesota Vikings.- High school career :He excelled in...
, Minnesota (CP, AFCA, FWAA, TSN ) - Ed BlaineEd BlaineEdward Homer Blaine was born in Farmington, Missouri on January 30, 1940. He played offensive guard on the University of Missouri Tigers football team while a pre-med student there...
, Missouri (FWAA) - Don TalbertDon TalbertDon Larry Talbert is a former American football offensive tackle in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons, and the New Orleans Saints. He played college football at the University of Texas at Austin and was drafted in the eighth round of the 1961 NFL Draft...
, Texas (FWAA) - Fate Echols, Northwestern (Time)
Guards
- Roy WinstonRoy WinstonRoy Charles Winston is a former professional American football player.Roy Winston graduated from Louisiana State University, where he starred as an offensive guard...
, LSU (AP, UPI, NEA, CP, WC, AFCA, FWAA, TSN, Time) - Joe RomigJoe RomigJoe Romig was an American football player. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1984. Romig attended Lakewood High School in Lakewood, Colorado, the University of Colorado at Boulder, and was a Rhodes Scholar....
, Colorado (UPI, NEA, WC, AFCA, FWAA, TSN) - Dave BehrmanDave BehrmanDavid Wesley Behrman is a former American football offensive lineman in the American Football League for the Buffalo Bills and the Denver Broncos.-Buffalo Bills:...
, Michigan State (AP, FWAA) - Nick BuonicontiNick BuonicontiNicholas Anthony Buoniconti is a former American Football League and NFL Hall of Fame middle linebacker, who played for the Boston Patriots and Miami Dolphins....
, Notre Dame (CP) - Treva Bolin, Mississippi (Time)
Centers
- Alex KrollAlex KrollAlexander Stanley Kroll was an American collegiate and Professional Football player and a now-retired major advertising agency executive.-Early life:...
, Rutgers (AP, UPI, NEA, WC, AFCA, FWAA) - Bill Van Buren, Iowa (CP, TSN)
- Ron Hull, UCLA (FWAA)
- Irv GoodeIrv GoodeIrving Lee Goode is a former American football guard who played thirteen seasons in the National Football League....
, Kentucky (Time)
Quarterbacks
- Sandy StephensSandy StephensSanford Emory Stephens II was an African-American football player and civic leader. Stephens was born and raised in the Pittsburgh area city of Uniontown, Pennsylvania and is best known for his career as a college football quarterback at the University of Minnesota...
, Minnesota (AP, UPI, NEA, WC, TSN, FWAA) - Roman GabrielRoman GabrielRoman Ildonzo Gabriel, Jr. is a former American football player. The son of a Filipino immigrant, he was the first Asian-American to start as an NFL quarterback and is considered by many to have been one of the best players at that position during the late 1960s and early 70s.Gabriel attended and...
, North Carolina State (AFCA, FWAA, Time) - John HadlJohn HadlJohn Willard Hadl is a former collegiate and professional football player.Hadl was born in Lawrence, Kansas. After playing halfback on both offense and defense at the University of Kansas as a sophomore, Hadl played quarterback for his last two years at Kansas, and was selected as the school's...
, Kansas (FWAA) - Doug Elmore, Mississippi (CP)
Halfbacks
- Ernie DavisErnie DavisErnest "Ernie" Davis was an American football running back and the first African-American athlete to win the Heisman Trophy. Wearing number 44, Davis competed collegiately for Syracuse University before being drafted by the Washington Redskins, then almost immediately traded to the Cleveland...
, Syracuse (AP, UPI, NEA, CP, WC, AFCA, FWAA, TSN, Time) - Jimmy SaxtonJimmy SaxtonJames Everett "Jimmy" Saxton Jr. is a former professional American football player who played in 1962 for the Dallas Texans.-External links:*...
, Texas (AP, UPI, NEA, CP, WC, AFCA, FWAA, TSN) - Lance AlworthLance AlworthLance Dwight Alworth is a former American collegiate and Professional Football wide receiver. He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame...
, Arkansas (FWAA) - Ronnie Bull, Baylor (Time)
Fullbacks
- Bob FergusonBob Ferguson (American football)Robert E. "Bob" Ferguson was an American football running back and member of the College Football Hall of Fame. He is considered by many to be the greatest fullback in the history of the Ohio State University Buckeyes.Ferguson attended Troy High School in Troy, Ohio.Ferguson's first year of...
, Ohio State (AP, UPI, NEA, CP, WC, AFCA, FWAA, TSN, Time) - Billy Ray Adams, Mississippi (FWAA)
Key
- Bold = Consensus All-American
- AP = Associated Press
- UPI = United Press International
- NEA = Newspaper Enterprise Association
- CP = Central Press AssociationCentral Press AssociationThe Central Press Association was an American newspaper syndication company based in Cleveland, Ohio. It was in business from 1910 to 1971. At its peak, the Central Press supplied features, columns, and photographs to more than 400 newspapers and 12 million daily readers.-History:Virgil Venice...
- WC = Walter Camp Football Foundation
- AFCA = American Football Coaches of America
- FWAA = Football Writers Association of America
- TSN = The Sporting News
- Time = Time Magazine
Heisman Trophy voting
The chart below reflects the point total in the 1961 Heisman TrophyHeisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
voting.
| Rank | Name | Position | School | Heisman points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ernie Davis Ernie Davis Ernest "Ernie" Davis was an American football running back and the first African-American athlete to win the Heisman Trophy. Wearing number 44, Davis competed collegiately for Syracuse University before being drafted by the Washington Redskins, then almost immediately traded to the Cleveland... |
Halfback Halfback (American football) A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive... |
Syaracuse | 824 |
| 2 | Bob Ferguson Bob Ferguson Bob Ferguson may refer to:*Bob Ferguson , Washington state politician*Bob Ferguson , songwriter, manager, executive, writer, historian and media specialist*Bob Ferguson , golfer... |
Fullback Fullback (American football) A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback... |
Ohio State | 771 |
| 3 | Jimmy Saxton Jimmy Saxton James Everett "Jimmy" Saxton Jr. is a former professional American football player who played in 1962 for the Dallas Texans.-External links:*... |
Halfback Halfback (American football) A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive... |
Texas | 551 |
| 4 | Sandy Stephens Sandy Stephens Sanford Emory Stephens II was an African-American football player and civic leader. Stephens was born and raised in the Pittsburgh area city of Uniontown, Pennsylvania and is best known for his career as a college football quarterback at the University of Minnesota... |
Quarterback Quarterback Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line... |
Minnesota | 543 |
| 5 | Pat Trammel | Quarterback Quarterback Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line... |
Alabama | 362 |
| 6 | Joe Romig Joe Romig Joe Romig was an American football player. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1984. Romig attended Lakewood High School in Lakewood, Colorado, the University of Colorado at Boulder, and was a Rhodes Scholar.... |
Guard Guard (American football) In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team.... |
Colorado | 279 |
| 7 | John Hadl John Hadl John Willard Hadl is a former collegiate and professional football player.Hadl was born in Lawrence, Kansas. After playing halfback on both offense and defense at the University of Kansas as a sophomore, Hadl played quarterback for his last two years at Kansas, and was selected as the school's... |
Quarterback Quarterback Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line... |
Kansas | 172 |