1961 Memphis State Tigers football team

American college football season

1961 Memphis State Tigers football

Conference| Independent
Record| 8–2
Head coach|

* Billy J. Murphy (4th season)

Captain| Don Coffey, Jack Carter
Home stadium| Crump Stadium

Seasons

<- 1960

1962 ->

1961 Southern college football independents records

* v
* t
* e

| 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 1961 Memphis State Tigers football team was an American football team that represented Memphis State College (now known as the University of Memphis) as an independent during the 1961 college football season. In its fourth season under head coach Billy J. Murphy, the Tigers compiled an 8–2 record and outscored opponents by a total of 332 to 75.[1][2]

The team's statistical leaders included James Earl Wright with 604 passing yards, fullback Dave Casinelli with 646 rushing yards and 54 points scored, and Don Coffey with 312 receiving yards.[3] Coffey and Jack Carter were the team captains.

The team played its home games at Crump Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee.

## Schedule

[edit]

Date| Opponent| Site| Result| Attendance| Source

|
|
|
|
|

September 16| The Citadel|

* Crump Stadium
* Memphis, TN

| W 40–0| 17,345| [4]
September 23| at Tulsa|

* Skelly Stadium
* Tulsa, OK

| W 48–12| 15,252|
September 30| Hardin–Simmons|

* Crump Stadium
* Memphis, TN

| W 56–0| |
October 7| at Louisville|

* Cardinal Stadium
* Louisville, KY (rivalry)

| W 28–13| 11,332| [5]
October 14| Mississippi Southern|

* Crump Stadium
* Memphis, TN (Black and Blue Bowl)

| W 21–7| 22,119| [6]
October 21| Abilene Christian|

* Crump Stadium
* Memphis, TN

| W 35–0| |
October 28| Mississippi State|

* Crump Stadium
* Memphis, TN

| L 16–23| 30,092| [7]
November 4| Furman|

* Crump Stadium
* Memphis, TN

| L 6–7| 6,036| [8]
November 11| North Texas State|

* Crump Stadium
* Memphis, TN

| W 41–0| 6,921| [9]
November 23| at Chattanooga|

* Chamberlain Field
* Chattanooga, TN

| W 41–13| | [10]

* Homecoming

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "1961 Memphis Tigers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
2. ^ "Memphis Football 2019 Media Guide" (PDF). University of Memphis. p. 270. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
3. ^ "1961 Memphis Tigers Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
4. ^ "Power, trickery of Memphis State rips Citadel, 40–0". Tulsa World. September 17, 1961. Retrieved January 19, 2024 - via Newspapers.com.
5. ^ Johnny Carrico (October 8, 1961). "U. of L. Slows Memphis St., Falls 28 To 13". The Courier-Journal. pp. 1, 5 (sports).
6. ^ "Wright leads Memphis State past Southern". The Tennessean. October 15, 1961. Retrieved March 28, 2021 - via Newspapers.com.
7. ^ "Bulldogs too tough for Memphis State". The Birmingham News. October 29, 1961. Retrieved October 11, 2023 - via Newspapers.com.
8. ^ "Furman pulls big upset at Memphis". The Montgomery Advertiser. November 5, 1961. Retrieved September 15, 2022 - via Newspapers.com.
9. ^ "Tigers are back on winning way, Victors by 41–0". The Commercial Appeal. November 11, 1961. Retrieved November 2, 2021 - via Newspapers.com.
10. ^ "Jack Carter powers Tigers past Mocs". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. November 24, 1961. Retrieved September 10, 2021 - via Newspapers.com.

* v
* t
* e

Memphis Tigers football

Venues|

* Normal Field (1912–1916)
* Russwood Park (1912–1915, 1918–1920, 1922–1924)
* Hodges Field (1917, 1919, 1921–1923, 1926–1929)
* Memorial Field (1924–1936)
* Fairgrounds Stadium (1937)
* Crump Stadium (1937–1964)
* Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium (1965–present)

Bowls & rivalries|

* Bowl games
* Arkansas State: Paint Bucket Bowl
* Cincinnati
* Louisville
* Ole Miss
* Southern Miss: Black and Blue Bowl
* UAB: Battle for the Bones

Culture & lore|

* History
* Pouncer
* TOM (mascot)
* "Go Tigers Go"
* Mighty Sound of the South
* Miami Beach Brawl

People|

* Head coaches
* NFL draftees
* Statistical leaders

Seasons|

* 1912
* 1913
* 1914
* 1915
* 1916
* 1917
* 1918
* 1919
* 1920
* 1921
* 1922
* 1923
* 1924
* 1925
* 1926
* 1927
* 1928
* 1929
* 1930
* 1931
* 1932
* 1933
* 1934
* 1935
* 1936
* 1937
* 1938
* 1939
* 1940
* 1941
* 1942
* 1943–1946
* 1947
* 1948
* 1949
* 1950
* 1951
* 1952
* 1953
* 1954
* 1955
* 1956
* 1957
* 1958
* 1959
* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Conf.]: Conference record
*[W]: Wins
*[L]: Losses
*[T]: Ties