1961 New Mexico Lobos football team

American college football season

1961 New Mexico Lobos football

Aviation Bowl, W 28–12 vs. Western Michigan

Conference| Skyline Conference
Record| 7–4 (3–3 Skyline)
Head coach|

* Bill Weeks (2nd season)

Home stadium| University Stadium

Seasons

<- 1960

1962 ->

1961 Skyline Conference football standings

* v
* t
* e

| Conf |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team | W |  | L |  | T |  |  | W |  | L |  | T
No. 10 Utah State \+  | 5  | - | 0  | - | 1 |  |  | 9  | - | 1  | - | 1
Wyoming \+  | 5  | - | 0  | - | 1 |  |  | 6  | - | 1  | - | 2
New Mexico | 3  | - | 3  | - | 0 |  |  | 7  | - | 4  | - | 0
Utah | 3  | - | 3  | - | 0 |  |  | 6  | - | 4  | - | 0
Montana | 2  | - | 4  | - | 0 |  |  | 2  | - | 6  | - | 0
BYU | 2  | - | 4  | - | 0 |  |  | 2  | - | 8  | - | 0
Colorado State | 0  | - | 6  | - | 0 |  |  | 0  | - | 10  | - | 0

* \+ - Conference co-champions

Rankings from AP Poll

The 1961 New Mexico Lobos football team was an American football team that represented the University of New Mexico in the Skyline Conference during the 1961 college football season. In their second season under head coach Bill Weeks, the Lobos compiled a 7–4 record (3–3 in conference games), finished in a tie for third place in the conference, and outscored opponents by a total of 215 to 197.[1][2] The Lobos concluded their season with a victory over Western Michigan in the inaugural Aviation Bowl, played in snow and sleet at Dayton, Ohio.[3]

The Lobos ran a wing-T offense featuring speedy backs and pulling guards.[4] The offense was led by quarterback Jim Cromartie (533 passing yards, 168 rushing yards) and halfback Bobby Santiago (535 rushing yards, 107 receiving yards, five touchdowns).

The team played its home games at University Stadium in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

## Schedule

[edit]

Date| Opponent| Site| Result| Attendance| Source

|
|
|
|
|

September 23| New Mexico State*|

* University Stadium
* Albuquerque, NM (rivalry)

| W 41–7| 24,000| [5]
September 30| at Montana|

* Dornblaser Field
* Missoula, MT

| L 8–40| | [6]
October 7| Texas Western*|

* University Stadium
* Albuquerque, NM

| W 7–6| 16,815| [7]
October 14| at Utah State|

* Romney Stadium
* Logan, UT

| L 7–41| 8,051| [8]
October 21| at Arizona*|

* Arizona Stadium
* Tucson, AZ (rivalry)

| L 21–22| | [9]
October 28| Air Force*|

* University Stadium
* Albuquerque, NM

| W 21–6| 17,130| [10]
November 4| Utah|

* University Stadium
* Albuquerque, NM

| W 21–16| 15,770| [11]
November 11| Wyoming|

* University Stadium
* Albuquerque, NM

| L 7–33| 20,113| [12]
November 18| at Colorado State|

* Colorado Field
* Fort Collins, CO

| W 20–8| 4,500| [13]
November 25| BYU|

* University Stadium
* Albuquerque, NM

| W 34–6| 11,020| [14]
December 9| vs. Western Michigan*|

* Welcome Stadium
* Dayton, OH (Aviation Bowl)

| W 28–12| 3,694| [3]

* *Non-conference game
* Homecoming

## Statistics

[edit]

The team gained an average of 231.1 rushing yards and 71.0 passing yards per game. On defense, they gave up an average of 224.1 rushing yards and 118.9 passing yards per game.[15]

Quarterback Jim Cromartie led the team in passing, completing 28 of 60 passes (46.7 completion percentage) for 533 yards, four touchdowns, and six interceptions.[15]

The team's receiving leaders were Bobby Santiago (535 yards on 98 carries, 5.5-yard average), Bob Morgan (489 yards on 77 carries, 6.4-yard average), Herb Bradford (267 yards on 64 carries, 4.2-yard average), Gary Ness (229 yards on 55 carries, 4.3-yard average), and Jim Cromartie (168 yards on 86 carries, 2.0-yard average).[15]

Larry Jasper led in receiving with five catchers for 161 receiving yards (32.2-yard average) and two touchdowns. Other leading receivers were Herb Bradford (five receptions, 130 yards, 26-yard average) and Bobby Santiago (eight receptions for 107 yards, 13.4-yard average).[15]

Bobby Santiago led the team in scoring with 30 points on five rushing touchdowns. Jim Cromartie followed with 24 points on four rushing touchdowns.[15]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "1961 New Mexico Lobos Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
2. ^ "2018 New Mexico Football Media Guide" (PDF). University of New Mexico. 2018. p. 140\. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 6, 2018. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
3. ^ a b Dan Russel (December 10, 1961). "Lobos Capture Aviation Bowl, 28-12: Santiago, Chuck Selected Best Back, Lineman". Albuquerque Journal. pp. C1, C1 - via Newspapers.com.
4. ^ "Wolfpack's Wing-T Gains Respect; Santiago Voted Honors; 'We Wanted the Game' - Cummings; Lobos Are Aviation Bowl Champs". Albuquerque Tribune. December 11, 1961. p. B4 - via Newspapers.com.
5. ^ Dan Russel (September 24, 1961). "Wolfpack Devours Aggies, 41-7: Defense, Host of Fleet Backs End NMS Skein". Albuquerque Journal. p. C1 - via Newspapers.com.
6. ^ "New Mexico is touted by Montana". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. October 1, 1961. p. 4, sports.
7. ^ Dan Russel (October 8, 1961). "Lobos Squeak Past Texas Western, 7-6: UNM Defense Stops Furman". Albuquerque Journal. p. C1 - via Newspapers.com.
8. ^ Val Hess (October 15, 1961). "Aggies Blast Lobos For 41-7 Victory". The Herald Journal. p. 6 - via Newspapers.com.
9. ^ Abe Chanin (October 22, 1961). "Wilson's Pin-Point Passing Gives Cats 22-21 Victory: '2-Pointer' Gives UA Triumph". The Arizona Daily Star. pp. 1A, 1D - via Newspapers.com.
10. ^ Dan Russel (October 29, 1961). "Lobos Ground Falcons, 21-6". Albuquerque Journal. p. C1 - via Newspapers.com.
11. ^ Dan Russel (November 5, 1961). "Inspired Lobos Turn Back Utah, 21-16". Albuquerque Journal. p. 1C - via Newspapers.com.
12. ^ Dan Russel (November 12, 1961). "Wyoming Clinches 4th Straight Crown With 33-7 Lashing of Lobos". Albuquerque Journal. p. C1 - via Newspapers.com.
13. ^ Dudley Cress (November 19, 1961). "Aggies End Football Season Without Win: New Mexico Tips CSU, 20 to 8". Fort Collins Coloradoan. p. 12 - via Newspapers.com.
14. ^ Dan Russel (November 26, 1961). "Lobos Devour Cougars by 34-6 Score". Albuquerque Journal. p. C1 - via Newspapers.com.
15. ^ a b c d e "1961 New Mexico Lobos Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 30, 2018.

* v
* t
* e

New Mexico Lobos football

Venues|

* University Field (1892–1937)
* Zimmerman Field (1938–1959)
* University Stadium (1960–2019, 2021–present)
* Sam Boyd Stadium (2020)

Bowls & rivalries|

* Bowl games
* Arizona
* New Mexico State: Rio Grande Rivalry

Culture & lore|

* Lobo
* "Hail, New Mexico"
* Spirit Marching Band
* Red Menace

People|

* Head coaches
* NFL draftees
* Statistical leaders

Seasons|

* 1892
* 1893
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* 1895–1898
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*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Conf]: Conference record
*[W]: Wins
*[L]: Losses
*[T]: Ties
*[No.]: Number