1961 Michigan State Spartans football team information
American college football season
1961Michigan State Spartans football
Conference
Big Ten Conference
Ranking
Coaches
No. 9
AP
No. 8
Record
7–2 (5–2 Big Ten)
Head coach
Duffy Daugherty (8th season)
MVP
George Saimes
Captain
Ed Ryan
Home stadium
Spartan Stadium
Seasons
← 1960
1962 →
1961 Big Ten Conference football standings
v
t
e
Conf
Overall
Team
W
L
T
W
L
T
No. 2 Ohio State $
6
–
0
–
0
8
–
0
–
1
No. 6 Minnesota
6
–
1
–
0
8
–
2
–
0
No. 8 Michigan State
5
–
2
–
0
7
–
2
–
0
No. 12 Purdue
4
–
2
–
0
6
–
3
–
0
Wisconsin
4
–
3
–
0
6
–
3
–
0
Michigan
3
–
3
–
0
6
–
3
–
0
Iowa
2
–
4
–
0
5
–
4
–
0
Northwestern
2
–
4
–
0
4
–
5
–
0
Indiana
0
–
6
–
0
2
–
7
–
0
Illinois
0
–
7
–
0
0
–
9
–
0
$ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll
The 1961 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University in the 1961 Big Ten Conference football season. In their eighth season under head coach Duffy Daugherty, the Spartans compiled a 7–2 overall record (5–2 against Big Ten opponents), finished in third place in the Big Ten Conference, and were ranked #8 in the final AP Poll.[1][2]
Two Spartans were selected as first-team players on the 1961 All-Big Ten Conference football team. Halfback George Saimes received first-team honors from the Associated Press (AP) and United Press International (UPI), and tackle Dave Behrman received first-team honors from the AP. Halfback Sherman Lewis received second-team all-conference honors from the AP.[3][4] Dave Behrman also received first-team recognition from the AP and Football Writers Association of America on the 1961 College Football All-America Team.[5][6][7]
The 1961 Spartans won all three of their annual rivalry games. In the annual Indiana–Michigan State football rivalry game, the Spartans defeated the Hoosiers by a 35 to 0 score. In the Notre Dame rivalry game, the Spartans defeated the Fighting Irish by a 17 to 7 score. And, in the annual Michigan–Michigan State football rivalry game, the Spartans defeated the Wolverines by a 28 to 0 score.[8] In non-conference play, the Spartans also defeated Stanford, 31-3.[2]
^"2016 Football Media Guide" (PDF). Michigan State University. pp. 146, 155. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 17, 2017. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
^ ab"1961 Michigan State Spartans Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
^"Stephens Unanimous Choice on Big Ten". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. November 28, 1961.
^"Saimes and MacRae Selected on All-Big Ten Football Team". The Holland, Michigan, Evening Sentinel. November 29, 1961. p. 16.
^"Big Line Tops Classy AP All-America Team". AP.
^"Miami's Bill Miller Chosen As All-American". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. December 8, 1961. p. 36.
^Ted Gangi (ed.). "FWAA All-America Since 1944: The All-Time Team" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on June 12, 2015. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
^"Michigan State Yearly Results (1960-1964)". College Football Data Warehouse. David DeLassus. Archived from the original on July 13, 2015. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
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