1961 Cameron Aggies football team

The 1961 Cameron Aggies football team was an American football team that represented Cameron State Agricultural College, sometimes referred to as Cameron College (later renamed Cameron University) during the 1961 junior college football season. In their seventh year under head coach Leroy Montgomery, the Aggies compiled a perfect 11–0 record, defeated the Bakersfield Renegades in the Junior Rose Bowl, and were selected as the junior college national champion in the final JC Gridwire poll of 1961.^[1]

1961 Cameron Aggies football
Junior college national champion Junior Rose Bowl champion
Junior Rose Bowl, W 28–20 vs. Bakersfield
Conference	Oklahoma Junior College Conference
Record	11–0 (5–0 OJCC)
Head coach	Leroy Montgomery (7th season)
Home stadium	Ron Stephens Stadium
Seasons ← 1960 1962 →

1961 Oklahoma Junior College Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
Cameron $	5	–	0	–	0			11	–	0	–	0
NE Oklahoma A&M	4	–	1	–	0			7	–	3	–	0
Eastern Oklahoma A&M	4	–	3	–	0			6	–	4	–	0
Northern Oklahoma	2	–	2	–	1			5	–	5	–	1
Murray State (OK)	2	–	4	–	1			2	–	6	–	1
Connors	0	–	7	–	0			0	–	8	–	0
$ – Conference champion

Halfback Bob Kelly was selected as a first-team players on the 1961 junior college All-American football team. Center Dave Woodward was named to the second team and tackle Jim Poole to the third team. Quarterback Billy Harper, end Ulysses Kendall, and tackle Jerry Wade received honorable mention.^[2] Six Cameron players were selected as first-team players on the 1961 Oklahoma junior college all-star team: backs Joe Don Looney, Billy Harper, and Bob Kelly; center Dave Woodward; tackle James Poole; and defensive tackle Jerry Wade.^[3]

Kelly led the team during the regular season with 712 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on 134 carries, an average of 5.3 yards per carry. Looney placed second with 531 yards and 10 touchdowns on 109 carries for an average of 5.8 yards per carry. Looney also punted for Cameron, averaging 38.6 yards on 17 punts. Harper led the team in passing, completing 26 of 56 attempts for 538 yards, nine touchdowns, and three interceptions. Ulysses Kendall was the leading receiver with 12 receptions for 336 yards and four touchdowns.^[4]

Looney went on to win All-American honors for the 1962 Oklahoma Sooners football team and played six years in the National Football League.

The team played its home games at Ron Stephens Stadium in Lawton, Oklahoma.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 9	Dodge City*	Ron Stephens Stadium Lawton, OK	W 20–14	3,500	[5]
September 16	Trinidad*	Ron Stephens Stadium Lawton, OK	W 25–6	3,000	[6]
September 21	at Connors	Warner, OK	W 46–0		[7]
October 7	Grand Rapids*	Ron Stephens Stadium Lawton, OK	W 28–14	4,000	[8]
October 21	at New Mexico Military*	Roswell, NM	W 27–24	2,500	[9]
October 28	Northern Oklahoma	Ron Stephens Stadium Lawton, OK	W 54–0		[10]
November 4	at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M	Robertson Field Miami, OK	W 39–34	4,000	[11]
November 10	at Murray State (OK)	Tishomingo, OK	W 33–18		[12]
November 13[13]	Eastern Oklahoma A&M	Ron Stephens Stadium Lawton, OK	W 34–12	800	[14][15]
November 18	at Pratt*	Pratt, KS	W 21–7	4,500	[16]
December 9	Bakersfield*	Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA (Junior Rose Bowl)	W 28–20	49,023	[17][18]
*Non-conference game Homecoming

References

1. "Aggies Hailed As JC Kings". The Lawton Constitution. December 18, 1961. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
2. "Kelly Is Juco All-American". The Lawton Constitution. December 10, 1961. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
3. John A. Ferguson (November 26, 1961). "Cameron, Norse Land Six Each On Juco All-Conference Squad". Tulsa World. p. Sports 5 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "Kelly Sets Aggie Pace, Looney Next". Lawton Morning Press. November 24, 1961. p. 23 – via Newspapers.coma.
5. Lew Johnson (September 10, 1961). "Jittery Aggies Edge Dodge City, 20-14: Late Surge Stops Battling Kansans". The Lawton Constitution-Morning Press. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
6. Lew Johnson (September 17, 1961). "Cameron Hits Late To Wallop Trinidad: Aggies Win, 25-6, In Last-Half Rally". The Lawton Constitution and Morning Press. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
7. Gene Thrasher (September 22, 1961). "It's 46-0 Again: Aggies Open Drive For Repeat Crown". The Lawton Constitution. pp. 18, 19 – via Newspapers.com.
8. Lew Johnson (October 8, 1961). "Cameron Charges Past Raiders, 28-14: Kelly's 44-Yard Dash Clinches Ag Victory". The Lawton Constitution-Morning Press. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
9. Lew Johnson (October 22, 1961). "Aggies Storm Back To Nip Bronchos: 27-24 Victory Boosts Ags' Unbeaten Skein". The Lawton Constitution and Morning-Press. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
10. Gene Thrasher (October 29, 1961). "Ags Massacre Punchless Mavericks: Eight-TD Avalanche Overcomes Northern In Loop Fray, 54-0". The Lawton Constitution-Morning Press. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
11. Ernie Smart (November 5, 1961). "Cameron Edges Norse in Aerial Circus, 39 to 34". Tulsa World. p. Sports 3 – via Newspapers.com.
12. Lew Johnson (November 11, 1961). "Ags Roar back To Bombard Murray: Fourth-Quarter TDs Shoot Cameron Past Eager Murray, 33-18". Lawton Morning Press. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
13. The game with Eastern Oklahoma A&M was originally scheduled for September 30. It was postponed due to an outbreak of ptomaine poisoning among the Eastern squad.
14. "Cameron Charges Past Eastern, 34-12: Looney Scores Three TDs As Aggies Nail Title In Juco Loop". Lawton Morning Press. November 14, 1961. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
15. John A. Ferguson (November 15, 1961). "Cameron Closes Against Kansans Atop Rosy Cloud". Tulsa World. p. 23 – via Newspapers.com.
16. Lew Johnson (November 19, 1961). "Aggies Belt Pratt, Smell Roses: Cameron Eyeing Bowl Trip After 21-7 Win". The Lawton Constitution-orning Press. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
17. Lew Johnson (December 10, 1961). "Aggies Win Rose Bowl: Cameron Lays Claim To JC Championship With 28-20 Decision". The Lawton Constitution. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
18. Floyd Schneidermann (December 10, 1961). "Cameron Strikes for 28-20 Upset Over Bakersfield Before 49,023". Independent Star-News. pp. A1, A2 – via Newspapers.com.