1961 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season

The 1961 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season was the season of college football played by the six member schools of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) as part of the 1961 college football season. Albion compiled a perfect 8–0 record and was the MIAA champion for 1961.

1961 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season
League	Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Sport	Football
Number of teams	6
Champion	Albion

1961 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
Albion $	5	–	0	–	0			8	–	0	–	0
Olivet	4	–	1	–	0			8	–	1	–	0
Kalamazoo	3	–	2	–	0			4	–	4	–	0
Alma	2	–	3	–	0			2	–	6	–	0
Adrian	1	–	4	–	0			2	–	6	–	0
Hope	0	–	5	–	0			0	–	7	–	0
$ – Conference champion

Albion

Main article: 1961 Albion Britons football team

1961 Albion Britons football
MIAA champion
Conference	Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Record	8–0 (5–0 MIAA)
Head coach	Morley Fraser (8th season)
Captain	Dale Springer, Ray Hoag[1]
Home stadium	Alumni Field
Seasons ← 1960 1962 →

The 1961 Albion Britons football team compiled a perfect 8–0 record (5–0 against MIAA members), won the MIAA championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 186 to 56.

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 16	Eastern Michigan*	Alumni Field Albion, MI	W 13–0	1,500–4,000	[2]
September 30	Kalamazoo	Alumni Field Albion, MI	W 15–0	2,000–3,820	[3]
October 7	at Hope	Riverview Park Holland, MI	W 26–14	4,500–4,850	[4]
October 14	Anderson (IN)*	Alumni Field Albion, MI	W 35–6	1,100	[5]
October 21	Olivet	Alumni Field Albion, MI	W 13–0	6,000	[6]
October 28	at Ferris Institute*	Big Rapids, MI	W 28–6	2,700	[7]
November 4	at Alma	Alma, MI	W 27–12	4,030	[8]
November 11	at Adrian	Adrian, MI	W 35–17	4,285	[9]
*Non-conference game Homecoming

^[10]

Olivet

1961 Olivet Comets football
Conference	Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Record	8–1 (4–1 MIAA)
Head coach	Stuart Parsell (3rd season)
Seasons ← 1960 1962 →

The 1961 Olivet Comets football team represented Olivet College of Olivet, Michigan. In their third year under head coach Stuart Parsell, the Comets compiled an 8–1 record (4–1 against MIAA opponents), finished in second place in the MIAA, and outscored opponents by a total of 163 to 69.^[11]

The team tallied 2,470 yards ot total offense (274.4 yards per game), consisting of 1,829 rushing yards and 641 passing yards. Halfback Tim Nesbitt led the team in both rushing (791 yards on 147 carries) and total offense (830 yards). On defense, the Comets held opponents to 1,694 yards (187.8 yards per game)^[12]

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 16	at Franklin*	Franklin, IN	W 27–7	600	[13]
Seprember 23	Indiana Central*	Olivet, MI	W 22–6
September 30	Adrian	Olivet, MI	W 9–0
October 7	at Kalamazoo	Kalamazoo, MI	W 13–6
October 14	Hope	Olivet, MI	W 20–8
October 21	at Albion	Albion, MI	L 0–13
October 28	Illinois College*	Olivet, MI	W 40–20
November 4	at Ohio Northern*	Ada, OH	W 6–3		[14]
November 11	at Alma	Alma, MI	W 26–6
*Non-conference game

^[12]

Kalamazoo

1961 Kalamazoo Hornets football
Conference	Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Record	4–4 (3–2 MIAA)
Head coach	Rolla Anderson (9th season)
Home stadium	Angell Field
Seasons ← 1960 1962 →

The 1961 Kalamazoo Hornets football team represented Kalamazoo College of Kalamazoo, Michigan. Led by head coach Bob Nulf, the Hornets compiled a perfect 4–4 record (3–2 in conference games), finished third in the conference, and outscored opponents by a total of 219 to 81.^[15]

The Hornets tallied 2,424 yards of total offense (303.0 yards per game), consisting of 1,282 rushing yards and 1,142 passing yards. On defense, they held opponents to 2,134 yards (266.8 yards per game.^[12]

Quarterback Jim Harkema completed 39 of 74 passes for 590 yards with five touchdown passes and nine interceptions. He also led the team with 590 yards of total offense. (Harkema later won 109 games as a head coach.) The team's other statistical leaders included halfback Norm Young with 342 rushing yards, fullback Eglis Lode with 30 points scored, and end John Persons with 25 receptions for 401 yards.^[16]

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 23	at Ohio Wesleyan*	Delaware, OH	L 6–32	2,500	[17]
September 30	at Albion	Albion, MI	L 0–14	2,000
October 7	Olivet	Angell Field Kalamazoo, MI	L 6–13	1,700
October 14	at Carthage*	Carthage, IL	L 6–33	2,300
October 21	Alma	Angell Field Kalamazoo, MI	W 30–24	1,200
October 28	at Adrian	Adrian, MI	W 26–7	2,000
November 4	Hiram*	Angell Field Kalamazoo, MI	W 28–6	2,100
November 11	Hope	Angell Field Kalamazoo, MI	W 42–12	1,000
*Non-conference game

^[12]

Alma

1961 Alma Scots football
Conference	Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Record	2–6 (2–3 MIAA)
Head coach	Art Smith (6th season)
Seasons ← 1960 1962 →

The 1961 Alma Scots football team represented Alma College of Alma, Michigan. In their sixth year under head coach Art Smith, the Scots compiled a 2–6 record (2–3 against MIAA opponents), finished in fourth place in the MIAA, and were outscored by a total of 159 to 71.^[18]

The team tallied 1,081 yards of total offense (134 yards per game), consisting of 444 rushing yards and 637 passing yards. On defense, Alma allowed opponents to 2,078 yards (260 per game).^[19]

The team's individual statistical leaders included halfback Lou Economon with 187 rushing yards and 140 receiving yards, quarterback Terry Ebright with 444 passing yards, and halfback Van Mulligan with 14 points scored.^[19]

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 16	Ohio Northern*	Alma, MI	L 7–8	500	[20]
September 23	at Bluffton*	Bluffton, OH	L 0–14	2,000
September 30	Wittenberg*	Alma, MI	L 0–43	1,500
October 14	Adrian	Alma, MI	W 8–7	6,500
October 21	at Kalamazoo	Kalamazoo, MI	L 24–30	2,500
October 28	Hope	Alma, MI	W 14–10	1,500
November 4	at Albion	Albion, MI	L 12–21	3,000
November 11	Olivet	Alma, MI	L 6–26	2,000
*Non-conference game

Adrian

1961 Adrian Bulldogs football
Conference	Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Record	2–6 (1–4 MIAA)
Head coach	Les Leggett (3rd season)
Seasons ← 1960 1962 →

The 1961 Adrian Bulldogs football team represented Adrian College of Adrian, Michigan. In their third and final year under head coach Les Leggett, the Bulldogs compiled a 2–6 record (1–4 against MIAA opponents) and finished in fifth place in the MIAA.^[21]

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 16	at Findlay*	Findlay, OH	L 8–20		[22]
September 23	Defiance*	Adrian, MI	W 7–0
September 30	at Olivet	Olivet, MI	L 0–9
October 14	at Alma	Alma, MI	L 7–8
October 21	at Ferris Institute*	Big Rapids, MI	L 0–24		[23]
October 28	Kalamazoo	Adrian, MI	L 7–26
November 4	at Hope	Holland, MI	W 25–14
November 11	Albion	Adrian, MI	L 17–35
*Non-conference game

Hope

1961 Hope Flying Dutchmen football
Conference	Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Record	0–7 (0–5 MIAA)
Head coach	Russ DeVette (7th season)
Seasons ← 1960 1962 →

The 1961 Hope Flying Dutchmen football team represented Hope College of Hope, Michigan. In their seventh year under head coach Russ DeVette, the Dutchmen compiled a 0–7 record (0–5 against MIAA opponents) and finished in last place in the MIAA.

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 23	Valparaiso*	Boucher Bowl Valparaiso, IN	L 6–14
September 30	Wheaton (IL)*	Riverview Park Holland, MI	L 0–20	2,500	[24]
October 7	Albion	Riverview Park Holland, MI	L 14–26
October 14	vs. Olivet	Charlotte, MI	L 8–20	1,500
October 28	at Alma	Alma, MI	L 0–14
November 4	Adrian	Holland, MI	L 14–25
November 11	at Kalamazoo	Kalamazoo, MI	L 12–42
*Non-conference game

References

1. "Joe Shurmur Named Most Valuable Briton". The Battle Creek Enquirer and News. November 17, 1961. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
2. "Albion Wins, 13-0: Elzy Paces Grid Opener; Britons Victorious Before 1,500 Fans". The Battle Creek Enquirer and News. September 17, 1961. p. IV-2 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Olivet, Albion Win MIAA Grid Battles". The Battle Creek Enquirer and News. October 1, 1961. p. IV-1 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "Strong 2nd Half Gives Albion Win Over Hope: Britons Score 26-14 Victory Over Dutch". The Holland Sentinel. October 9, 1961. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Albion, Mich. Eleven Hands Anderson 1st Setback In Four Starts, 35-6". Anderson Herald. October 15, 1961. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Albion Knocks Off Olivet in MIAA Showdown, 13-0: 6,000 Watch Grid Thriller". The Battle Creek Enquirer and News. October 22, 1961. p. IV-2 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Albion '11' Runs Over Ferris, 28-6". The Battle Creek Enquirer and News. October 29, 1961. p. IV-2 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Albion Whips Alma, 21-12, For 7th Straight Victory". The Battle Creek Enquirer and News. November 5, 1961. p. IV-2 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Albion Wraps Up Perfect Season". The Battle Creek Enquirer and News. November 12, 1961. p. IV-1 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Albion 1961)". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
11. "Olivet (MI) Records by Year". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on September 7, 2015. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
12. "Brief Summary of Cumulative Football Statistics". NCAA. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
13. "Olivet Spanks Grizzlies, 27-7". The Franklin Evening Star. September 18, 1961. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
14. "Olivet Defeats Ohio Northern". The Ironton Tribune. November 5, 1961. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
15. "Kalamazoo Yearly Results". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on September 7, 2015. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
16. "Brief Summary of Cumulative Football Statistics (Kalamazoo 1961)". NCAA. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
17. "O. Wesleyan 32 Kalamazoo 6". The Akron Beacon Journal. September 24, 1961. p. 43 – via Newspapers.com.
18. "Alma Yearly Results". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
19. "Brief Summary of Cumulative Football Statistics (Alma 1961)". NCAA. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
20. "Polar Bears Trip Alma, Mich., 8-7". The Lima News. September 17, 1961. p. D1 – via Newspapers.com.
21. "Adrian Yearly Results". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
22. "Tippie Hurls Findlay Over Adrian, 20 To 8". The Lima News. September 17, 1961. p. D1 – via Newspapers.com.
23. "Ex-Portland Star Helps Ferris Beat Adrian". Lansing State Journal. October 22, 1961. p. 54 – via Newspapers.com.
24. "Hope Drops 2nd Game to Wheaton: Crusaders Score 3 Times In First Half". The Holland Evening Sentinel. October 2, 1961. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.