# 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.

## Albion

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 |
| September 16 | Eastern Michigan* | Alumni FieldAlbion, MI | W 13–0 | 1,500–4,000 |
| September 30 | Kalamazoo | Alumni FieldAlbion, MI | W 15–0 | 2,000–3,820 |
| October 7 | at Hope | Riverview ParkHolland, MI | W 26–14 | 4,500–4,850 |
| October 14 | Anderson (IN)* | Alumni FieldAlbion, MI | W 35–6 | 1,100 |
| October 21 | Olivet | Alumni FieldAlbion, MI | W 13–0 | 6,000 |
| October 28 | at Ferris Institute* | Big Rapids, MI | W 28–6 | 2,700 |
| November 4 | at Alma | Alma, MI | W 27–12 | 4,030 |
| November 11 | at Adrian | Adrian, MI | W 35–17 | 4,285 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecoming ||||||

## Olivet

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.
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)
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 16 | at Franklin* | Franklin, IN | W 27–7 | 600 |
| September 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 | |
| November 11 | at Alma | Alma, MI | W 26–6 | |
| *Non-conference game ||||||

## Kalamazoo

The 1961 Kalamazoo Hornets football team represented Kalamazoo College of Kalamazoo, Michigan. Led by head coach Bob Nulf, the Hornets compiled a 4–4 record (3–2 in conference games), finished third in the conference, and outscored opponents by a total of 219 to 81.
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.
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.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 23 | at Ohio Wesleyan* | Delaware, OH | L 6–32 | 2,500 |
| September 30 | at Albion | Albion, MI | L 0–14 | 2,000 |
| October 7 | Olivet | Angell FieldKalamazoo, MI | L 6–13 | 1,700 |
| October 14 | at Carthage* | Carthage, IL | L 6–33 | 2,300 |
| October 21 | Alma | Angell FieldKalamazoo, MI | W 30–24 | 1,200 |
| October 28 | at Adrian | Adrian, MI | W 26–7 | 2,000 |
| November 4 | Hiram* | Angell FieldKalamazoo, MI | W 28–6 | 2,100 |
| November 11 | Hope | Angell FieldKalamazoo, MI | W 42–12 | 1,000 |
| *Non-conference game ||||||

## Alma

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.
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).
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.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 16 | Ohio Northern* | Alma, MI | L 7–8 | 500 |
| 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

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.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| September 16 | at Findlay* | Findlay, OH | L 8–20 |
| 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 |
| 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

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 |
| September 23 | Valparaiso* | Boucher BowlValparaiso, IN | L 6–14 | |
| September 30 | Wheaton (IL)* | Riverview ParkHolland, MI | L 0–20 | 2,500 |
| October 7 | Albion | Riverview ParkHolland, 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 ||||||