# 1961 Stanford Indians football team

The 1961 Stanford Indians football team was an American football team that represented Stanford University as a member of the Athletic Association of Western Universities (AAWU), commonly known at the time as the Big 5 Conference, during the 1961 college football season. In their fourth year under head coach Jack Curtice, the Indians compiled a 4–6 record (1–4 in conference games), finished in a tie for last place in the AAWU, and were outscored by a total of 163 to 105.
Highlights of the season included a 34–0 victory over Tommy Prothro's Oregon State Beavers and a 20–7 victory over the California Bears in the Big Game – Stanford's first victory over Cal since 1957.
The team played home games at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, California.

## Schedule

| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 23 | Tulane* | Stanford StadiumStanford, CA | W 9–7 | 19,000 |
| September 30 | at Oregon State | Parker StadiumCorvallis, OR | W 34–0 | 13,727 |
| October 7 | at No. 6 Michigan State* | Spartan StadiumEast Lansing, MI | L 3–31 | 61,367 |
| October 14 | San Jose State* | Stanford StadiumStanford, CA (rivalry) | W 17–6 | 45,000 |
| October 21 | at Washington | Husky StadiumSeattle, WA | L 0–13 | 53,200 |
| October 28 | UCLA | Stanford StadiumStanford, CA | L 0–20 | 35,000 |
| November 4 | Oregon* | Stanford StadiumStanford, CA | L 7–19 | 27,000 |
| November 11 | at USC | Los Angeles Memorial ColiseumLos Angeles, CA (rivalry) | L 15–30 | 36,598 |
| November 18 | Washington State* | Stanford StadiumStanford, CA | L 0–30 | 21,000 |
| November 25 | California | Stanford StadiumStanford, CA (Big Game) | W 20–7 | 79,000 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the game ||||||

## Statistics

The 1961 Stanford team gained an average of 147.6 rushing yards and 90.1 passing yards per game. On defense, the team gave up 214.6 rushing yards and 77.0 passing guards per game.
The team had seven players who gained over 100 rushing yards but none who gained more than 200 yards. The leaders were Ken Babajian (189 yards, 55 carries, 3.4-yard average), Gary Craig (185 yards, 50 carries, 3.7-yard average), Stan Lindskog (178 yards, 42 carries, 4.2-yard average), and Danny Spence (134 yards, 28 carries, 4.8-yard average).
The team had four players who passed for over 100 yards: Rod Sears (37-for-82, 358 yards), Chuck Butler (21-for-46, 258 yards), Steve Turlow (15-for 34, 174 yards), and Jim Smith (12-for-21, 111 yards).
The leading receivers were George Honore (22 receptions for 225 yards), Steve Pursell (13 receptions for 132 yards), and Larry Royse (five receptions for 112 yards).

## Awards and honors

Ed Cummings, who played fullback on offense and linebacker on defense, was selected as the team's most valuable player.
No Stanford players received All-America honors.
Three Stanford players received honors on the 1961 All-Pacific Coast football team selected by the Associated Press (AP), the All-West Coast team selected by the United Press International (UPI), or the All-Big 5 team announced by the AAWU.
* End George Honore received first-team honors on the official Big 5 all-conference team and third-team honors on the UPI's All-West Coast team.
* Guard Tom Walsh received second-team honors on the All-Pacific Coast team selected by the AP.
* Fullback/linebacker Ed Cummings received second-team honors from the UPI and the AAWU and honorable mention from the AP.
Players receiving honorable mention were center John Butler (AP, AAWU); end Frank Patitucci (UPI, AAWU); tackle Al Heldebrand (AAWU); tackle C. B. Simons (AAWU); center Chris Cottle (UPI, AAWU); and halfback Gary Sargent (AAWU).

## Roster

* Frank Atkinson (#79), tackle
* Ken Babajian (#44), fullback, sophomore
* Mike Barnes (#29), halfback
* Chuck Buehler (#78), tackle
* Chuck Butler (#12), quarterback
* John Butler (#69), end
* Chris Cottle (#54), center
* Gary Craig (#40), halfback
* Ed Cummings (#46), fullback/linebacker
* Frank Dubofsky (#64), guard
* Al Heldebrand (#75), tackle
* George Honore (#83), end
* Stan Lindskog (#21), halfback/kicker, junior
* Frank Patitucci (#82), end
* Steve Pursell (#80), end
* Larry Royse, halfback/linebacker
* Gary Sargent (#34), halfback
* Errol Scott (#66), guard
* Rod Sears (#10), quarterback
* C.B. Simons (#71), tackle
* Danny Spence (#30), halfback
* Hal Steuber (#36), fullback
* Steve Thurlow (#18), quarterback
* Randy Vahan (#76), tackle
* Tom Walsh (#63), guard