# 1961 Dartmouth Indians football team

The 1961 Dartmouth Indians football team was an American football team that represented Dartmouth College as a member of the Ivy League during the 1961 college football season. In their seventh season under head coach Bob Blackman, the Indians compiled a 6–3 record (5–2 in conference games), tied for third place in the Ivy League, and outscored opponents by a toal of 197 to 104. Fullback James Lemen was the team captain. They outscored Ivy opponents, 156 to 84.
The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Bill King with 711 passing yards and John Krumme with 416 rushing yards and 192 receiving yards. Tackle Carter Strickland was selected as a second-team player on the 1961 All-Ivy League football team.
Dartmouth played its home games at Memorial Field on the college campus in Hanover, New Hampshire.

## Schedule

| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 30 | New Hampshire* | Memorial FieldHanover, NH (rivalry) | W 28–3 | 10,500 |
| October 7 | at Penn | Franklin FieldPhiladelphia, PA | W 30–0 | 12,596 |
| October 14 | Brown | Memorial FieldHanover, NH | W 34–0 | 9,000 |
| October 21 | at Holy Cross* | Fitton FieldWorcester, MA | L 13–17 | 18,000 |
| October 28 | at Harvard | Harvard StadiumBoston, MA (rivalry) | L 15–21 | 32,500 |
| November 4 | at Yale | Yale BowlNew Haven, CT | W 24–8 | 41,974 |
| November 11 | at Columbia | Baker FieldNew York, NY | L 14–35 | 25,106 |
| November 18 | Cornell | Memorial FieldHanover, NH | W 15–14 | 11,000 |
| November 25 | at Princeton | Palmer StadiumPrinceton, NJ | W 24–6 | 30,000 |
| *Non-conference game ||||||

## Statistics

Junior quarterback Bill King completed 49 of 98 passes (50.0%) for 711 yards with 10 touchdowns, four interceptions, and a 136.5 quarterback rating. He also had 176 rushing yards and led the team in scoring with 36 points.
Halfback John Krumme led the team in both rushing (416 yards, 99 carries, 4.2-yard average) and receiving (17 receptions, 192 yards).
Other significant contributors included halfbacks Tom Spangenberg (393 rushing yards on 90 carries, 120 receiving yards on nine receptions), Dave Lawson (149 rushing yards on 33 carries, 37 receiving yards on four receptions), and Chris Vancura (135 rushing yards on 41 carries, 38 receiving yards on four receptions), and ends Frank Finsthwait (three receptions, 87 receiving yards), Dave Usher (82 receiving yards), and Carl Funke (two receptions, 75 receiving yards).

## Players

* Pete Benzien, fullback
* Bill Blumenschein, 200 pounds
* Ed Boies (#56), center
* Greg Cooke, halfback 174 pounds
* Dave Evans, fullback
* Finsthwait, end
* Carl Funke (#82), end, 193 pounds
* Walter Grudi (#72), tackle
* Chuck Hegeman, guard, 185 pounds
* Billy King (#14), quarterback, 178 pounds
* John Krumme (#33), halfback
* Steve Lasch (#64), guard, 192 pounds
* Dave Lawson
* Jim Lemen (#45), fullback and captain, 195 pounds
* Don McKinnon, center, 212 pounds
* Tom Parkinson, fullback
* Runge, tackle
* Ron Schram, quarterback
* Skinner, center
* Tom Spangenberg (#23), halfback
* Gary Spiess, halfback, 163 pounds
* Carter Strickland (#73), tackle, 222 pounds
* Bill Tragakis (#61), guard
* Dave Usher (#84), end, 201 pounds
* Chris "Swish" Vancura, halfback
* Bill Wellstead, kicker