Wikipedia

1961 Southeastern Louisiana Lions football team

The 1961 Southeastern Louisiana Lions football team was an American football team that represented Southeastern Louisiana University as a member of the Gulf States Conference (GSC) during the 1961 college football season. In their 11th year under head coach Stan Galloway, the Lions compiled a 9–1 record (4–1 in conference games), tied for the GSC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 221 to 55. They were ranked No. 4 in the final United Press International coaches small college poll and No. 8 in the final Associated Press writers small college poll.[1][2]

1961 Southeastern Louisiana Lions football
GSC co-champion
ConferenceGulf States Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 4 (UPI small college)
APNo. 8 (AP small college)
Record9–1 (4–1 GSC)
Head coach
Home stadiumStrawberry Stadium
Seasons
← 1960
1962 →
1961 Gulf States Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 7 Southeastern Louisiana + 4 – 1 – 0 9 – 1 – 0
No. 10 McNeese State + 4 – 1 – 0 7 – 2 – 0
Northwestern State 3 – 2 – 0 7 – 3 – 0
Louisiana Tech 3 – 2 – 0 5 – 4 – 0
Northeast Louisiana State 1 – 4 – 0 3 – 7 – 0
Southwestern Louisiana 0 – 5 – 0 2 – 8 – 0
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from NAIA poll

The team tallied 2,954 yards of total offense (295.4 yards per game), consisting of 2,339 rushing yards and 615 passing yards. On defense, the team gave up 1,860 yards (186.0 yards per game).[3]

The team's leading rushers were halfbacks Wilbur Derrick (581 yards on 116 carries) and Billy Ladner (502 yards on 95 carries). Ladner led the team with 66 points scored on 10 touchdowns and six extra points kicks. Quarterback Elbert Harris led the team with 592 yards of total offense, including 406 passing yards (20 of 49 passes completed with five touchdowns and one interception).[3]

Billy Ladner was selected as the GSC outstanding back of 1961.[4] He had the two longest scoring plays in the GSC during the 1961 season: a 98-yard interception return against Florence State and a 95-yard kickoff return against Louisiana Tech.[5]

Four Southeastern Louisiana players received first-team honors on the 1961 All-Gulf State Conference football teams selected by the coaches and writers. The honorees were: halfback Billy Ladner (coaches and writers); tackle Paul Alexander (coaches and writers); guard Sam Gourieer (coaches); and center Billy Johnson (coaches and writers). Others received second-team honors: end Monty Crook (coaches and writers); and halfback Wilbur Derrick (coaches and writers).[4][6]

Southeastern Louisiana played its home games at Strawberry Stadium in Hammond, Louisiana.

Schedule

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DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 16Southwestern Louisiana
W 27–08,500[7]
September 23at East Texas State*
W 20–64,000[8]
September 29Corpus Christi*
  • Strawberry Stadium
  • Hammond, LA
W 39–05,000
October 6Pensacola NAS*
  • Strawberry Stadium
  • Hammond, LA
W 7–55,000[9]
October 14at Florence State*
W 33–66,000[10]
October 21at Northeast Louisiana StateNo. 3
W 7–03,000–4,250[11][12]
October 28at Tampa*No. 4
  • Strawberry Stadium
  • Hammond, LA
W 27–36,500–8,000[13][14]
November 4Louisiana TechNo. 3
  • Strawberry Stadium
  • Hammond, LA
W 34–146,000–8,500[15]
November 11at McNeese StateNo. 3
L 8–217,400[16]
November 18Northwestern StateNo. 9
  • Strawberry Stadium
  • Hammond, LA
W 19–06,500[17]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Southern Ranked Third In Final UPI Rankings". The Shreveport Journal. November 22, 1961. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Pittsburg Is First In Small College". Lake Charles American Press. November 22, 1961. p. 12 – via Newspaper.com.
  3. ^ a b c "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Southeastern Louisiana)". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Breaux, Bossier, Steed, Sestak Make All-GSC". Lake Charles American Press. December 12, 1961. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Poke-Southeastern Tilt Heads GSC Card". Lake Charles American Press. November 6, 1961. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Clayton, Slaughter, Sestak Head GSC Team". Alexandria Daily Town Talk. December 12, 1961. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Bulldogs Fall To Lion Team". The Advertiser. September 17, 1961. p. 28 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Southeastern Lions Claw East Texas State, 20-6". Sunday News (Bogalusa, LA). September 24, 1961. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "SLC Squeaks By Goshawks, 7-5". The Shreveport Times. October 7, 1961. p. 8A – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "SE Louisiana Slaps Florence". The Huntsville Times. October 15, 1961. p. D3 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Lions take 7–0 squeaker over fiery Indians". Monroe Morning World. October 22, 1961. p. 6B. Retrieved January 24, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Northeast Louisiana)". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
  13. ^ "SLC Speedsters Whip Tampa, 27-3". Sunday News (Bogalusa, LA). October 29, 1961. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Tampa)". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  15. ^ "Lions beat Tech". The Daily Advertiser. November 5, 1961. Retrieved June 27, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "McNeese lists upset by shocking Lions". The Shreveport Times. November 12, 1961. Retrieved February 27, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Ladner Sparks SLC to 19-0 Victory". Sunday News (Bogalusa, LA). November 19, 1961. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
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