1961 Virginia Cavaliers football
ConferenceAtlantic Coast Conference
Record4–6 (2–4 ACC)
Head coach
CaptainLouis Martig, Ron Gassert[1]
Home stadiumScott Stadium
Seasons
← 1960
1962 →
1961 Atlantic Coast Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 20 Duke $   5 – 1     7 – 3  
North Carolina   4 – 3     5 – 5  
Maryland   3 – 3     7 – 3  
Clemson   3 – 3     5 – 5  
NC State   3 – 4     4 – 6  
South Carolina   3 – 4     4 – 6  
Wake Forest   3 – 4     4 – 6  
Virginia   2 – 4     4 – 6  
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll[2]

The 1961 Virginia Cavaliers football team represented the University of Virginia during the 1961 NCAA University Division football season. The Cavaliers were led by first-year head coach Bill Elias and played their home games at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Virginia. They competed as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference, finishing in last. Despite the last place finish, Elias was named ACC Coach of the Year, becoming the second in conference history to win the award in a coach's first year at the school.[3] Elias, who had been the Southern Conference Coach of the Year the previous season at George Washington, snapped Virginia's 28 game losing streak by beating William & Mary in the first game of the season.[4] Their win against South Carolina snapped an 18-game losing streak against ACC foes.

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 23William & Mary*
W 21–618,000[5]
September 30vs. Duke
L 0–4220,000[6]
October 7NC Statedagger
  • Scott Stadium
  • Charlottesville, VA
L 14–2116,000[7]
October 14vs. VMI*
W 14–78,500[8]
October 21vs. VPI*
L 0–2017,000[9]
October 28at Wake Forest
L 15–217,500[10]
November 4South Carolina
  • Scott Stadium
  • Charlottesville, VA
W 28–2018,000[11]
November 18at Navy*
L 3–1323,565[12]
November 25Maryland
  • Scott Stadium
  • Charlottesville, VA (rivalry)
W 28–1619,000[13]
December 2at North Carolina
L 0–2428,000[14]
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming

[15][16]

References

  1. ^ "2017 Cavalier Football Fact Book" (PDF). Virginia Cavaliers Athletics. p. 120. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 28, 2017. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  2. ^ "1961 Atlantic Coast Conference Year Summary". sports-reference.com. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  3. ^ "2016 ACC Football Media Guide" (PDF). p. 122.
  4. ^ "Virginia's Bill Elias ACC Coach of Year". The Washington Post. December 5, 1961. p. A23.
  5. ^ "Virginia wins first since '58". The Lima Citizen. September 24, 1961. Retrieved October 24, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Blue Devils take to air, smash Cavaliers by 42–0". Richmond Times-Dispatch. October 1, 1961. Retrieved January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "New running attack helps N.C. State get first win". The Birmingham News. October 8, 1961. Retrieved January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Fischer leads U. Va. in win over VMI". The Virginian-Pilot. October 15, 1961. Retrieved January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Techmen take stunning 20–0 Harvest Bowl win". Kingsport Times-News. October 22, 1961. Retrieved January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Riley throws 2 touchdowns to pace Wake Forest over Virginia, 21 to 15". Kingsport Times-News. October 29, 1961. Retrieved January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Cavaliers surprise S.C." The Daily News Leader. November 5, 1961. Retrieved January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Sai's heroics push Navy past Virginia". The Charlotte Observer. November 19, 1961. Retrieved January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Virginia apparently knocks Maryland out of a bowl, 28–16". Florence Morning News. November 26, 1961. Retrieved January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Tar Heels win, 24–0, over Virginia". The Pittsburgh Press. December 3, 1961. Retrieved January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "1961 Virginia Cavaliers Schedule and Results". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  16. ^ "All-Time Virginia Box Score Game Statistics". Virginia Cavaliers Official Athletic Site. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
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