| Year: | 1961 |
| Team: | Duke Blue Devils |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Atlantic Coast Conference |
| Short Conf: | ACC |
| Coachrank: | 14 |
| Aprank: | 20 |
| Record: | 7–3 |
| Conf Record: | 5–1 |
| Head Coach: | Bill Murray |
| Hc Year: | 11th |
| Mvp: | Dean Wright |
| Captain: | Jack Wilson |
| Stadium: | Duke Stadium |
| Champion: | ACC champion |
The 1961 Duke Blue Devils football team was an American football team that represented Duke University as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) during the 1961 college football season. In their eleventh year under head coach Bill Murray, the Blue Devils compiled a 7–3 record (5–1 in conference games), won the ACC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 183 to 106. In non-conference games, they defeated Navy and Notre Dame but lost to Georgia Tech and Michigan.[1] They were ranked No. 14 in the final UPI coaches poll and No. 20 in the final AP writers poll.[2]
The Blue Devils led the ACC in total defense, giving up 224.1 yards per game, and also led the conference in passing offense with 140.9 passing yards per game. Quarterback Walt Rappold led the team in passing (54-for-96 for 830 yards), and halfback Mark Leggett led the team in rushing (318 yards on 86 carries).[3] Tackle Art Gregory and guard Jean Berry were consensus first-team picks on the 1961 All-Atlantic Coast Conference football team.
Duke played its home games at Duke Stadium in Durham, North Carolina.
Duke ranked second in the ACC in total offense (307.5 yards per game) and led the conference in passing offense (140.9 yards per game). On defense, the Blue Devils ranked first in total defense (giving up 224.1 yards per game).[4]
Quarterback Walt Rappold led the team in passing, completing 54 of 96 passes (.563 completion) for 830 yards with seven touchdowns and five interceptions for a 142.5 quarterback rating.[5] He ranked fourth in the ACC in total offense (1,012 yards) but led the conference in average gain per pass thrown (8.6 yards) and in average gain per play of total offense (7.2 yards).[4] [6]
Quarterback Gil Garner also contributed to Duke's passing offensecompleted 56 of 86 passes for 576 yards.[5] Garner ranked 10th in the ACC with 617 yards of total offense.[6]
Duke's leading rushers were Mark Leggett (318 yards, 86 carries, 3.7-yard average), Dean Wright (251 yards, 68 carries, 3.7-yard average), Dave Burch (220 yards, 49 carries, 4.5-yard average), Walt Rappold (182 yards, 45 carries, 4.0-yard average), and Joel Arrington (170 yards, 51 carries, 3.3-yard average).[5]
The team's leading receivers were Stan Crisson (241 yards, 20 receptions, 2 touchdowns), Jay Wilkinson (208 yards, 12 receptions, 2 touchdowns), Mark Leggett (185 yards, 12 receptions, 2 touchdowns), Pete Widener (182 yards, 17 receptions, 1 touchdown), Jack Wilson (168 yards, 9 receptions, 1 touchdown), and Dean Wright (131 yards, 15 receptions, 0 touchdowns).[5]
Three players tied for the team's leadership in scoring. Billy Futrell, Dave Burch, and Mark Leggett each had 18 points on three touchdowns.[5]
Tackle Art Gregory received the annual ACC Jacobs Blocking Trophy presented byt the Atlantic Coast Sports Writers Association (ACSWA). Head coach Bill Murray called Gregory "the best blocker I have ever had at Duke."[7]
Four Duke players were recognized by the Associated Press (AP), United Press International (UPI), and/or the Atlantic Coast Sports Writers Association (ACSWA) on the 1961 All-Atlantic Coast Conference football team: tackle Art Gregory (AP-1, UPI-1, ACSWA-1); guard Jean Berry (AP-1, UPI-1, ACSWA-1); halfback Mark Leggett (UPI-1, AP-2); and quarterback Walt Rappold (AP-2).[8] [9]