1961 UCLA Bruins football team explained

The 1961 UCLA Bruins football team was an American football team that represented the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) 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 Bill Barnes, the Bruins compiled a 7–4 record (3–1 in conference games), won the AAWU championship, outscored opponents by a total of 182 to 121, and were ranked No. 16 in the final Associated Press writers poll. They closed the season with a 21–3 loss to Minnesota in the 1962 Rose Bowl.^[1]

Ron Hull, who played at center on offense and linebacker on defense, was the team captain and a first-team All-American. The team's offensive leaders were Bobby Smith with 305 passing yards and 60 points scored; Mike Haffner with 696 rushing yards; and Kermit Alexander with 271 receiving yards.^[2]

The team played its home games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles.

Schedule

^[3]

Awards

Ron Hull was on the field for 350 of 600 minutes during the 1961 regular season, playing at center on offense and at linebacker on defense.^[4] He was selected by the Football Writers Association of America (for Look magazine) as the first-team center on the 1961 All-America team.^[5] Hull also received second-team All-America honors from the Associated Press (AP).

At the end of the season, the AP released a 1961 All-Pacific Coast football team, and the AAWU released its own all-conference list limited to AAWU teams. Nine UCLA players received honors one or both: Hull (AP-1, AAWU-1); halfback Bobby Smith (AP-1, AAWU-1); quarterback/halfback Mike Haffner (AP-2, AAWU-2); tackle Foster Andersen (AP-2, AAWU-2); end Kermit Alexander (AAWU-2); end Don Vena (AAWU-2); guard Frank Macri (AAWU-2); guard Tom Paton (AAWU-2); and tackle Marshall Shirk (AAWU-2).^{[6] [7]}

Statistics

The Bruins gained an average of 218.5 rushing yards and 68 passing yards per game and scored an average of 16.5 points a game. On defense, the team held opponents to 144.2 rushing yards and 78.9 passing yards and 11.0 points per game.^[8]

The team's individual statistical leaders were:

• Rushing - Mike Haffner (696 yards, 107 carries), Bobby Smith (631 yards, 166 carries), Almose Thompson (370 yards, 93 carries), and Kermit Alexander (165 yards, 30 carries).^[8]
• Passing - Bobby Smith (16 of 33, 305 yards, one touchdown, three interceptions) and Mike Haffner (14 of 34, 231 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions).^[8]
• Receiving - Kermit Alexander (11 receptions, 271 yards) and Don Vena (nine receptions, 103 yards).^[8]
• Scoring - Bobby Smith (60 points) and Mike Haffner (48 points).^[8]

Personnel

Roster

• Kermit Alexander, right halfback, 187 pounds, No. 33
• Dick Allen, guard
• Foster Andersen, tackle, 235 pounds, No. 74
• Joe Bauwens, guard/tackle
• Steve Bauwens, tackle
• Jim Bergman, quarterback
• Walt Dathe, guard
• Mitch Dimkich, fullback
• Carmen DiPoalo, halfback
• Tony Fiorentino, tackle
• Al Geverink, end
• Mel Gibbs, end
• Tom Gutman, right end, No. 80
• Mike Haffner, left halfback, sophomore, No. 11^[9]
• Bill Hauck, right halfback
• Gale Hickman, end
• Chuck Hicks, right end, 191 pounds, No. 88
• Ron Hull, center and captain, 205 pounds, No. 50
• Keith Jensen, halfback
• Bob Jones, tackle
• John LoCurto, quarterback
• Frank Macari, guard, 235 pounds, No. 43
• Phil Oram, tackle, 221 pounds, No. 77
• Tom Paton, guard, 215 pounds, No. 68
• Mel Profit, defensive end, No. 84^[10]
• Herb Quincy, guard
• Joe Rosenkrans, halfback
• Gary Scrivens, center
• Marshall Shirk, tackle
• Ezell Singleton, halfback, No. 20
• Bob Smith, right halfback
• Bobby Smith, left halfback, 193 pounds, No. 19
• Bob Stevens, quarterback, 194 pounds, No. 41
• Dave Stout, guard
• Almose Thompson, fullback, 198 pounds, No. 24
• Steve Truesdell, center
• Don Vena, left end, 205 pounds, No. 82
• Andy Von Sonn, center
• John Walker, quarterback
• Bob Weeden, tackle/edn
• Joe Zeno, fullback, No. 28

^[11]

Coaching staff

• Bill Barnes, head coach, fourth year
• Deke Brackett, senior assistant coach
• Bob Bergdahl, assistant coach
• Sam Boghosian, assistant coach (line)
• Jim Dawson, assistant coach^[12]
• Johnny Johnson, assistant coach
• Dan Peterson, assistant coach

Notes and References

1. Web site: 1961 UCLA Bruins Schedule and Results. Sports Reference LLC. SR/College Football. December 17, 2015.
2. Web site: 1961 UCLA Bruins Stats. Sports Reference LLC. SR/College Football. December 17, 2015.
3. Web site: 2015 UCLA Bruins Football Media Guide Year-by-Year Results. December 19, 2016.
4. News: Hull Key Figure As Bruin Center. Progress-Bulletin. December 19, 1961. 2 (section 3). Newspapers.com.
5. News: UCLA's Hull Named on Look All-America. Los Angeles Times. December 4, 1961. IV-2. Newspapers.com.
6. News: 3 Repeat on AP All-Coast. Long Beach Independent. December 7, 1961. E3. Newspapers.com.
7. News: Smith, Beathard Top All-Big Five. Evening Vanguard. December 7, 1961. 7. Newspapers.com.
8. Web site: UCLA Bruins Stats. Sports Reference LLC. SR/College Football. August 12, 2024.
9. News: Stardom Comes as Surprise to UCLA Soph. Los Angeles Times. Jamie Curran. H5. Newspapers.com.
10. News: Injured Profit Most Important Bruin. Long Beach Independent. Jerome Hall. December 29, 1951. 21. Newspapers.com.
11. News: Trojans, Bruins Lineups. Los Angeles Evening Citizen. November 24, 1961. 14. Newspapers.com.
12. News: Bruin Assistant In Line For Head Coach's Job. Valley Times. December 25, 1961. 9. Newspapers.com.