The 1961 Presidents' Athletic Conference football season was the season of college football played by the eight member schools of the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) as part of the 1961 college football season.
The 1961 Allegheny Gators football team compiled a 6–1 record and won the PAC championship. Stoner Tracy led the team and received all-conference honors both at quarterback and defensive halfback.
The 1961 All-PAC football team was led by John Carroll (five spots); Western Reserve (five spots); Allegheny (four spots); and Case Tech (four spots).
Teams Allegheny
The 1961 Allegheny Gators football team represented Allegheny College of Meadville, Pennsylvania. In their fourth year under head coach John R. Chuckran, the team compiled a 6–1 record (5–1 against PAC opponents) and won the PAC championship. The Gators were undefeated through the first six games, losing to the Thiel Tomcats in the final game of the season.
Allegheny players took four spots on the 1961 All-Presidents Athletic Conference football team: Stoner Tracy (quarterback on offense, halfbacks on defense); Joe Valentino (defensive tackle); and Phil Crichton (cornerback).
John Carroll
The 1961 John Carroll Blue Streaks football team represented John Carroll University of University Heights, Ohio. In their third year under head coach John Ray, the team compiled a 5–1 record (4–1 against PAC opponents) and finished second in the PAC.
John Carroll took five spots on the 1961 All-Presidents Athletic Conference football team: Gordon Priemer (halfbacks on offense); Ted Uritis (end on offense); Gene Smith (guard on offense); John Kovach (end on defense); and Ron Timpanaro (linebacker).
Western Reserve
The 1961 Western Reserve Red Cats football team represented Western Reserve University (now part of Case Western Reserve University) of Cleveland. In their 11th year under head coach Edward L. Finnigan, the team compiled a 5–2 record (5–1 against PAC opponents) and finished third in the PAC.
Western Reserve players took five spots on the 1961 All-Presidents Athletic Conference football team: Bob Swingle (fullback); Jay Schnackle (offensive tackle); Rudy Elaus (offensive guard); Dave Heiser (middle guard); and Doug Wilson (cornerback).
Case Tech
The 1961 Case Tech Rough Riders football team represented Case Institute of Technology (now part of Case Western Reserve University) of Cleveland. In their fifth year under head coach Doug Mooney, the team compiled a 4–3 record (4–2 against PAC opponents) and finished fourth in the PAC.
Case Tech players took four spots on the 1961 All-Presidents Athletic Conference football team: Dick Millie (quarterback on offense, halfback on defense); Ron Shilling (offensive end); and Bob Hugus (center).
Bethany
The 1961 Bethany Bison football team represented Bethany College of Bethany, West Virginia. In their ninth year under head coach John J. Knight, the team compiled a 2–5 record (2–4 against PAC opponents) and tied for fifth place in the PAC.
Bethany took three spots on the 1961 All-Presidents Athletic Conference football team: Don Ashton (halfbacks on offense) and Ray Hack (tackle on offense and defense).
Thiel
The 1961 Thiel Tomcats football team represented Thiel College of Greenville, Pennsylvania. In their seventh year under head coach Joe Difebo, the team compiled a 2–4 record (2–4 against PAC opponents) and tied for fifth place in the PAC.
Thiel defensive end was named to the 1961 All-Presidents Athletic Conference football team.
Wayne State
The 1961 Wayne State Tartars football team represented Wayne State University of Detroit. In their second year under head coach Harold D. Willard, the team compiled a 1–6 record (1–4 against PAC opponents), was outscored by a total of 271 to 37, and finished seventh in the PAC.
Wayne State linebacker Barry Sarver was named to the 1961 All-Presidents Athletic Conference football team.
On October 28, Wayne State suffered the worst defeat in PAC history, losing, 62-0, against John Carroll. The Tartars tallied minus-nine yards rushing in the game. Three weeks later, the team then lost to Wittenberg by a 77-0 margin.
Washington & Jefferson
The 1961 Washington & Jefferson Presidents football team represented Washington & Jefferson College of Washington, Pennsylvania. In their second year under head coach Chuck Ream, the team compiled a 0–7 record (0–5 against PAC opponents) and finished last in the PAC.
All-conference selections At the end of the season, the conference coaches selected an all-conference team as follows:
Offense Quarterbacks - Dick Millie, Case Tech; Stoner Tracy, Allegheny Halfbacks - Don Ashton, Bethany; Gordon Priemer, John Carroll Fullback - Bob Swingle, Western Reserve Ends - Ted Uritis, John Carroll; Ron Shilling, Case Tech Tackles - Jay Schnackle, Western Reserve; Ray Hack, Bethany Guards - Gene Smith, John Carroll; Rudy Elaus, Western Reserve Center - Bob Hugus, Case Tech
Defense Ends - John Kovach, John Carroll; Bill Merkovsky, Thiel Tackles - Joe Valentino, Allegheny; Ray Hack, Bethany Middle guard - Dave Heiser, Western Reserve Linebackers - Barry Sarver, Wayne State; Ron Timpanaro, John Carroll Cornerbacks - Phil Crichton, Allegheny; Doug Wilson, Western Reserve Halfbacks - Dick Millie, Case Tech; Stoner Tracy, Allegheny
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