1961 Baldwin–Wallace Yellow Jackets football team

The 1961 Baldwin–Wallace Yellow Jackets football team was an American football team that represented Baldwin–Wallace University as an independent during the 1961 NAIA football season. In their fourth year under head coach Lee Tressel, the Yellow Jackets compiled a 9–0 record and outscored opponents by a total of 204 to 55.^[1] They were the only Ohio football team to compile a perfect record in 1961 and were ranked No. 2 in both the UPI and AP small college football rankings.^[2][3]

1961 Baldwin–Wallace Yellow Jackets football
Conference	Independent
Record	9–0
Head coach	Lee Tressel (4th season)
Seasons ← 1960 1962 →

1961 NAIA independents football records

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 2 Baldwin–Wallace			–					9	–	0	–	0
Wheaton (IL)			–					8	–	0	–	0
No. 8 Tampa			–					8	–	1	–	0
Earlham			–					7	–	1	–	0
Oklahoma Panhandle State			–					9	–	2	–	0
La Verne			–					7	–	2	–	0
Hillsdale			–					6	–	3	–	0
Eastern New Mexico			–					6	–	4	–	0
McMurry			–					6	–	4	–	0
St. Mary of the Plains			–					4	–	5	–	0
Georgetown (KY)			–					2	–	3	–	1
Austin			–					2	–	7	–	0
Rankings from NAIA poll

In a poll of Ohio coaches, Lee Tressel was selected as the 1961 Ohio College Football Coach of the Year.^[4]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 23	at Quantico Marines		Quantico, VA	W 18–7
September 30	Muskingum		Berea, OH	W 35–6		^[5]
October 7	Youngstown State		Berea, OH	W 40–0
October 13	at Eastern Michigan	No. 7	Briggs Field Ypsilanti, MI	W 27–14		^[6]
October 21	at Hillsdale	No. 2	Hillsdale, MI	W 16–7
October 28	vs. Akron	No. 3	Cuyahoga Falls, OH	W 7–0	6,531
November 4	Heidelberg	No. 2	Berea, OH	W 33–7
November 11	at Findlay	No. 2	Findlay, OH	W 14–6	6,000	^[7]
November 18	at Kent State	No. 2	Memorial Stadium Kent, OH	W 14–6	3,500	^[8]
Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

^[1]

References

1. . College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
2. "Baldwin-Wallace Boasts Ohio's Only Perfect Grid Mark". Urbana Daily Citizen. November 27, 1961. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Kansas School Nabs Small College Honor". The Lawton Constitution. Lawton, Oklahoma. November 23, 1961. p. 26. Retrieved January 25, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. 
4. "Lee Tressel Is Named Ohio Grid Coach of Year". The Coshocton Tribune. December 3, 1961. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Muskingum Beaten By Baldwin-Wallace". The Sunday Times Recorder. October 1, 1961. p. D1 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Eastern Runs Into Buzzsaw". Detroit Free Press. October 14, 1961. p. 24 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Oilers Slip". Mansfield News-Journal. November 12, 1961. p. 34 – via Newspapers.com.
8. Phil Dietrich (November 19, 1961). "Flashes Complete Worst Campaign". The Akron Beacon Journal. pp. 1B, 6B – via Newspapers.com.