1961 Cornell Big Red football team

The 1961 Cornell Big Red football team was an American football team that represented Cornell University during the 1961 NCAA University Division football season. Cornell finished sixth in the Ivy League .

1961 Cornell Big Red football
Conference	Ivy League
1961 record	3–6 (2–5 Ivy)
Head coach	Tom Harp (1st season)
Captains	Dave McKelvey George Telesh
Home stadium	Schoellkopf Field

1961 Ivy League football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
Columbia +	6	–	1	–	0			6	–	3	–	0
Harvard +	6	–	1	–	0			6	–	3	–	0
Dartmouth	5	–	2	–	0			6	–	3	–	0
Princeton	5	–	2	–	0			5	–	4	–	0
Yale	3	–	4	–	0			4	–	5	–	0
Cornell	2	–	5	–	0			3	–	6	–	0
Penn	1	–	6	–	0			2	–	7	–	0
Brown	0	–	7	–	0			0	–	9	–	0
+ – Conference co-champions

In its first season under head coach Tom Harp, the team compiled a 3–6 record but outscored opponents 143 to 137. Dave McKelvey and George Telesh were the team captains.[1]

Cornell's 2–5 conference record placed sixth in the Ivy League standings. The Big Red were outscored 106 to 102 by Ivy opponents.[2]

Cornell played its home games at Schoellkopf Field in Ithaca, New York.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 30	Colgate*	Schoellkopf Field Ithaca, NY (rivalry)	W 34–0	20,000	[3]
October 7	at Harvard	Harvard Stadium Boston, MA	L 0–14	11,000	[4]
October 14	Navy*	Schoellkopf Field Ithaca, NY	L 7–31	22,000	[5]
October 21	Yale	Schoellkopf Field Ithaca, NY	L 0–12	20,000	[6]
October 28	at Princeton	Palmer Stadium Princeton, NJ	L 25–30	28,000	[7]
November 4	Columbia	Schoellkopf Field Ithaca, NY (rivalry)	L 7–35	8,000	[8]
November 11	Brown	Schoellkopf Field Ithaca, NY	W 25–0	8,000	[9]
November 18	at Dartmouth	Memorial Field Hanover, NH (rivalry)	L 14–15	11,000	[10]
November 25	at Penn	Franklin Field Philadelphia, PA (rivalry)	W 31–0	12,204	[11]
*Non-conference game

References

1. "Football Record Book" (PDF). Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
2. "Year-by-Year History". Ivy League Football Media Guide (PDF). Princeton, N.J.: Ivy League. 2017. p. 23. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
3. McGowen, Deane (October 1, 1961). "Cornell Crushes Colgate, 34 to 0". The New York Times. New York, N.Y. p. S5.
4. Strauss, Michael (October 8, 1961). "Harvard Blanks Cornell, 14-0, in Upset; Halaby Scores Twice for Crimson". The New York Times. New York, N.Y. p. S1.
5. Danzig, Allison (October 15, 1961). "Navy Eleven Victor over Cornell, 31-7". The New York Times. New York, N.Y. p. S1.
6. Danzig, Allison (October 22, 1961). "Yale's Runs Sink Cornell, 12 to 0". The New York Times. New York, N.Y. p. S1.
7. Danzig, Allison (October 29, 1961). "Tigers Outscore Cornell in a 30-to-25 Ivy Thriller". The New York Times. New York, N.Y. p. S1.
8. Werden, Lincoln A. (November 5, 1961). "Columbia Downs Cornell; Lions Gain 35-7 Victory". The New York Times. New York, N.Y. p. S1.
9. "Cornell Routs Brown, 25-0, and Gains First Victory of Ivy League Season". The New York Times. New York, N.Y. Associated Press. November 12, 1961. p. S4.
10. Strauss, Michael (November 19, 1961). "Dartmouth Turns Back Cornell, 15-14, with Fourth-Period Passing Attack". The New York Times. New York, N.Y. p. S5.
11. White, Gordon S., Jr. (November 26, 1961). "Cornell Trims Penn, 31-0, with Telesh and Lampkins Scoring Twice Each". The New York Times. New York, N.Y. p. S3.