1961 Virginia Cavaliers football team

1961 Virginia Cavaliers football
ConferenceAtlantic Coast Conference
Record4–6 (2–4 ACC)
Head coach
Captains
Home stadiumScott Stadium
Seasons
← 1960
1962 →
1961 Atlantic Coast Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 20 Duke $   5 1     7 3  
North Carolina   4 3     5 5  
Maryland   3 3     7 3  
Clemson   3 3     5 5  
NC State   3 4     4 6  
South Carolina   3 4     4 6  
Wake Forest   3 4     4 6  
Virginia   2 4     4 6  
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll[1]

The 1961 Virginia Cavaliers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Virginia as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) during the 1961 college football season. In their first year under head coach Bill Elias, the Cavaliers compiled a 4–6 record (2–4 in conference games), were outscored by a total of 190 to 123, and finished in eighth place out of eight teams in the ACC. Despite the last place finish, Elias was named ACC Coach of the Year, becoming the second in conference history to win the award in a coach's first year at the school.[2] Elias, who had been the Southern Conference Coach of the Year the previous season at George Washington, snapped Virginia's 28-game losing streak by beating William & Mary in the first game of the season.[3] Their win against South Carolina snapped an 18-game losing streak against ACC foes.

The team's statistical leaders included junior quarterback Gary Cuozzo (382 passing yards) and sophomore halfback Doug Thomson (294 rushing yards).

The team played its home games at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Virginia.

  1. ^ "1961 Atlantic Coast Conference Year Summary". sports-reference.com. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  2. ^ "2016 ACC Football Media Guide" (PDF). p. 122.
  3. ^ "Virginia's Bill Elias ACC Coach of Year". The Washington Post. December 5, 1961. p. A23.