1961 Houston Oilers season: Difference between revisions

1961 Houston Oilers season
1961 Houston Oilers season
Owner	Bud Adams
Head coach	Wally Lemm (9–0) and; Lou Rymkus (1–3–1, fired)
Home field	Jeppesen Stadium
Results
Record	10–3–1
Division place	1st AFL Eastern
Playoff finish	Won AFL Championship; (San Diego Chargers, (10–3)
	← 1960; Oilers seasons; 1962 →;

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The 1961 Houston Oilers season was their second. For the second consecutive season, the Oilers scored a triumph in the AFL championship game over the San Diego Chargers (12–2), the Western Division champions.^[1]^[2]^[3]

The Oilers started slowly in 1961, with a 1–3–1 record. After a tie on October 13 with the Boston Patriots, head coach Lou Rymkus was fired by owner Bud Adams. Wally Lemm was hired,^[4] and the team went undefeated for the remainder of the season, including the championship game, a winning streak of ten games.

The Oilers set the AFL record for points scored in 1961, with 513 (36.6 points per game).^[5] They also set an American Football League record with a +271 point differential, by allowing only 242 points.^[6] The 1961 Oilers are the only team in AFL or NFL history to score 45 points or more six times in a single season.^[7]

Offseason

On January 14, end Willard Dewveall played out his option with the Chicago Bears of the NFL and joined the Oilers.^[8] He became the first player to move deliberately from one league to another.^[9] Dewveall was the only one to move between leagues for five years, until placekicker Pete Gogolak moved from the Buffalo Bills to the New York Giants of the NFL in 1966.^[10]

AFL Draft

Houston Oilers draft picks (Selected eighth)

Round	Player	Position	College
1	Tommy MasonMike Ditka	Offensive End	Pittsburgh
2	Tom GoodeTom Goode	Center	Mississippi State
3	Walter SuggsWalter Suggs ¹	Tackle	Mississippi State
4	Bobby WaldenBobby Walden	Halfback	Georgia
5	Monte LeeMonte Lee	Linebacker	Texas
6	Jake GibbsJake Gibbs	Quarterback	Mississippi
7	Dick ReynoldsDick Reynolds	Tackle	North Carolina State
8	Houston AntwineHouston Antwine ^1,²	Guard	Southern Illinois
9	Ralph WhiteRalph White	Tackle	Bowling Green
10	Charles LeeCharles Lee	Center	Iowa
11	Robert BirdRobert Bird	Guard	Bowling Green
12	Bob McLeodBob McLeod	Offensive End	Abilene Christian
13	Gerald HintonGerald Hinton	Guard	Louisiana Tech
14	Jimmy KingJimmy King	Tackle	Clemson
15	Dennis FerriterDennis Ferriter	Center	Marquette
16	Larry WoodLarry Wood	Halfback	Northwestern
17	Sam FewellSam Fewell	Tackle	South Carolina
18	Mike GrimsleyMike Grimsley	Halfback	Michigan State
19	Myron PearsonMyron Pearson	Halfback	Colorado
20	Lewis JohnsonLewis Johnson	Halfback	Florida A&M
21	Ron MillerRon Miller	Quarterback	Wisconsin
22	Bob KellyBob Kelly	Offensive End	New Mexico State
23	James AndersonJames Anderson	Fullback	Mississippi
24	Ken GregoryKen Gregory	Offensive End	Whittier
25	Jack KreiderJack Kreider	Halfback	Tulsa
26	Don FuellDon Fuell	Quarterback	Mississippi Southern
27	Boyd KingBoyd King	Center	Rice
28	John FrongilloJohn Frongillo	Center	Baylor
29	Tom LewisJohn Frongillo	Offensive End	Lake Forest
29	Tom LewisErrol Linden	Defensive End	Houston
30	Tom LewisJim Stroud	Tackle	Rice

Regular season

Standings

AFL Eastern Division
view talk edit	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	PF	PA	STK
Houston Oilers	10	3	1	.769	4–1–1	513	242	W9
Boston Patriots	9	4	1	.692	2–3–1	413	313	W4
New York Titans	7	7	0	.500	3–3	301	390	L2
Buffalo Bills	6	8	0	.429	2–4	294	342	L1

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings in the AFL.

Season schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Attendance
1	September 9, 1961	Oakland Raiders	W 55–0	16,231
2	Bye
3	September 24, 1961	at San Diego Chargers	L 34–24	29,210
4	October 1, 1961	at Dallas Texans	L 26–21	28,000
5	October 8, 1961	Buffalo Bills	L 22–12	22,761
6	October 13, 1961	at Boston Patriots	T 31–31	15,070
7	October 22, 1961	Dallas Texans	W 38–7	21,237
8	October 29, 1961	at Buffalo Bills	W 28–16	23,228
9	November 5, 1961	at Denver Broncos	W 55–14	11,564
10	November 12, 1961	Boston Patriots	W 27–15	35,649
11	November 19, 1961	New York Titans	W 49–13	33,428
12	November 26, 1961	Denver Broncos	W 45–14	27,864
13	December 3, 1961	San Diego Chargers	W 33–13	37,845
14	December 10, 1961	at New York Titans	W 48–21	9,462
15	December 17, 1961	at Oakland Raiders	W 47–16	4,821

Roster

Quarterbacks

Running Backs

Wide Receivers

Tight Ends

Offensive Linemen

Defensive Linemen

Linebackers

Defensive Backs CB

Special Teams

Reserve Lists

Practice Squad

Rookies in italics

Postseason

AFL Championship Game

	1	2	3	4	Total
Oilers	0	3	7	0	10
Chargers	0	0	0	3	3

Houston Oilers 10, San Diego Chargers 3

December 24, 1961 at Balboa Stadium, San Diego, California
Attendance: 29,556

Scoring

HOU – Field goal George Blanda 46
HOU – Billy Cannon 35 pass from Blanda (Blanda kick)
SD – Field goal Blair 12

References

^ "Chargers challenge for AFL grid title". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. December 24, 1961. p. 2, sports.
^ "Blanda stars as Oilers win AFL title, 10-3". Milwaukee Sentinel. UPI. December 25, 1961. p. 1S.
^ "Blanda's arm and toe clear path as Houston takes 2d AFL crown". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. December 25, 1961. p. 14.
^ "Lemm lifts Oilers back toward top". Sarasota Journal. Florida. UPI. November 2, 1961. p. 30.
^ Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1940 to 2011, in the AFL, in the regular season, sorted by descending Points For
^ Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1960 to 1969, in the AFL, in the regular season, sorted by descending Points Differential
^ Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1940 to 2011, in the regular season, requiring Points For >= 45, sorted by most games in season matching criteria.
^ "Chicago Bears veteran Dewveall joins". Victoria Advocate. Texas. Associated Press. January 14, 1961. p. 8.
^ NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York,NY, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 282
^ "Signing of Gogolak could trigger football battle". Ludington Daily News. Michigan. Associated Press. May 18, 1966. p. 12.

[ccfafgt-1] "Chargers challenge for AFL grid title". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. December 24, 1961. p. 2, sports.

[bsaowat-2] "Blanda stars as Oilers win AFL title, 10-3". Milwaukee Sentinel. UPI. December 25, 1961. p. 1S.

[blndarmt-3] "Blanda's arm and toe clear path as Houston takes 2d AFL crown". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. December 25, 1961. p. 14.

[llobttp-4] "Lemm lifts Oilers back toward top". Sarasota Journal. Florida. UPI. November 2, 1961. p. 30.

[5] Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1940 to 2011, in the AFL, in the regular season, sorted by descending Points For

[6] Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1960 to 1969, in the AFL, in the regular season, sorted by descending Points Differential

[7] Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1940 to 2011, in the regular season, requiring Points For >= 45, sorted by most games in season matching criteria.

[cbvdvl-8] "Chicago Bears veteran Dewveall joins". Victoria Advocate. Texas. Associated Press. January 14, 1961. p. 8.

[9] NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York,NY, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 282

[sofgoglk-10] "Signing of Gogolak could trigger football battle". Ludington Daily News. Michigan. Associated Press. May 18, 1966. p. 12.

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[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

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[9]

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@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 | record = 10–3–1
 | division_place = 1st [[American Football League#AFL franchises|AFL Eastern]]
-| coach = [[Lou Rymkus]] and [[Wally Lemm]]
+| owner = [[Bud Adams]]
+| coach = [[Wally Lemm]] (9–0) and<br>[[Lou Rymkus]] (1–3–1, fired)
-| stadium = [[Jeppesen Stadium]]
+| stadium = [[Robertson Stadium|Jeppesen Stadium]]
-| playoffs = '''Won''' [[American Football League playoffs#1961 Championship|AFL Championship]] ([[San Diego Chargers|Chargers]]) (10–3)
+| playoffs = '''Won''' [[1961 American Football League Championship Game|AFL Championship]]<br>([[1961 San Diego Chargers season|San Diego Chargers]], (10–3)
 | shortnavlink = Oilers seasons
 }}
+The '''[[1961 AFL season|1961]] [[Houston Oilers]] season''' was their second. For the second consecutive season, the Oilers scored a triumph in the [[1961 American Football League Championship Game|AFL championship game]] over the [[1961 San Diego Chargers season|San Diego Chargers]] (12–2), the Western Division champions.<ref name=ccfafgt>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PDNWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1-cDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5524%2C2575929 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=Chargers challenge for AFL grid title |date=December 24, 1961 |page=2, sports }}</ref><ref name=bsaowat>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xm5QAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ExEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6928%2C2178762 |newspaper=Milwaukee Sentinel |agency=UPI |title=Blanda stars as Oilers win AFL title, 10-3 |date=December 25, 1961 |page=1S}}</ref><ref name=blndarmt>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PTNWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1-cDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6607%2C2833505 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=Blanda's arm and toe clear path as Houston takes 2d AFL crown |date=December 25, 1961 |page=14}}</ref>
-The '''[[1961 AFL season|1961]] [[Houston Oilers]] season''' was their second. For the second consecutive season, the Oilers scored a triumph in the [[1961 American Football League Championship Game|AFL Championship]] over the [[San Diego Chargers]].
-The '61 Oilers started slow, with a 1–3–1 record. After a Week Five tie with the [[1961 Boston Patriots season|Boston Patriots]], head coach [[Lou Rymkus]] was fired by owner [[K. S. "Bud" Adams, Jr.|Bud Adams]]. [[Wally Lemm]] was hired, and the team proceeded to go undefeated for the remainder of the season, including the Championship game.
+The Oilers started slowly in 1961, with a 1–3–1 record. After a tie on October 13 with the [[1961 Boston Patriots season|Boston Patriots]], head coach [[Lou Rymkus]] was fired by owner [[Bud Adams]]. [[Wally Lemm]] was hired,<ref name=llobttp>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-0g1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=-YoEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5091%2C266174 |newspaper=Sarasota Journal |location=Florida |agency=UPI |title=Lemm lifts Oilers back toward top |date=November 2, 1961 |page=30 }}</ref> and the team went undefeated for the remainder of the season, including the championship game, a winning streak of ten games.
 The Oilers set the AFL record for points scored in 1961, with 513 (36.6 points per game).<ref>[http://pfref.com/tiny/oOaCL Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1940 to 2011, in the AFL, in the regular season, sorted by descending Points For]</ref> They also set an American Football League record with a +271 point differential, by allowing only 242 points.<ref>[http://pfref.com/tiny/scLSs Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1960 to 1969, in the AFL, in the regular season, sorted by descending Points Differential]</ref> The 1961 Oilers are the only team in AFL or NFL history to score 45 points or more six times in a single season.<ref>[http://pfref.com/tiny/Fqjnh Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1940 to 2011, in the regular season, requiring Points For >= 45, sorted by most games in season matching criteria.]</ref>
 ==Offseason==
-On January 14, Chicago Bears End Willard Dewveall played out his option and joined the Houston Oilers. He became the first player to move deliberately from one league to another.<ref>NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York,NY, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 282</ref>
+On January 14, end [[Willard Dewveall]] played out his option with the [[1960 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]] of the [[National Football League|NFL]] and joined the Oilers.<ref name=cbvdvl>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GuJHAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rIAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6345%2C1787888|newspaper=Victoria Advocate|location=Texas|agency=Associated Press |title=Chicago Bears veteran Dewveall joins|date=January 14, 1961|page=8}}</ref> He became the first player to move deliberately from one league to another.<ref>NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York,NY, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 282</ref> Dewveall was the only one to move between leagues for five years, until placekicker [[Pete Gogolak]] moved from the [[1965 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]] to the [[1966 New York Giants season|New York Giants]] of the NFL in [[1966 New York Giants season|1966]].<ref name=sofgoglk>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=C7xaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LFADAAAAIBAJ&pg=2862%2C2718730 |newspaper=Ludington Daily News |location=Michigan |agency=Associated Press |title=Signing of Gogolak could trigger football battle |date=May 18, 1966 |page=12 }}</ref>
 ===AFL Draft===
+{{main|1961 American Football League draft}}
 * Houston Oilers draft picks (Selected eighth)
 {| class="wikitable sortable sortable" style="width: 60%"
@@ Line 105: / Line 107: @@
 ! Attendance
 |-style="background: #ddffdd;"
+| align=center|1
-| 1
 | September 9, 1961
-| [[Oakland Raiders]]
+| [[1961 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]]
 | W 55–0
 | <center>16,231</center>
 |-
+| align=center|2
-| 2
 | colspan="5" align="center"| ''Bye''
 |-style="background: #ffdddd;"
+| align=center|3
-| 3
 | September 24, 1961
-| at [[San Diego Chargers]]
+| at [[1961 San Diego Chargers season|San Diego Chargers]]
 | L 34–24
 | <center>29,210</center>
 |-style="background: #ffdddd;"
+| align=center|4
-| 4
 | October 1, 1961
-| at [[Kansas City Chiefs|Dallas Texans]]
+| at [[1961 Dallas Texans season|Dallas Texans]]
 | L 26–21
 | <center>28,000</center>
 |-style="background: #ffdddd;"
+| align=center|5
-| 5
 | October 8, 1961
-| [[Buffalo Bills]]
+| [[1961 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]]
 | L 22–12
 | <center>22,761</center>
 |-style="background: #ffeeaa;"
+| align=center|6
-| 6
 | October 13, 1961
-| at [[New England Patriots|Boston Patriots]]
+| at [[1961 Boston Patriots season|Boston Patriots]]
 | T 31–31
 | <center>15,070</center>
 |-style="background: #ddffdd;"
+| align=center|7
-| 7
 | October 22, 1961
-| [[Kansas City Chiefs|Dallas Texans]]
+| Dallas Texans
 | W 38–7
 | <center>21,237</center>
 |-style="background: #ddffdd;"
+| align=center|8
-| 8
 | October 29, 1961
-| at [[Buffalo Bills]]
+| at [[1961 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]]
 | W 28–16
 | <center>23,228</center>
 |-style="background: #ddffdd;"
+| align=center|9
-| 9
 | November 5, 1961
-| at [[Denver Broncos]]
+| at [[1961 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]]
 | W 55–14
 | <center>11,564</center>
 |-style="background: #ddffdd;"
-| 10
+| align=center|10
 | November 12, 1961
-| [[New England Patriots|Boston Patriots]]
+| Boston Patriots
 | W 27–15
 | <center>35,649</center>
 |-style="background: #ddffdd;"
-| 11
+| align=center|11
 | November 19, 1961
-| [[New York Jets|New York Titans]]
+| [[1961 New York Titans season|New York Titans]]
 | W 49–13
 | <center>33,428</center>
 |-style="background: #ddffdd;"
-| 12
+| align=center|12
 | November 26, 1961
-| [[Denver Broncos]]
+| Denver Broncos
 | W 45–14
 | <center>27,864</center>
 |-style="background: #ddffdd;"
-| 13
+| align=center|13
 | December 3, 1961
-| [[San Diego Chargers]]
+| San Diego Chargers
 | W 33–13
 | <center>37,845</center>
 |-style="background: #ddffdd;"
-| 14
+| align=center|14
 | December 10, 1961
-| at [[New York Jets|New York Titans]]
+| at New York Titans
 | W 48–21
 | <center>9,462</center>
 |-style="background: #ddffdd;"
-| 15
+| align=center|15
 | December 17, 1961
-| at [[Oakland Raiders]]
+| at Oakland Raiders
 | W 47–16
 | <center>4,821</center>
@@ Line 226: / Line 228: @@
 ==Postseason==
 ===AFL Championship Game===
-* [[1961 AFL season|1961]] Championship
+{{main|1961 American Football League Championship Game}}
 {{Linescore Amfootball|
 |Road='''Oilers'''
@@ Line 244: / Line 245: @@
 }}
-'''[[Tennessee Titans|Houston Oilers]] 10, [[San Diego Chargers]] 3'''
+'''Houston Oilers 10, San Diego Chargers 3'''
-:''December 24, 1961 at [[Balboa Stadium]], [[San Diego, California]]''<br>Attendance: 29,556
+:''December 24, 1961 at [[Balboa Stadium]], [[San Diego]], [[California]]''<br>Attendance: 29,556
 '''Scoring'''
-*HOU – Field goal Blanda 46
+*HOU – Field goal [[George Blanda]] 46
-*HOU – Cannon 35 pass from Blanda (Blanda kick)
+*HOU – [[Billy Cannon]] 35 pass from Blanda (Blanda kick)
 *SD – Field goal [[George Blair (American football)|Blair]] 12
 ==References==
-{{Reflist}}<!--added under references heading by script-assisted edit-->
+{{Reflist|2}}<!--added under references heading by script-assisted edit-->
 * [http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/oti/1961.htm Oilers on Pro Football Reference]
 * [http://www.jt-sw.com/football/pro/results.nsf/Teams/1961-hou Oilers on jt-sw.com]

v t e Tennessee Titans seasons
Formerly the Houston Oilers (1960–1996) and the Tennessee Oilers (1997–1998)
1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Bold indicates AFL Championship (1960–69) or Super Bowl (1966–present) victory Italics indicates Super Bowl (1966–present) appearance

v t e Tennessee Titans
Founded in 1960 Formerly the Houston Oilers (1960–1996) and the Tennessee Oilers (1997–1998) Based and headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee
Franchise	History in Houston Coaches Seasons All-time roster First-round draft picks Starting quarterbacks
Stadiums	Jeppesen Stadium Rice Stadium Houston Astrodome Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Vanderbilt Stadium Nissan Stadium New Nissan Stadium (future)
Culture	Bud Adams Luv Ya Blue T-Rac Cheerleaders
Lore	The Comeback Music City Miracle One Yard Short
Rivalries	Baltimore Ravens Buffalo Bills Dallas Cowboys Houston Texans Indianapolis Colts Jacksonville Jaguars Pittsburgh Steelers
Division championships (11)	1960 1961 1962 1967 1991 1993 2000 2002 2008 2020 2021
Conference championships (1)	1999
League championships (2)	1960 1961
Retired numbers	1 9 27 34 43 63 65 74
Media	Broadcasters Titans All Access Titans Preseason Football Titans Radio Network WKRN-TV WTVF WZTV WGFX-FM WSMV-TV
Current league affiliations	League: National Football League (1970–present) Conference: American Football Conference Division: South Division
Former league affiliation	League: American Football League (1960–1969)
Key personnel	Bud Adams Amy Adams Strunk