The 1961 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football season was the season of college football played by the five member schools of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) as part of the 1961 college football season.
Whittier compiled a perfect 9âÂÂ0 record in the regular season, won the SCIAC championship, and lost to Linfield in the semifinals of the NAIA playoffs. In the 1961 small college football rankings, Whittier was ranked No. 4 in the NAIA coaches poll, No. 5 in the Associated Press poll, and No. 8 in the United Press International poll.
The 1961 Whittier Poets football team represented Whittier College of Whittier, California. In their second year under head coach John Godfrey, the Poets compiled a perfect 9âÂÂ1 record (4âÂÂ0 against SCIAC opponents) and won the SCIAC championship. In the 1961 small college football rankings, Whittier was ranked No. 4 in the NAIA coaches poll, No. 5 in the Associated Press poll, and No. 8 in the United Press International poll.
Quarterback Sei Miyano completed 63 of 115 passes for 1,154 yards with 15 touchdown passes and four interceptions. He also led the team with 1,291 yards of total offense. Halfback Dick Skinner led the team in rushing with 120 carries for 648 yards. Miyano was five feet, seven inches tall. He was one of four Japanese-American players on the 1961 Whittier team.
Three Whittier players were selected as first-team players on the 1961 All-SIAC football team: junior back Dick Skinner; junior end Stan Sanders; and senior guard Dave Okura.
The 1961 Redlands Bulldogs football team represented University of Redlands of Redlands, California. In their third year under head coach Ted Runner, the Bulldogs compiled a 6âÂÂ4 record (3âÂÂ1 against SCIAC opponents) and finished second the SCIAC.
Four Redlands players were selected as first-team players on the 1961 All-SCIAC football team: senior quarterback Roger Chaney; senior tackle Myron Tarkanian; senior guard Marshall Nixon; and senior center Rollin Grider.
The 1961 Occidental Tigers football team represented Occidental College of Eagle Rock, Los Angeles. In their second year under head coach Vic Schwenk, the Tigers compiled a 6âÂÂ2 record (2âÂÂ2 against SCIAC opponents) and finished third in the SCIAC.
Three Occidental players were selected as first-team players on the 1961 All-SIAC team: junior back John Whitney; junior end Jerry Greenwalt; and senior tackle Mike Lewis.
The 1961 Pomona Sagehens football team represented Pomona College of Claremont, California. In their third year under head coach Chuck Mills, the Sagehens compiled a 5âÂÂ4 record (1âÂÂ3 against SCIAC opponents) and finished fourth in the SCIAC. Senior back Pete Rodi was a first-team selection on the 1961 All-SCIAC team.
The 1961 Claremont-Mudd Stags football team represented Claremont College and Harvey Mudd College of Claremont, California. In their first year under head coach Jim Williams, the Stags compiled a 3âÂÂ6 record (0âÂÂ4 against SCIAC opponents) and finished last in the SCIAC.
At the end of the season, the conference coaches selected the best players at each position to their 1961 all-SIAC football team.
First team