The 1961 Wichita Shockers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Wichita (now known as Wichita State University) as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) during the 1961 college football season. In its second season under head coach Hank Foldberg, the team compiled an 8âÂÂ3 record (3âÂÂ0 against MVC opponents), won the MVC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 230 to 189. Wichita finished the season with a 17âÂÂ9 loss to Villanova in the Sun Bowl.
The team played its home games at Veterans Field, now known as Cessna Stadium. Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells was a sophomore end on the team.
The team gained an average of 194.9 rushing yards and 156.0 passing yards per game. On defense, the Shockers gave up an average of 211.6 rushing yards and 95.4 passing yards.
Wichita's two quarterbacks, Alex Zyskowski and Bill Stangarone, ranked first and second in total offense in the Missouri Valley Conference.
Wichita also had four of the top six scorers in the Missouri Valley Conference. Stangarone tied for the conference scoring crown with 42 points on six touchdowns and six points after touchdown. Alvin LeBlanc ranked third in the conference with 34 points (five touchdowns, four points after touchdown); end Ron Turner ranked fourth with 26 points (four touchdowns, two points after touchdown); and Dick Stephens tied for fifth with 24 points (four touchdowns).
Ron Turner was the conference's leading receiver with 24 catches for 341 yards and four touchdowns. Jim Maddox ranked second on the team and third in the conference with 16 receptions for 235 yards, an average of 14.7 yards per catch. Other receivers included J.R. Dumler (four receptions, 160 yards, 40.0-yard average) and Alvin LeBlanc (10 receptions, 140 yards, 14.0-yard average).
Frank Butz was the team's punter, kicking 40 times for 1,406 yards, an average of 35.2 yards per punt.
Alvin LeBlanc led the team with four interceptions returned for 63 yards, an average of 15.8 yards per return.
Six Wichita players received first-team honors on the Associated Press 1961 All-Missouri Valley Conference football team: quarterbacks Zyskowski and Stangarone; ends Ron Turner and Jim Maddox; center Leroy Leep; and guard Charles Wright. Tackle Gene Dempsey was named to the second team. Alvin LeBlanc, Richard Stephens, and Adolph Wilson received honorable mention.