The 1961 New Mexico Lobos football team represented the

University of New Mexico The University of New Mexico (UNM; es, Universidad de Nuevo México) is a public research university in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Founded in 1889, it is the state's flagship academic institution and the largest by enrollment, with over 25,400 ...

in the

Skyline Conference The Skyline Conference is a college athletic conference based in the New York City area that competes in the NCAA's Division III. The league was originally chartered on May 16, 1989, as a men's basketball conference and now sponsors 17 sports (ni ...

during the

1961 NCAA University Division football season During the 20th century, the NCAA had no playoff for the major college football teams in the University Division, later known as Division I-A. The NCAA did recognize a national champion based upon the final results of "wire service" ( AP and UPI) ...

. In their second season under head coach

Bill Weeks William Weeks (October 20, 1929 – May 2, 2006) was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of New Mexico from 1960 to 1967, compiling a record of 40–41–1. Weeks was an All- Big Seven Conf ...

, the Lobos compiled a 7–4 record (3–3 against Skyline opponents), finished in a tie for third place in the conference, and outscored opponents by a total of 215 to 197. The Lobos concluded their season with a victory over

Western Michigan West Michigan and Western Michigan are terms for an arbitrary region in the U.S. state of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. Most narrowly it refers to the Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland, Michigan, Holland area, and more broadly to most of the region a ...

in the inaugural

Aviation Bowl The Aviation Bowl was a post-season college football bowl game played at Welcome Stadium in Dayton, Ohio, on December 9, 1961, between the New Mexico Lobos and the Western Michigan Broncos. New Mexico won by a score of 28 to 12. Attendance for the ...

, played in snow and sleet at

Dayton, Ohio Dayton () is the sixth-largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County. A small part of the city extends into Greene County. The 2020 U.S. census estimate put the city population at 137,644, while Greater Day ...

. The team's statistical leaders included Jim Cromartie with 533 passing yards, Bobby Santiago with 535 rushing yards, and Larry Jasper with 161 receiving yards.

Schedule

References

{{New Mexico Lobos football navbox

New Mexico ) , population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano) , seat = Santa Fe , LargestCity = Albuquerque , LargestMetro = Tiguex , OfficialLang = None , Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ker ...

New Mexico Lobos football seasons

New Mexico Lobos football The New Mexico Lobos football team is the intercollegiate football team at the University of New Mexico. The Lobos compete as a member of the Mountain West Conference. Their official colors are cherry and silver. The Lobos play their home games a ...