Thread: The 1961 Minnesota Vikings

Well, I was bored today so i started searching for what the Vikings did their first year in the league... here is a lot of info I found fascinating. If you all like this I may just go through each year and post a topic on it. IF you are going to reply please do not quote because it is really long, thanks

EDIT: Well, the Quarter and points per quarter are not lining up correctly, but i bet you can figure it out.

1961 Draft Picks

Round 1 (1st Overall): RB Tommy Mason from Tulane
Round 2 (15th Overall): LB Rip Hawkins from North Carolina
Round 3 (29th Overall): QB Fran Tarkenton from Georgia
Round 4 (43rd Overall): RB Chuck Lamson from Wyoming
Round 5 (57th Overall): CB Ed Sharockman from Pittsburgh
Round 6 (71st Overall): End Jerry Burch from Georgia Tech
Round 7 (85th Overall): End Allan Ferrie from Wagner
Round 8 (99th Overall): T Paul Lidquist from New Hampshire
Round 9 (113th Overall): T Dan Sheehan from Tennessee-Chattanooga
Round 10 (127th Overall): RB Doug Mayberry from Utah State
Round 11 (141st Overall): T Jerry Mays from Southern Methodist
Round 12 (155th Overall): End Steve Stonebreaker from Detroit
Round 13 (169th Overall): RB Ray Hayes from Central State (OK)
Round 14 (183rd Overall): T Ken Peterson from Utah
Round 15 (197th Overall): End Mike Mercer from Arizona State
Round 16 (211th Overall): RB Ted Karpowicz from Detroit
Round 17 (225th Overall): Back Willie Jones from Purdue
Round 18 (239th Overall): T Bob Voight from Cal State-Los Angeles
Round 19 (253rd Overall): RB Bill Hill from Presbyterian
Round 20 (267th Overall): QB Mike McFarland from Western Illinois

Starting Lineup

Coach: Norm Van Brocklin

(Offense)

Wide Receiver: Dave Middleton
Left Tackle: Grady Alderman
Left Guard: Jerry Huth
Center: Bill Lapham
Right Guard: Mike Raboid
Right Tackle: Frank Youso
Tight End: Gordon Smith
Wide Receiver: Jerry Reichow
Quarterback: Fran Tarkenton
Running Back: Hugh McElhenny
Full Back: Mel Triplett

(Defense)

Left Defensive End: Jim Marshall
Left Defensive Tackle/Nose Tackle: Jim Prestel
Right Defensive Tackle/Right Defensive End: Ed Culpepper
Right Defensive End/Left Outside Linebacker: Don Joyce
Left Linebacker/left Inside Linebacker: Clancy Osborne
Middle Linebacker/Right Inside Linebacker: Rip Hawkins
Right Linebacker/Right Outside Linebacker: Karl Rubke
Left Cornerback: Jack Morris
Right Cornerback: Dick Pesonen
Strong Safety/Left Safety: Rich Mostardo
Free Safety/Right Safety: Charlie Summer


The Games: Season 3-11

Sunday, September 17





1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final

Chicago 0 6 0 7 13
Minnesota 3 7 14 13 37

17 First Downs
Rushing: 79 yards on 29 carries
Passing: 27 attempts, 19 completions and 0 interceptions

Fran Tarkenton 250 yards, 4 Touchdowns

Sunday, September 24








1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final

Minnesota 0 7 0 0 7
Dallas 7 7 0 7 21

16 First Downs
Rushing: 125 yards on 25 carries
Passing: 30 attempts, 17 completions and 3 interceptions

Sunday, October 1

1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final

Minnesota 3 10 10 10 33
Baltimore 7 7 7 13 34

21 First Downs
Rushing: 124 yards on 37 carries
Passing: 30 attempts, 17 completions and 0 interceptions

Sunday, October 8

1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final

Dallas 7 7 0 7 21
Minnesota 0 7 0 0 7

14 First Downs
Rushing: 83 yards on 23 carries
Passing: 26 attempts, 12 completions and 3 interceptions

Sunday, October 15





1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final

San Francisco 7 7 10 14 38
Minnesota



7 10 7 0 24

12 First Downs
Rushing: 118 yards on 24 carries
Passing: 29 attempts, 13 completions and 0 interceptions

Sunday, October 22

1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final

Green Bay 10 3 3 17 33
Minnesota 0 7 0 0 7

18 First Downs
Rushing: 149 yards on 34 carries
Passing: 35 attempts, 19 completions and 4 interceptions

Sunday, October 29

1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final

Minnesota 0 7 3 0 10
Green Bay 14 7 0 7 18

13 First Downs
Rushing: 142 yards on 27 carries
Passing: 25 attempts, 19 completions and 0 interceptions

Sunday, November 5





1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final

Minnesota




7 3 7 0 17
Los Angeles 14 3 0 14 31

21 First Downs
Rushing: 253 yards on 39 carries
Passing: 22 attempts, 12 completions and 2 interceptions


Sunday, November 12

1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final

Baltimore 0 14 3 3 20
Minnesota 7 7 7 7 28

19 First Downs
Rushing: 159 yards on 43 carries
Passing: 18 attempts, 11 completions and 1 interception

Sunday, November 19

1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final

Detroit 0 14 9 14 37
Minnesota 10 0 0 0 10

8 First Downs
Rushing: 69 yards on 21 carries
Passing: 24 attempts, 13 completions and 2 interceptions

Sunday, November 26





1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final

Minnesota




0 14 7 7 28
San Francisco 14 10 7 7 38

20 First Downs
Rushing: 121 yards on 28 carries
Passing: 24 attempts, 14 completions and 0 interceptions

Sunday, December 3





1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final

Los Angeles 0 14 7 0 21
Minnesota



7 14 14 7 42

27 First Downs
Rushing: 210 yards on 44 carries
Passing: 31 attempts, 21 completions and 1 interception

Fran Tarkenton 252 yards and 4 Touchdowns

Sunday, December 10

1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final

Minnesota 0 0 7 0 7
Detroit 0 7 3 3 13

18 First Downs
Rushing: 116 yards on 33 carries
Passing: 34 attempts, 15 completions and 0 interceptions

Sunday, December 17

1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final

Minnesota 14 7 7 7 35
Chicago 7 14 24 7 52

12 First Downs
Rushing: 149 yards on 24 carries
Passing: 22 attempts, 12 completions and 1 interception

Western Conference

Green Bay 11-3
Detroit 8-5-1
Baltimore 8-6
Chicago 8-6
San Francisco 7-6-1
Los Angeles 4-10
Minnesota 3-11

Viking Conference Placement if in the top 5

QB Fran Tarkenton in 3rd place for TD Passes with 18
RB Tommy Mason in 4th place for Punt Return Average with 10.4 yards
WR Jerry Reichow in 4th place for TD Receptions with 11

No Pro Bowl Selections in 1961
No All-Pro Team Selections in 1961

Some Stats

QB Fran Tarkenton, 1961, 14 games.

(Passing)
157 of 280, 56% for 1,997 yards, average 7.1 yards.
18 Touchdowns and 17 Interceptions
(Rushing)
56 attempts for 308 yards, average 5.5 yards and 5 Touchdowns

WR Jerry Reichow, 1961, 14 games.

(Receiving)
50 receptions for 859 yards (average of 17.2 yards) and 11 Touchdowns
(Rushing)
4 attempts for 9 yards (average of 3 yards)

WR Dave Middleton, 1961, 12 games.

(Receiving)
30 receptions for 444 yards, (average of 14.8 yards) and 2 Touchdowns

RB Hugh McElhenny, 1961, 13 games.

(Rushing)
120 attempts for 570 yards, average 4.8 yards and 3 Touchdowns
(Receiving)
37 receptions for 283 yards, average 7.6 yards and 3 Touchdowns

TE Gordon Smith, 1961, 9 games.

(Receiving)
12 yards for 320 yards (average of 26.7 yards) and 4 Touchdowns

FB Mel Triplett, 1961, 14 games.

(Rushing)
80 attempts for 407 yards, average 5.1 yards and 2 Touchdowns
(Receiving)
10 receptions for 41 yards (average 4.1 yards) and no Touchdowns


Well there you have it! I hope you enjoyed the endless amount of information.

totally

Ed Sharockman - I think he played corner didnt he?
Though drafted as a running back?

Tarkenton throwing 4 TDs and 250 yards in the first game. Pretty much an omen of his entire career.

"slinkey" wrote:

Ed Sharockman - I think he played corner didnt he?
Though drafted as a running back?

Oops, yeah he was a cornerback... good catch.