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1961 Football-Team Award
The legendary 1961 Big Blue football team set an undefeated season, finishing the season 8-0 and outscoring their opponents by a combined margin of 305-79. The Big Blue defeated Illinois State University 22-16 to open the season and then won seven successive conference games to win the conference title, Millikin's first undisputed title since the 1942 football season. The team ranked fifth in the nation in small colleges. There have been only four other undefeated football teams in Millikin's history; in 1919, 1920, 1941 and 1942.
Coach of the 1961 team was Don Shroyer, a 1950 Millikin graduate, who later coached at Southern Illinois University and for the St. Louis Cardinals in the National Football League. Co-captains of the team were halfback Jerry Domescik '62, and tackle Ryan Jorstad '62. Domescik, who gained 799 total yards with 20 touchdowns and his 120 points scored led all NAIA players that year, was named to the All-Conference team. Also named to the All-Conference team was Jorstad, his third year so honored, and guard Bill Severino ’62, both of whom appeared on both the All-Conference offensive and defensive teams. Chuck Siebel ’64, end, halfback Del Rutz ’62 and tackle Bob Martin ’63 were also named All-Conference.
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