The Aggies tallied 2,019 yards of total offense (224.4 per game), consisting of 1,450 rushing yards (161.6 per game) and 569 passing yards (63.2 per game). On defense, they gave up 2,435 yards (270.5 per game) including 1,531 rushing yards (170.1 per game) and 904 passing yards (100.3 per game).[9]
Quarterback Dick Carriere completed 58 of 124 passes for 569 yards with four touchdowns and five interceptions. He also had 266 rushing yards and led the team with 835 yards of total offense. He also led the team in scoring with 34 points (three touchdowns, 11 extra point kicks, one field goal). Carriere was also the team's punter, averaging 33.9 yards on 49 punts.[9]
The team's rushing leaders were halfbacks Terry Haynie (345 yards, 58 carries) and Mike Doyle (291 yards, 71 carries).[9]
The team's leading receivers were end Ray DiGuilio (24 receptions, 190 yards) and halfback Ken Gardner (six receptions, 88 yards).[9]
Awards and honors
Five Cal Aggies players were selected as first-team hoorees on the 1961 All-Far Western Conference football team: back Bob Foster (offense); tackle Carl Ehret (offense); center Neil Laughlin (offense); end Jim Hanie (defense); and tackle Dick Williams (defense). Two others were named to the second team: linebacker Marlin Davis; and halfback Bill Moore (defense). Quarterback Dick Carriere and halfback Ron Sbragia received honorable mention.[10]
Players
Linn Anderson (#59), guard (defense), 200 pounds
Gary Carlson (#17), safety, 170 pounds
Dick Carriere (#23), quarterback, 180 pounds
Jim Clay (#83), end, 190 pounds
Skip Davies (#36), halfback (defense), 200 pounds
Carl Ehret (#75), tackle, 220 pounds
Jim Ferrerier (#65), guard, 190 pounds
Bob Foster (#34), fullback, 190 pounds
Tom Giacomini (#81), end, 195 pounds
Jim Haynie (#57), tackle (defense), 195 pounds
Gordon Huntley (#64), guard, 195 pounds
Gary Judd (#24), halfback, 160 pounds
Larry McClish (#85), end (defense), 210 pounds
Max Miller (#20), safety, 160 pounds
Bill Moore (#40), middle linebacker, 195 pounds
Bob Nichols (#72), tackle (defense), 220 pounds
Terry Oldershaw, end (defense), 180 pounds
Bill Raische (#26), halfback (defense), 170 pounds
^This stadium is the predecessor to the current Mackay Stadium, which was opened for the 1966 season.[3]
^The game against UC Santa Barbara was part of an "All-UC Doubleheader" that was held annually from 1948 to 1963. The other game of the double-header was California vs. UCLA. The games were always held at the home stadium of either Cal or UCLA.