Probably Best Losing College Team in History

[dailybuck777]

1961 TCU. Stumbled on TCU in 1961. They tied No. 2 OSU and beat No. 1 Texas and No. 8 Kansas, yet finished 3-5 with 2 ties. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1961_TCU_Horned_Frogs_football_team What a weird record. After Texas lost, Darrell Royal commented: ""They're like a bunch of cockroaches," Royal said. "It's not what they eat and tote off, it's what they fall into and mess up that hurts."

This was the year OSU's faculty refused to let OSU play in the Rose Bowl (OSU was ranked No. 1 at the end of the regular season) and probably cost OSU a national championship.

 

[Judge Smails]

 

[WDLion]

1961 TCU. Stumbled on TCU in 1961. They tied No. 2 OSU and beat No. 1 Texas and No. 8 Kansas, yet finished 3-5 with 2 ties. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1961_TCU_Horned_Frogs_football_team What a weird record. After Texas lost, Darrell Royal commented: ""They're like a bunch of cockroaches," Royal said. "It's not what they eat and tote off, it's what they fall into and mess up that hurts."

This was the year OSU's faculty refused to let OSU play in the Rose Bowl (OSU was ranked No. 1 at the end of the regular season) and probably cost OSU a national championship.

SMH

 

[kijanacat]

I believe back then the national champion was declared at the end of the season, not after bowl games.

 

[dailybuck777]

I believe back then the national champion was declared at the end of the season, not after bowl games.

You appear to be right, and I misunderstood. Both the AP and UPI polls at that time were conducted prior to the bowls. (Goofy) Ohio State was very close in both polls, but Alabama jumped OSU after it beat Auburn in its last game.

 

[PaFootbalGuy]

Impossible, the 2017 Pitt Panthers hold this honor.

 

[Lane]

From that point on, OSU's faculty was never heard from again. We're not certain that they exist.

 

[PSU87]

You appear to be right, and I misunderstood. Both the AP and UPI polls at that time were conducted prior to the bowls. (Goofy) Ohio State was very close in both polls, but Alabama jumped OSU after it beat Auburn in its last game.

SEC bias

 

[Frabjous]

1961 TCU. Stumbled on TCU in 1961. They tied No. 2 OSU and beat No. 1 Texas and No. 8 Kansas, yet finished 3-5 with 2 ties. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1961_TCU_Horned_Frogs_football_team What a weird record. After Texas lost, Darrell Royal commented: ""They're like a bunch of cockroaches," Royal said. "It's not what they eat and tote off, it's what they fall into and mess up that hurts."

This was the year OSU's faculty refused to let OSU play in the Rose Bowl (OSU was ranked No. 1 at the end of the regular season) and probably cost OSU a national championship.

IIRC, Ohio State did not go the Rose Bowl that year because the opponent was UCLA, and tOSU had already played (and defeated) UCLA earlier in the season. Whadda concept, tOSU faculty having a say in what the football team did. O, the humanity!

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

 

[dailybuck777]

From that point on, OSU's faculty was never heard from again. We're not certain that they exist.

Seems like they have gone even more downhill since then. See http://www.thecollegefix.com/post/40991/ "A class taught this spring at Ohio State University will review a parade of reasons why white heterosexual masculinity is allegedly problematic, tackling the topic from the constructs of racial issues, bullying, pop culture, societal expectations and much more, according to its syllabus."

 

[dailybuck777]

IIRC, Ohio State did not go the Rose Bowl that year because the opponent was UCLA, and tOSU had already played (and defeated) UCLA earlier in the season.

Here is what happened. Some faculty members simply thought football had gotten too big. Hayes amazingly had a measured response. https://www.si.com/vault/1961/12/11/621635/agony-instead-of-roses-in-columbus

 

[Lion8286]

Here is what happened. Some faculty members simply thought football had gotten too big. Hayes amazingly had a measured response. https://www.si.com/vault/1961/12/11/621635/agony-instead-of-roses-in-columbus

Love reading about Ohio State football history on the Penn State board.

 

[Judge Smails]

 

[Bob78]

1961 TCU. Stumbled on TCU in 1961. They tied No. 2 OSU and beat No. 1 Texas and No. 8 Kansas, yet finished 3-5 with 2 ties. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1961_TCU_Horned_Frogs_football_team What a weird record. After Texas lost, Darrell Royal commented: ""They're like a bunch of cockroaches," Royal said. "It's not what they eat and tote off, it's what they fall into and mess up that hurts."

This was the year OSU's faculty refused to let OSU play in the Rose Bowl (OSU was ranked No. 1 at the end of the regular season) and probably cost OSU a national championship.

As a college football aficionado, I enjoy these blasts about the past, even when they are occasionally about another team (even Ohio State!).

On a semi-related topic that is more in line with the types of urgent matters often discussed here... do you think Woody would have preferred Wawa or Sheetz?

 

[91Joe95]

Love reading about Ohio State football history on the Penn State board.

I thought this thread was supposed to be about TCU, but it appears to be suffering from devolution.

 

[nits74]

UCLA 1968 comes to mind.

 

[Woodpecker]

UCLA 1968 comes to mind.

Opened their season scoring 63 against the #16 team

 

[anon_is9z1n0h3zblb]

I believe back then the national champion was declared at the end of the season, not after bowl games.

I did not know that. Any idea when they changed to after bowls?

 

[BlueBand]

Here is what happened. Some faculty members simply thought football had gotten too big. Hayes amazingly had a measured response. https://www.si.com/vault/1961/12/11/621635/agony-instead-of-roses-in-columbus

Well, as we all know, the Buckeyes are all about academics.