1971 Big Ten Conference football season | |
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Sport | American football |
Number of teams | 10 |
Top draft pick | Craig Clemons |
Champion | Michigan |
Runners-up | Northwestern |
Season MVP | Eric Allen |
Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 6 Michigan $ | 8 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 11 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Northwestern | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ohio State | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Michigan State | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Illinois | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wisconsin | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 6 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Minnesota | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Purdue | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Indiana | 2 | – | 6 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 8 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Iowa | 1 | – | 8 | – | 0 | 1 | – | 10 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1971 Big Ten Conference football season was the 76th season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1971 NCAA University Division football season.
This was the first season in which Big Ten teams were permitted to schedule 11 games, one season after most schools first did so. Ohio State increased its schedule from nine games to 10, but did not play 11 until 1974, while Purdue first scheduled an 11th game in 1972.
The 1971 Michigan Wolverines football team, under head coach Bo Schembechler, compiled an 11–0 record in the regular season but lost to Stanford, 13–12, on a field goal with 12 seconds remaining in the 1972 Rose Bowl. The Wolverines led the Big Ten in both scoring offense (35.1 points per game) and scoring defense (6.9 points allowed per game). The team was ranked No. 4 in the final Coaches Poll and No. 6 in the final AP Poll. Linebacker Mike Taylor and offensive guard Reggie McKenzie were consensus first-team All-Americans. Running back Billy Taylor rushed for 1,297 yards, was named as the team most valuable player, and was selected as a first-team All-American by the Football News. Defensive back Thom Darden was selected as a first-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association and The Sporting News .
The 1971 Northwestern Wildcats football team, under head coach Alex Agase, compiled a 7–4 record and finished in second place in the Big Ten. Quarterback Maurie Daigneau led the Big Ten with 1,733 passing yards and was a consensus first-team All-Big Ten player. Defensive back Eric Hutchinson was selected as a first-team All-American by the Football Writers Association of America. The Wildcats did not finish in the first division again until winning the conference and going to the Rose Bowl in 1995.
Michigan State running back Eric Allen led the Big Ten with 1,494 rushing yards and 108 points scored and received the Chicago Tribune Silver Football as the conference's most valuable player. Purdue halfback/wide receiver Darryl Stingley led the conference with 734 receiving yards, and Minnesota quarterback Craig Curry led the conference with 2,071 total yards.
Conf. Rank | Team | Head coach | AP final | AP high | Overall record | Conf. record | PPG | PAG | MVP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Michigan | Bo Schembechler | #6 | #2 | 11–1 | 8–0 | 35.1 | 6.9 | Billy Taylor |
2 | Northwestern | Alex Agase | NR | #19 | 7–4 | 6–3 | 19.2 | 16.6 | John Voorhees |
3 (tie) | Ohio State | Woody Hayes | NR | #5 | 6–4 | 5–3 | 22.4 | 12.0 | Tom DeLeone |
3 (tie) | Michigan State | Duffy Daugherty | NR | #18 | 6–5 | 5–3 | 20.5 | 15.4 | Eric Allen |
3 (tie) | Illinois | Bob Blackman | NR | NR | 5–6 | 5–3 | 14.8 | 21.6 | Terry Masar |
6 (tie) | Wisconsin | John Jardine | NR | NR | 4–6–1 | 3–5 | 21.8 | 23.5 | Neil Graff |
6 (tie) | Minnesota | Murray Warmath | NR | NR | 4–7 | 3–5 | 19.3 | 25.3 | Tom Chandler |
6 (tie) | Purdue | Bob DeMoss | NR | #17 | 3–7 | 3–5 | 21.0 | 22.8 | Tom Luken |
9 | Indiana | John Pont | NR | NR | 3–8 | 2–6 | 13.8 | 23.6 | Chuck Thomson |
10 | Iowa | Frank Lauterbur | NR | NR | 1–10 | 1–8 | 11.0 | 34.5 | Craig Clemons |
Key
AP final = Team's rank in the final AP Poll of the 1971 season [1]
AP high = Team's highest rank in the AP Poll throughout the 1971 season [1]
PPG = Average of points scored per game; conference leader's average displayed in bold [1]
PAG = Average of points allowed per game; conference leader's average displayed in bold [1]
MVP = Most valuable player as voted by players on each team as part of the voting process to determine the winner of the Chicago Tribune Silver Football trophy; trophy winner in bold [2]
On September 11, 1971, the Big Ten football teams opened the season with four conference games and one non-conference game. Purdue did not open its season until the following week.
On September 18, 1971, the Big Ten teams participated in nine non-conference games, resulting in three wins and six losses. Ohio State had a bye week.
On September 25, 1971, the Big Ten teams played 10 non-conference games, resulting in three wins and seven losses. Through the first three weeks of the season, the Big Ten had compiled a 7–13 record against non-conference opponents.
On October 2, 1971, the Big Ten teams played two conference games and six non-conference games. The non-conference games resulted in three wins and three losses, giving the Big Ten a 10–16 non-conference record to that point in the season.
On October 9, 1971, the Big Ten teams played five conference games.
On October 16, 1971, the Big Ten teams played five conference games.
On October 23, 1971, the Big Ten teams played five conference games.
On October 30, 1971, the Big Ten teams played five conference games.
On November 6, 1971, the Big Ten teams played five conference games.
On November 13, 1971, the Big Ten teams played five conference games.
On November 20, 1971, the Big Ten teams played five conference games.
The game was the first Rose Bowl meeting between the two schools since the inaugural Rose Bowl in 1902, in which Michigan crushed Stanford, 49–0. In the 1972 rematch, Michigan was ranked #3 in the country and favored by 10½ points. Michigan's Dana Coin kicked a 30-yard field goal in the second quarter for the only first half scoring. In the first series of the second half, Stanford stopped the Wolverines on fourth and one at Stanford's four-yard line, then tied the game on a 42-yard field goal by Rod Garcia. Early in the fourth quarter, Michigan's Fritz Seyferth scored on a one-yard dive to put Michigan up 10–3. After Stanford got the ball back, the Indians faced fourth and ten from their own 33. Stanford ran a fake punt, with Jim Kehl receiving the snap and handing the ball forward to Jackie Brown through Brown's legs. Brown ran 33 yards for a first down, and followed up a minute later with a 24-yard touchdown run to tie the game. Late in the fourth quarter, Michigan recovered a Stanford fumble near midfield. Facing fourth down with time running down, the Wolverines attempted a 42-yard field goal. The kick was short, and Stanford safety Jim Ferguson caught the ball and attempted to run it out of the end zone. Instead, he was knocked back into the end zone by Ed Shuttlesworth for a controversial Michigan safety, as replays seemed to show that Ferguson's forward progress was to the three-yard line. This made the score 12–10 with just over three minutes to play, and Michigan due to get the ball on a free kick. Following the free kick, Stanford held Michigan to a three-and-out and got the ball back on their own 22-yard line with 1:48 to go. Bunce then threw five consecutive completions to take Stanford to the Michigan 17-yard line with 22 seconds left. The Indians ran twice to get to the Michigan 14-yard line with 12 seconds left. From there, Garcia kicked a 31-yard field goal to give Stanford a 13–12 victory. [28]
1. Maurie Daigneau, Northwestern (1,733)
2. Craig Curry, Minnesota (1,691)
3. Gary Danielson, Purdue (1,467)
4. Neil Graff, Wisconsin (1,300)
5. Frank Sunderman, Iowa (1,297) [1]
1. Eric Allen, Michigan State (1,494)
2. Billy Taylor, Michigan (1,297)
3. Rufus Ferguson, Wisconsin (1,222)
4. Otis Armstrong, Purdue (945)
5. Al Robinson, Northwestern (881)
5. Ernie Cook, Minnesota (881) [1]
1. Darryl Stingley, Purdue (734)
2. Barry Pearson, Northwestern (674)
3. Albert Hannah, Wisconsin (608)
4. Rick Sayers, Purdue (573)
5. Jim Lash, Northwestern (523)
1. Craig Curry, Minnesota (2,071)
2. Maurie Daigneau, Northwestern (1,678)
3. Gary Danielson, Purdue (1,494)
3. Eric Allen, Michigan State (1,494)
5. Neil Graff, Wisconsin (1,486) [1]
1. Eric Allen, Michigan State (108)
2. Billy Taylor, Michigan (78)
2. Rufus Ferguson, Wisconsin (78)
4. Randy Anderson, Northwestern (60)
4. Otis Armstrong, Purdue (60) [1]
The following players were picked by the Associated Press (AP) and/or the United Press International (UPI) as first-team players on the 1971 All-Big Ten Conference football team. [29] [30] [31]
Offense
Position | Name | Team | Selectors |
---|---|---|---|
Quarterback | Maurie Daigneau | Northwestern | AP, UPI |
Running back | Eric Allen | Michigan State | AP, UPI |
Running back | Rufus Ferguson | Wisconsin | AP, UPI |
Running back | Billy Taylor | Michigan | AP, UPI |
Offensive end | Doug Kingsriter | Illinois | AP, UPI [tight end] |
Offensive end | Barry Pearson | Northwestern | AP, UPI [wide receiver] |
Offensive tackle | Tom Luken | Purdue | AP, UPI |
Offensive tackle | Tom McCreight | Northwestern | AP |
Offensive tackle | Rick Simon | Ohio State | UPI |
Offensive guard | Joe DeLamielleure | Michigan State | AP, UPI |
Offensive guard | Reggie McKenzie | Michigan | AP, UPI |
Center | Tom DeLeone | Ohio State | AP, UPI |
Defense
Position | Name | Team | Selectors |
---|---|---|---|
Defensive end | Tab Bennett | Illinois | AP, UPI |
Defensive end | Mike Keller | Michigan | AP |
Defensive end | Gary Hrivnak | Purdue | UPI |
Defensive tackle | Ron Curl | Michigan State | AP, UPI |
Defensive tackle | George Hasenhorhl | Ohio State | AP, UPI |
Defensive guard | Greg Bingham | Purdue | UPI |
Linebacker | Mike Taylor | Michigan | AP, UPI |
Linebacker | Bill Light | Minnesota | AP |
Linebacker | Stan White | Ohio State | AP |
Linebacker | Randy Gradishar | Ohio State | UPI |
Defensive back | Thom Darden | Michigan | AP, UPI |
Defensive back | Eric Hutchinson | Northwestern | AP, UPI |
Defensive back | Brad Van Pelt | Michigan State | AP, UPI |
Defensive back | Craig Clemons | Iowa | UPI |
At the end of the 1971 season, Big Ten players secured two of the consensus first-team picks for the 1971 College Football All-America Team. [32] The Big Ten's consensus All-Americans were:
Position | Name | Team | Selectors |
---|---|---|---|
Linebacker | Mike Taylor | Michigan | AFCA, AP, FWAA, NEA, UPI, FN, Time, TSN, WCFF |
Offensive guard | Reggie McKenzie | Michigan | AP, FWAA, NEA, UPI, FN, Time, TSN, WCFF |
Other Big Ten players who were named first-team All-Americans by at least one selector were:
Position | Name | Team | Selectors |
---|---|---|---|
Tight end | Doug Kingsriter | Minnesota | AP |
Center | Tom DeLeone | Ohio State | NEA, UPI, FN, Time, TSN |
Running back | Eric Allen | Michigan State | AFCA |
Running back | Billy Taylor | Michigan | FN |
Middle guard | Ron Curl | Michigan State | AFCA |
Defensive back | Brad Van Pelt | Michigan State | UPI, FN |
Defensive back | Thom Darden | Michigan | AFCA, TSN |
Defensive back | Eric Hutchinson | Northwestern | FWAA |
Defensive back | Craig Clemons | Iowa | NEA, TSN) |
Running back Eric Allen of Michigan State finished 10th in the voting for the 1971 Heisman Trophy. [33]
The following Big Ten players were among the first 100 picks in the 1972 NFL draft: [34]
Name | Position | Team | Round | Overall pick |
---|---|---|---|---|
Craig Clemons | Safety | Iowa | 1 | 12 |
Thom Darden | Cornerback | Michigan | 1 | 18 |
Mike Taylor | Linebacker | Michigan | 1 | 20 |
Reggie McKenzie | Guard | Michigan | 2 | 27 |
Glenn Doughty | Wide receiver | Michigan | 2 | 47 |
Tom Beckman | Defensive end | Michigan | 3 | 57 |
Bart Buetow | Tackle | Minnesota | 3 | 59 |
Mike Keller | Linebacker | Michigan | 3 | 64 |
Tom Luken | Guard | Purdue | 3 | 68 |
The 1980 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Minnesota in the 1980 Big Ten Conference football season. In their second year under head coach Joe Salem, the Golden Gophers finished in fifth place in the Big Ten Conference, compiled a 5–6 record, and were outscored by their opponents by a combined total of 250 to 210.
The 1956 Michigan State Spartans football team was an American football team that represented Michigan State University in the 1956 Big Ten Conference football season. In their third season under head coach Duffy Daugherty, the Spartans compiled a 7–2 overall record and were ranked No. 9 in the final AP Poll and No. 10 in the final Coaches Poll.
The 1980 Northwestern Wildcats team was an American football team that represented Northwestern University during the 1980 Big Ten Conference football season. In their third year under head coach Rick Venturi, the Wildcats finished in last place in the Big Ten Conference, compiled a 0–11 record, and were outscored by their opponents by a combined total of 444 to 151. The team played its home games at Dyche Stadium in Evanston, Illinois.
The 1964 Big Ten Conference football season was the 69th season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1964 NCAA University Division football season.
The 1980 Big Ten Conference football season was the 85th season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season.
The 1948 Big Nine Conference football season was the 53rd season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Nine Conference and was a part of the 1948 college football season.
The 1938 Big Ten Conference football season was the 43rd season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1938 college football season.
The 1939 Big Ten Conference football season was the 44th season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1939 college football season.
The 1949 Big Nine Conference football season was the 54th season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Nine Conference and was a part of the 1949 college football season.
The 1950 Big Ten Conference football season was the 55th season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1950 college football season.
The 1956 Big Ten Conference football season was the 61st season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1956 college football season.
The 1968 Big Ten Conference football season was the 73rd season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1968 NCAA University Division football season.
The 1955 Big Ten Conference football season was the 60th season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1955 college football season.
The 1972 Big Ten Conference football season was the 77th season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1972 NCAA University Division football season.
The 1974 Big Ten Conference football season was the 79th season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1974 NCAA Division I football season.
The 1975 Big Ten Conference football season was the 80th season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1975 NCAA Division I football season.
The 1976 Big Ten Conference football season was the 81st season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1976 NCAA Division I football season.
The 1977 Big Ten Conference football season was the 82nd season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1977 NCAA Division I football season.
The 1978 Big Ten Conference football season was the 83rd season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1978 NCAA Division I-A football season.
The 1984 Big Ten Conference football season was the 89th season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1984 NCAA Division I-A football season.