1971 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

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1971 Penn State Nittany Lions football
Eastern champion
Cotton Bowl champion
Cotton Bowl Classic, W 30–6 vs. Texas
ConferenceIndependent
Ranking
CoachesNo. 11
APNo. 5
Record11–1
Head coach
Offensive scheme I formation
Defensive coordinator Jim O'Hora (6th season)
Base defense 4–3
Captains
Home stadium Beaver Stadium
Seasons
←  1970
1972  →
1971 NCAA University Division independents football records
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 5 Penn State  – 11 –1 –0
Boston College  – 9 –2 –0
No. 17 Houston  – 9 –3 –0
No. 13 Notre Dame  – 8 –2 –0
Utah State  – 8 –3 –0
Florida State  – 8 –4 –0
Cincinnati  – 7 –4 –0
West Virginia  – 7 –4 –0
Temple  – 6 –2 –1
Air Force  – 6 –4 –0
Army  – 6 –4 –0
Colgate  – 6 –4 –0
Villanova  – 6 –4 –1
South Carolina  – 6 –5 –0
Southern Miss  – 6 –5 –0
Georgia Tech  – 6 –6 –0
New Mexico State  – 5 –5 –1
Northern Illinois  – 5 –5 –1
Syracuse  – 5 –5 –1
Dayton  – 5 –6 –0
Holy Cross  – 4 –6 –0
Miami (FL)  – 4 –7 –0
Rutgers  – 4 –7 –0
Virginia Tech  – 4 –7 –0
Navy  – 3 –8 –0
Pittsburgh  – 3 –8 –0
Tulane  – 3 –8 –0
Marshall  – 2 –8 –0
Xavier  – 1 –9 –0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1971 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 1971 NCAA University Division football season. The team was coached by Joe Paterno and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.

Contents

Schedule

DateOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 18at Navy No. 14
W 56–326,855
September 25at Iowa No. 12
 ABC W 44–1444,303
October 2 Air Force No. 9
W 16–1450,459
October 9 Army No. 9
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA
W 42–049,887
October 16at Syracuse No. 9
W 31–041,382
October 23 TCU Dagger-14-plain.pngNo. 7
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA
W 66–1451,896
October 30at West Virginia No. 6
W 35–737,000 [1]
November 6 Maryland No. 6
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA (rivalry)
W 63–2750,144 [2]
November 13 NC State No. 5
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA
W 35–350,477 [3]
November 20at Pittsburgh No. 6
W 55–1839,539
December 4at No. 12 Tennessee No. 5
ABCL 11–3159,542 [4]
January 1, 1972vs. No. 12 Texas No. 10
 CBS W 30–672,000 [5] [6]
  • Dagger-14-plain.pngHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Roster

1971 Penn State Nittany Lions football team roster
PlayersCoaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
RB 26Ken AndrewsJr
C 59Mike BottsSr
C 50Rick BrownJr
RB 27Carl CayetteJr
WR 48Glen ColeSr
TE 80Gary DebesSo
RB 32 Tom Donchez So
C 56Don GershSr
OT 77 Charlie Getty So
RB 34 Franco Harris Sr
WR 25Chuck HerdSo
QB 16 John Hufnagel Jr
TE 89John HullSr
QB 10 Steve Joachim So
OT 70Dave Joyner (C)Sr
OL Bob Knetchel
QB 11Jack KoniszewskiSo
OT 73Craig LyleJr
RB 23 Lydell Mitchell Sr
RB 41Bob NagleSo
TE, P 86 Bob Parsons Sr
TE 40 Bob Rickenbach Sr
G 69 Carl Schaukowitch Jr
WR 19Jim ScottSo
WR 84Scott SkarzynskiJr
RB Steve Stilley
Defense
Pos.#NameClass
DT 79Frank AhrenholdSr
DE 93Jack AumillerSr
DE 83 Bruce Bannon Jr
DT 57John BoothSr
DB 22 John Cappelletti So
DT 53 Randy Crowder So
S 35Gregg DucatteJr
DB 18Buddy EllisSo
LB 30Gary GraySr
DL 46Gary HagerSo
DT 72Jim HellerJr
LB 49 Tom Hull So
DL 47 Jim Laslavic Jr
DB 20Chuck MeskoSr
LB 89 Ed O'Neil So
LB 39 Paul Pasqualoni Sr
DE 81 John Skorupan Jr
LB 36Jim TrentJr
LB 60 Charlie Zapiec  (C)Sr
Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
K 37Alberto VitelloJr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injury icon 2.svg Injured
  • Redshirt.svg Redshirt

Roster

Game summaries

Air Force

Alberto Vitiello, a 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) junior college transfer, kicked a 22-yard field goal with four minutes to help Penn State escape with a 16–14 victory over Air Force.

[7]

Tennessee

#5 Penn State Nittany Lions (10–0) at #12 Tennessee Volunteers (8–2)
Quarter1234Total
Penn St 030811
Tennessee 71401031

at Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, Tennessee

  • Date: December 4, 1971
  • Game attendance: 54,529
  • TV: ABC
  • Ocala Star-Banner, 1971 Dec 05.
Game information
First quarter
  • TENN – Conrad Graham 76-yard fumble return (George Hunt kick). Tennessee 7–0.

Second quarter

  • PSU – Alberto Vitello 27-yard field goal. Tennessee 7–3. Drive:
  • TENN – Bill Rudder 1-yard run (George Hunt kick). Tennessee 14–3. Drive: 5 plays, 15 yards.
  • TENN – Bobby Majors 44-yard punt return (George Hunt kick). Tennessee 21–3.

Fourth quarter

  • TENN – George Hunt 21-yard field goal. Tennessee 24–3. Drive:
  • TENN – Jackie Walker 43-yard interception return (George Hunt kick). Tennessee 31–3.
  • PSU – Lydell Mitchell 14-yard pass from John Hufnagel (run good). Tennessee 31–11. Drive:

NFL draft

Four Nittany Lions were selected in the 1972 NFL draft.

RoundPickOverallNamePositionTeam
1st1313 Franco Harris Running back Pittsburgh Steelers
2nd2248 Lydell Mitchell Running back Baltimore Colts
4th1593 Charles Zapiec Linebacker Dallas Cowboys
5th13117 Bob Parsons Punter Chicago Bears

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References

  1. ↑ "Mitchell, Harris boost Penn State". The State. October 31, 1971. Retrieved January 23, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  2. ↑ "Mitchell scores 5 TDs, gains 209 yards". Sunday News. November 7, 1971. Retrieved January 23, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "Lions roar late, down State, 35–3". The News and Observer. November 14, 1971. Retrieved January 23, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Vols flatten Lions". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. December 5, 1971. p. 1, sports.
  5. ↑ "Texas Wishbone catches in throat". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). Associated Press. January 2, 1972. p. 61.
  6. ↑ "Penn State scuttles Texas for 30-6 Cotton Bowl win". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. January 2, 1972. p. 1, sports.
  7. ↑ "Penn State Edges Air Force on Field Goal." Palm Beach Post. 1971 Oct 3.


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