The 1971 Western Kentucky football team represented Western Kentucky University during the 1971 NCAA College Division football season. The team was led by coach Jimmy Feix and won their second consecutive Ohio Valley Conference championship and the school's fourth overall.[1] The coaching staff included future NFL coach Romeo Crennel. The Hilltoppers’ rankings in the final polls were UPI 12[2] and AP 6,[3] and finished ranked 1st in Pass Defense in NCAA Division II. The team roster included future NFL players Virgil Livers, John Bushong, Clarence “Jazz” Jackson, and Mike McCoy. Jim Barber was named to the Universal Sports All-American team.[4] The All OVC team included Barber, Terry Kokinda, Bob Morehead, Leo Peckenpaugh, Bill Sykes, and Terry Thompson.[5]
| 1971 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football | |
|---|---|
OVC champion | |
| Conference | Ohio Valley Conference |
| Ranking | |
| AP | No. 6 |
| Record | 8–2 (6–1 OVC) |
| Head coach |
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| Home stadium | L. T. Smith Stadium |
| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 6/12 Western Kentucky $ | 6 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 8 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tennessee Tech | 5 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 8 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Middle Tennessee | 5 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Morehead State | 4 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Murray State | 3 | – | 3 | – | 1 | 5 | – | 4 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern Kentucky | 3 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Austin Peay | 1 | – | 6 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 8 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| East Tennessee State | 0 | – | 6 | – | 1 | 0 | – | 9 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Schedule edit
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 18 | Wittenberg* | No. 15 UPI | W 33–7 | 17,042 | |
| September 25 | at Austin Peay | No. 6 | W 46–7 | 4,990 | |
| October 2 | East Tennessee State | No. 4 |
| W 36–7 | 16,276 |
| October 9 | at No. 6 Eastern Michigan* | No. 5 | L 14–17 | 12,200 | |
| October 16 | Tennessee Tech | No. 10 |
| W 15–7 | 19,926 |
| October 23 | at No. 12 UPI Eastern Kentucky | No. 10 UPI | W 16–7 | 24,500 | |
| October 30 | Morehead State | No. 9 |
| W 34–11 | 15,762 |
| November 6 | at Middle Tennessee | No. 6 | L 13–27 | 6,500 | |
| November 13 | at Butler* | No. 7 | W 31–0 | 7,450 | |
| November 20 | Murray State | No. 6 |
| W 24–10 | 16,327 |
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References edit
- ^ Ruby, Earl (1979). Red Towel Territory: A History Of Athletics At Western Kentucky University. American National Bank and Trust Co. ASIN B00ILIOPAO.
- ^ "Delaware Tops Final Poll". The Terre Haute Star. Terre Haute, Indiana. November 26, 1971. p. 27. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Delaware is first". The Courier-News. Bridgewater, New Jersey. November 24, 1971. p. 41. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ WKU Football Media Guide retrieved 31 March 2020.
- ^ 2017 OVC Football Media Guide, retrieved 30 April 2020
- ^ "Final 1971 Cumulative Football Statistics Report". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
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