1971 Eastern Michigan Hurons football
ConferenceIndependent
Record7–1–2
Head coach
CaptainDave Pureifory
Home stadiumRynearson Stadium
Seasons
← 1970
1972 →
1971 NCAA College Division independents football records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 1 Delaware   –   10 – 1 – 0
No. 5 Tennessee State   –   9 – 1 – 0
No. 2 McNeese State   –   9 – 1 – 1
Colorado College   –   7 – 1 – 0
No. 8 Akron   –   8 – 2 – 0
Samford   –   8 – 2 – 0
No. 3 Eastern Michigan   –   7 – 1 – 2
Arkansas AM&N   –   7 – 2 – 0
Indiana (PA)   –   7 – 2 – 0
Kentucky State   –   8 – 3 – 0
Appalachian State   –   7 – 3 – 1
Northern Michigan   –   7 – 3 – 0
Hawaii   –   7 – 4 – 0
Ashland   –   6 – 4 – 0
Santa Clara   –   6 – 4 – 0
Southern Illinois   –   6 – 4 – 0
Tampa   –   6 – 5 – 0
UNLV   –   5 – 4 – 1
Bucknell   –   5 – 5 – 0
Central Michigan   –   5 – 5 – 0
Milwaukee   –   5 – 5 – 0
Nevada   –   5 – 5 – 0
St. Norbert   –   5 – 5 – 0
Wayne State (MI)   –   4 – 4 – 0
Hofstra   –   5 – 6 – 0
Cortland   –   4 – 5 – 0
Northeastern   –   4 – 5 – 0
Portland State   –   4 – 5 – 0
Chicago   –   3 – 4 – 0
Northeast Louisiana   –   4 – 6 – 1
Eastern Illinois   –   4 – 6 – 0
Indiana State   –   4 – 6 – 0
Saint Mary's   –   3 – 5 – 0
Rose-Hulman   –   3 – 6 – 0
Boston University   –   3 – 7 – 0
Drexel   –   2 – 6 – 0
Chattanooga   –   2 – 9 – 0
Rankings from AP small college poll

The 1971 Eastern Michigan Hurons football team represented Eastern Michigan University as an independent during the 1971 NCAA College Division football season. In their fifth season under head coach Dan Boisture, the Hurons compiled a 7–1–2 record and outscored their opponents, 228 to 85. Dave Pureifory was the team captain.[1] The Hurons were undefeated in the regular season, were ranked No. 3 in the NCAA College Division, allowed only one touchdown in the last five games, and advanced to the College Division quarterfinals. In the first bowl game in the program's 79-year existence, the Hurons lost to Louisiana Tech in the inaugural Pioneer Bowl in Wichita Falls, Texas, by a score of 14 to 3. Houston Booth was the team's starting quarterback.[2][3][4]

Schedule

DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 11Wisconsin–Oshkosh
W 50–0
September 18Quantico Marines
  • Rynearson Stadium
  • Ypsilanti, MI
W 28–20
October 2at Idaho StateNo. 8
W 23–22
October 9 No. 5 Western KentuckyNo. 6
  • Rynearson Stadium
  • Ypsilanti, MI
W 17–1412,200[5]
October 16Eastern KentuckydaggerNo. 2
  • Rynearson Stadium
  • Ypsilanti, MI
T 0–0
October 23at MilwaukeeNo. 3Milwaukee, WIW 31–0
October 30Northern MichiganNo. 4
  • Rynearson Stadium
  • Ypsilanti, MI
W 31–3
November 6at Northeast LouisianaNo. 2
T 10–10[6]
November 13South Dakota StateNo. 3
  • Rynearson Stadium
  • Ypsilanti, MI
W 35–2
December 11vs. No. 4 Louisiana TechNo. 3
L 3–148,156[7]
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

After the season

The following Hurons were selected in the 1972 NFL Draft after the season.[8]

Round Pick Player Position NFL club
6 142 Dave Pureifory Linebacker Green Bay Packers
7 170 Will Foster Linebacker Philadelphia Eagles
8 196 Larry Ratcliff Running back Philadelphia Eagles
13 325 Sam Elmore Defensive back New England Patriots

References

  1. ^ "2015 Eastern Michigan Football Digital Media Guide" (PDF). Eastern Michigan University Football. pp. 164, 170. Retrieved July 4, 2016.
  2. ^ Hal Schram (December 12, 1971). "Hurons Are Beaten In Bowl Debut, 14-3". Detroit Free Press. p. 1D, 7D.
  3. ^ Joe Falls (December 9, 1971). "Hurons' Dreams Finally Realized". Detroit Free Press. p. 1D.
  4. ^ "Pioneer Bowl:East. Michigan vs. Louisiana Tech" (PDF). NCAA News. December 1, 1971. p. 5. Retrieved April 23, 2010.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ "Final 1971 Cumulative Football Statistics Report". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
  6. ^ "Hurons tied". Detroit Free Press. November 7, 1971. p. D1. Retrieved January 26, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Hurons are beaten in bowl debut, 14–3". Detroit Free Press. December 12, 1971. Retrieved June 28, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "1972 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 7, 2024.


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