1971 Penn State Nittany Lions football
Eastern champion
Cotton Bowl champion
ConferenceIndependent
Ranking
CoachesNo. 11
APNo. 5
Record11–1
Head coach
Captains
Home stadiumBeaver Stadium
(Capacity: 48,284)
Seasons
← 1970
1972 →
1971 NCAA University Division independents football records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   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.[1] The team was coached by Joe Paterno and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.

Schedule

DateOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 18at NavyNo. 14
W 56–326,855
September 25at IowaNo. 12
ABCW 44–1444,303
October 2Air ForceNo. 9
W 16–1450,459
October 9ArmyNo. 9
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA
W 42–049,887
October 16at SyracuseNo. 9
W 31–041,382
October 23TCUdaggerNo. 7
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA
W 66–1451,896
October 30at West VirginiaNo. 6
W 35–737,000[2]
November 6MarylandNo. 6
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA (rivalry)
W 63–2750,144[3]
November 13NC StateNo. 5
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA
W 35–350,477[4]
November 20at PittsburghNo. 6
W 55–1839,539
December 4at No. 12 TennesseeNo. 5
ABCL 11–3159,542[5]
January 1, 1972vs. No. 12 TexasNo. 10
CBSW 30–672,000[6][7]
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Roster

1971 Penn State Nittany Lions football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
RB Ken Andrews
OL Mike Botts
C 50 Rick Brown Jr
RB Carl Cayette
WR Glen Cole
WR Gary Debes
RB Tom Donchez
OL Don Gersh
OT 77 Charlie Getty So
RB 34 Franco Harris Sr
WR Chuck Herd So
QB 16 John Hufnagel Jr
TE John Hull
QB Steve Joachim
OL Dave Joyner (C)
OL Bob Knetchel
QB Jack Koniszewski
OL Craig Lyle
RB 23 Lydell Mitchell Sr
RB Bob Nagle
TE, P 86 Bob Parsons Sr
TE 40 Bob Rickenbach Sr
G 69 Carl Schaukowitch Jr
WR Jim Scott
WR Scott Skarzynski
RB Steve Stilley
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
DL Frank Ahrenhold
DL Jack Aumiller
DE 83 Bruce Bannon Jr
DL John Booth
DB 22 John Cappelletti So
DT 53 Randy Crowder So
DB Gregg Ducatte
DB Buddy Ellis
LB Gary Gray
DL Gary Hager
DL Jim Heller
LB Tom Hull
DL 47 Jim Laslavic Jr
DB Chuck Mesko
LB 89 Ed O'Neil So
LB Paul Pasqualoni
DE 81 John Skorupan Jr
LB Jim Trent
LB 60 Charlie Zapiec (C) Sr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
K Alberto Vitello
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt 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.

[8]

Tennessee

See also: 1971 Tennessee Volunteers football team
#5 Penn State Nittany Lions (10–0) at #12 Tennessee Volunteers (8–2)
Period 1 2 34Total
Penn St 0 3 0811
Tennessee 7 14 01031

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 drafted in the 1972 NFL Draft.

Round Pick Overall Name Position Team
1st 13 13 Franco Harris Running back Pittsburgh Steelers
2nd 22 48 Lydell Mitchell Running back Baltimore Colts
4th 15 93 Charles Zapiec Linebacker Dallas Cowboys
5th 13 117 Bob Parsons Punter Chicago Bears

References

  1. ^ "Penn State Yearly Results (1970-1974)". College Football Data Warehouse. David DeLassus. Archived from the original on August 5, 2015. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  2. ^ "Mitchell, Harris boost Penn State". The State. October 31, 1971. Retrieved January 23, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Mitchell scores 5 TDs, gains 209 yards". Sunday News. November 7, 1971. Retrieved January 23, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Lions roar late, down State, 35–3". The News and Observer. November 14, 1971. Retrieved January 23, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Vols flatten Lions". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. December 5, 1971. p. 1, sports.
  6. ^ "Texas Wishbone catches in throat". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). Associated Press. January 2, 1972. p. 61.
  7. ^ "Penn State scuttles Texas for 30-6 Cotton Bowl win". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. January 2, 1972. p. 1, sports.
  8. ^ "Penn State Edges Air Force on Field Goal." Palm Beach Post. 1971 Oct 3.


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