1971 Utah State Aggies football
ConferenceIndependent
Record8–3
Head coach
Home stadiumRomney Stadium
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 Utah State Aggies football team was an American football team that represented Utah State University as an independent during the 1971 NCAA University Division football season. In their fifth season under head coach Chuck Mills, the Aggies compiled an 8–3 record and outscored all opponents 243 to 183.[1][2]

The team's statistical leaders included Tony Adams with 2,035 passing yards, Ed Giles with 510 rushing yards, Bob Wicks with 862 receiving yards, Jerry Hughes with 60 points scored (six touchdowns), Alan McMurray "Madpup" (soph all american) lead team with 104 tackles, (record 19.5 sacks) and Tom Murphy with 81 total tackles.[3][4]

In December, the team traveled to Japan for two games against Japanese university students. The Aggies were the first American college football team to play a game in Japan since the sport was introduced there in the 1910s. The American players reportedly had a height advantage of twelve inches (30 cm) and a weight advantage of fifty pounds (23 kg) per player.[5]

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 11at Kansas State
W 10–730,000
September 18New Mexico State
W 34–010,378
September 25UNLV
  • Romney Stadium
  • Logan, UT
W 27–710,640
October 2at No. 1 Nebraska
L 6–4267,421
October 9BYU
W 29–717,015
October 16Memphis State
  • Romney Stadium
  • Logan, UT
W 7–65,041
October 23at San Diego State
L 20–3625,047
October 30at Colorado State
W 18–1714,294
November 6Wyoming
L 29–319,130
November 13at Utah
W 21–1716,292
November 20at Idaho
W 42–1315,100[6][7][8]
December 19vs. Japanese University East All-Star
W 50–630,000[5][9]
December 26vs. All-Japan University WestOsaka, JapanW 46–610,000[5]
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

References

  1. ^ "1971 Utah State Aggies Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  2. ^ "2018 Utah State Football Media Guide" (PDF). Utah State University. 2018. pp. 191, 195.
  3. ^ "1967 Utah State Aggies Stats". SR/College Football. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  4. ^ 2018 Media Guide, pp. 154-155.
  5. ^ a b c "Japanese No Match For Utah State". Daily Northwestern (UPI story). December 27, 1971. p. 49 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Ferguson, George (November 19, 1971). "Vandals, Aggies clash in Moscow". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). p. E2.
  7. ^ Payne, Bob (November 21, 1971). "Aggies break off Idaho win streak". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 1, sports.
  8. ^ Ferguson, George (November 22, 1971). "Great finish for Ags". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). p. D2.
  9. ^ "Aggies Gain 50-6 Victory Over Japanese All-Stars". The Daily Herald (UPI story). December 20, 1971. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
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