1971 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

1971 Penn State Nittany Lions football
1971 Penn State Nittany Lions football
Eastern champion; Cotton Bowl champion
Cotton Bowl Classic, W 30–6 vs. Texas
Conference	Independent
Ranking
Coaches	No. 11
AP	No. 5
Record	11–1
Head coach	Joe Paterno (6th season);
Offensive scheme	I formation
Defensive coordinator	Jim O'Hora (6th season)
Base defense	4–3
Captains	Dave Joyner; Charlie Zapiec;
Home stadium	Beaver Stadium

1971 NCAA University Division independents football records
	Conf.			Overall
Team	W	L	T	W		L		T
No. 5		–		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
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 as an independent during the 1971 NCAA University Division football season. Led by sixth-year head coach Joe Paterno, the Nittany Lions compiled a record of 11–1 and defeated Texas in the Cotton Bowl Classic. Penn State played home games at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
September 18	2:00 p.m.	at Navy	No. 14	Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Annapolis, MD		W 56–3	26,855
September 25		at Iowa	No. 12	Iowa Stadium Iowa City, IA	ABC	W 44–14	44,303
October 2	1:30 p.m.	Air Force	No. 9	Beaver Stadium University Park, PA		W 16–14	50,459
October 9	1:30 p.m.	Army	No. 9	Beaver Stadium University Park, PA		W 42–0	49,887
October 16		at Syracuse	No. 9	Archbold Stadium Syracuse, NY (rivalry)		W 31–0	41,382
October 23		TCU	No. 7	Beaver Stadium University Park, PA		W 66–14	51,896	^[1]
October 30		at West Virginia	No. 6	Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV (rivalry)		W 35–7	37,000	^[2]
November 6		Maryland	No. 6	Beaver Stadium University Park, PA (rivalry)		W 63–27	50,144	^[3]
November 13		NC State	No. 5	Beaver Stadium University Park, PA		W 35–3	50,477	^[4]
November 20		at Pittsburgh	No. 6	Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA (rivalry)		W 55–18	39,539
December 4		at No. 12 Tennessee	No. 5	Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN	ABC	L 11–31	59,542	^[5]
January 1, 1972		vs. No. 12 Texas	No. 10	Cotton Bowl Dallas, TX (Cotton Bowl)	CBS	W 30–6	72,000	^[6]^[7]
Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

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.

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Tennessee

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

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Penn St	0	3	0	8	11
Tennessee	7	14	0	10	31

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:

Roster

1971 Penn State Nittany Lions football team roster

Players

Coaches

Offense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
RB	`26`	Ken Andrews	Jr
C	`59`	Mike Botts	Sr
C	`50`	Rick Brown	Jr
RB	`27`	Carl Cayette	Jr
WR	`48`	Glen Cole	Sr
TE	`80`	Gary Debes	So
RB	`32`	Tom Donchez	So
C	`56`	Don Gersh	Sr
OT	`77`	Charlie Getty	So
RB	`34`	Franco Harris	Sr
WR	`25`	Chuck Herd	So
QB	`16`	John Hufnagel	Jr
TE	`89`	John Hull	Sr
QB	`10`	Steve Joachim	So
OT	`70`	Dave Joyner (C)	Sr
OL		Bob Knetchel
QB	`11`	Jack Koniszewski	So
OT	`73`	Craig Lyle	Jr
RB	`23`	Lydell Mitchell	Sr
RB	`41`	Bob Nagle	So
TE, P	`86`	Bob Parsons	Sr
TE	`40`	Bob Rickenbach	Sr
G	`69`	Carl Schaukowitch	Jr
WR	`19`	Jim Scott	So
WR	`84`	Scott Skarzynski	Jr
RB		Steve Stilley

Defense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
DT	`79`	Frank Ahrenhold	Sr
DE	`93`	Jack Aumiller	Sr
DE	`83`	Bruce Bannon	Jr
DT	`57`	John Booth	Sr
DB	`22`	John Cappelletti	So
DT	`53`	Randy Crowder	So
S	`35`	Gregg Ducatte	Jr
DB	`18`	Buddy Ellis	So
LB	`30`	Gary Gray	Sr
DL	`46`	Gary Hager	So
DT	`72`	Jim Heller	Jr
LB	`49`	Tom Hull	So
DL	`47`	Jim Laslavic	Jr
DB	`20`	Chuck Mesko	Sr
LB	`89`	Ed O'Neil	So
LB	`39`	Paul Pasqualoni	Sr
DE	`81`	John Skorupan	Jr
LB	`36`	Jim Trent	Jr
LB	`60`	Charlie Zapiec (C)	Sr

Special teams

Pos.	#	Name	Class
K	`37`	Alberto Vitello	Jr

Head coach

Joe Paterno

Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend

(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible

Injured
Redshirt

Roster

NFL draft

Four Nittany Lions were selected 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

^ "Undefeated Nittany Lions wallop TCU Horned Frogs". The El Paso Times. October 24, 1971. Retrieved March 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Mitchell, Harris boost Penn State". The State. October 31, 1971. Retrieved January 23, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Mitchell scores 5 TDs, gains 209 yards". Sunday News. November 7, 1971. Retrieved January 23, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Lions roar late, down State, 35–3". The News and Observer. November 14, 1971. Retrieved January 23, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Vols flatten Lions". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. December 5, 1971. p. 1, sports.
^ "Texas Wishbone catches in throat". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). Associated Press. January 2, 1972. p. 61.
^ "Penn State scuttles Texas for 30-6 Cotton Bowl win". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. January 2, 1972. p. 1, sports.
^ "Penn State Edges Air Force on Field Goal." Palm Beach Post. 1971 Oct 3.

[1] "Undefeated Nittany Lions wallop TCU Horned Frogs". The El Paso Times. October 24, 1971. Retrieved March 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[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.

[vfltli-5] "Vols flatten Lions". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. December 5, 1971. p. 1, sports.

[twbcith-6] "Texas Wishbone catches in throat". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). Associated Press. January 2, 1972. p. 61.

[scttx-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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Penn State Nittany Lions football
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