1971 Arkansas Razorbacks football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1971
| team = Arkansas Razorbacks
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Southwest Conference
| short_conf = SWC
| CoachRank = 20
| APRank = 16
| record = 8–3–1
| conf_record = 5–1–1
| head_coach = Frank Broyles
| hc_year = 13th
| off_coach = Don Breaux
| oc_year = 2nd
| off_scheme = Multiple
| def_coach =
| dc_year =
| def_scheme =
| captain = David Hogue
| captain2 = Ronnie Jones
| captain3 = Mike Kelson
| captain4 = Kay Maybry
| captain5 = Bobby Nichols
| stadium = Razorback Stadium
War Memorial Stadium
| bowl = Liberty Bowl
| bowl_result = L 14–13 vs. Tennessee
}}
{{1971 Southwest Conference football standings}}
The 1971 Arkansas Razorbacks football team represented the University of Arkansas in the Southwest Conference (SWC) during the 1971 NCAA University Division football season. In their 14th year under head coach Frank Broyles, the Razorbacks compiled an 8–3–1 record (5–1–1 against SWC opponents), finished in second place behind Texas in the SWC, and outscored all opponents by a combined total of 356 to 169.{{cite web|title=1971 Arkansas Razorbacks Schedule and Results|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|access-date=August 3, 2015|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/arkansas/1971-schedule.html}} The team finished the season ranked No. 16 in the final AP poll and No. 20 in the final UPI Coaches Poll and went on to lose the 1971 Liberty Bowl to Tennessee by a 14–13 score.
The Razorbacks assumed the driver's seat for their first trip to the Cotton Bowl Classic since 1965 following a 31–7 rout of archrival Texas in Little Rock, but followed that by losing at home to Texas A&M and tying lowly Rice on the road, allowing the Longhorns to regain the Southwest Conference lead and go on to their fourth consecutive conference championship.
Kicker Bill McClard was an All American. McClard also averaged 6.5 points per game, the seventh best average nationally. Razorback quarterback Joe Ferguson was eighth in the nation in completions per game, with 14.5. Mike Reppond averaged 5.6 receptions per game, the fourth highest average during 1971. As an offense, Arkansas averaged 211.5 yards per game, the highest in the SWC, and eighth-highest in college football. Arkansas was seventh in total offense, with a total of 4898 yards over 11 games.
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 1971
| poll = AP
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 11
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| rank = 7
| opponent = California
| site_stadium = War Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Little Rock, AR
| score = 51–20
| attend = 54,176
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/san-angelo-standard-times-razorbacks-rac/168991275/|work=San Angelo Standard-Times|title=Razorbacks rack California, 51–20|date=September 12, 1971|accessdate=March 27, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 18
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| rank = 6
| opponent = Oklahoma State
| site_stadium = War Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Little Rock, AR
| score = 31–10
| attend = 54,176
| source = {{cite news |last=Hall |first=Howard P. |title=Kalamazoo College Annihilates Adrian |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kalamazoo-gazette/168928082/ |newspaper=The Times |location=Shreveport, Louisiana |date=September 19, 1971 |page=1D, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times/169016414/ 3D] |access-date=March 27, 2025 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-arkansas-thrott/168991427/|work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|title=Arkansas throttles Cowboys|date=September 19, 1971|accessdate=March 27, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 25
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| rank = 7
| opponent = Tulsa
| site_stadium = Razorback Stadium
| site_cityst = Fayetteville, AR
| score = 20–21
| attend = 41,742
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-commercial-appeal-tulsa-whirlwind-en/168991549/|work=The Commercial Appeal|title=Tulsa whirlwind engulfs Razorbacks' clean machine|date=September 26, 1971|accessdate=March 27, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 2
| w/l = w
| rank = 18
| opponent = TCU
| site_stadium = Razorback Stadium
| site_cityst = Fayetteville, AR
| score = 49–15
| attend = 41,100
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/tulsa-world-arkansas-takes-out-wrath-on/168991686/|work=Tulsa Daily World|title=Arkansas takes out wrath on TCU, 49–15|date=October 3, 1971|accessdate=March 27, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 9
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank = 17
| opponent = Baylor
| site_stadium = Baylor Stadium
| site_cityst = Waco, TX
| score = 35–7
| attend = 33,000
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/corpus-christi-caller-times-arkansas-bat/168991886/|work=The Corpus Christi Caller-Times|title=Arkansas batters Baylor, 35–7|date=October 10, 1971|accessdate=March 27, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 16
| w/l = w
| rank = 16
| opponent = Texas
| opprank = 10
| site_stadium = War Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Little Rock, AR
| gamename = rivalry
| tv = ABC
| score = 31–7
| attend = 54,446
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-ooooopigggsooie-porkers-3/168930021/|work=The Shreveport Times|title=Ooooo,,Piggg..Sooie! Porkers 31, Steers 7|date=October 17, 1971|accessdate=March 27, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 23
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| rank = 9
| opponent = North Texas State
| site_stadium = Razorback Stadium
| site_cityst = Fayetteville, AR
| score = 60–21
| attend = 38,135
| source = {{cite news|title=Hogs blast Eagles 60–21|newspaper=Casper Star-Tribune|date=October 24, 1971|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88110233/hogs-blast-eagles-6021/|accessdate=October 31, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 30
| w/l = l
| rank = 8
| opponent = Texas A&M
| site_stadium = Razorback Stadium
| site_cityst = Fayetteville, AR
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 9–17
| attend = 54,446
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star-texas-am-shocks-ar/168992027/|work=Lincoln Journal Star|title=Texas A&M shocks Arkansas|date=October 31, 1971|accessdate=March 27, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 6
| w/l = t
| away = y
| rank = 16
| opponent = Rice
| site_stadium = Rice Stadium
| site_cityst = Houston, TX
| score = 24–24
| attend = 32,000
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-odessa-american-hogs-escape-with-de/168992125/|work=The Odessa American|title='Hogs escape with deadlock|date=November 7, 1971|accessdate=March 27, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 13
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank = 17
| opponent = SMU
| site_stadium = Cotton Bowl
| site_cityst = Dallas, TX
| tv = ABC
| score = 18–13
| attend = 30,773
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tyler-courier-times-razorbacks-eke-o/168992259/|work=The Tyler Courier-Times-Telegraph|title=Razorbacks eke out win over SMU, 18–13|date=November 14, 1971|accessdate=March 27, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 20
| w/l = w
| rank = 17
| opponent = Texas Tech
| site_stadium = Razorback Stadium
| site_cityst = Fayetteville, AR
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 15–0
| attend = 43,000
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orange-leader-nelson-saint-pace-ark/168992439/|work=The Orange Leader|title=Nelson, Saint pace Arkansas' 15–0 win|date=November 21, 1971|accessdate=March 27, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = December 20
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| rank = 18
| opponent = Tennessee
| opprank = 9
| gamename = Liberty Bowl
| site_stadium = Memphis Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Memphis, TN
| tv = ABC
| score = 13–14
| attend = 51,410
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101327672/vols-take-liberty/|work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|title=Vols take Liberty|date=December 21, 1971|accessdate=May 7, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
}}{{cite web |author= |title=1971–72 NCAA Statistics (Arkansas) |url=https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/130581 |publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association |accessdate=March 26, 2025 }}
Liberty Bowl
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=#18 Razorbacks
|R1=0|R2=7|R3=0|R4=6
|Home=#9 Volunteers
|H1=7|H2=0|H3=0|H4=7
}}
The 1971 Liberty Bowl matched up Arkansas with Tennessee. The Volunteers took the lead first, with a two-yard run by Bill Rudder. The Hogs responded with a 36-yard TD strike from Joe Ferguson to Jim Hodge. Scoring wouldn't resume until the fourth quarter, when Razorback Bill McClard kicked 19- and 30-yard field goals. A third McClard kick was good, set up by Louis Campbell's third interception, but a penalty kept the Hogs off the board a fourth time. Arkansas fumbled at their own 36-yard line, and Tennessee's Curt Watson scored three plays later.
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryStart|VisitorName=ARK|HomeName=UT|state=collapsed}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=1
| Time=6:39
| Team=UT
| DriveLength=55
| DriveTime=
| Type=RushTD
| Runner=Bill Rudder
| yards=2
| kickresult=good
| Kicker=George Hunt
| Visitor=0
| Home=7
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=2
| Time=4:11
| Team=ARK
| DriveLength=66
| DriveTime=
| Type=RecTD
| Receiver=Jim Hodge
| yards=36
| QB=Joe Ferguson
| kickresult=good
| Kicker=Bill McClard
| Visitor=7
| Home=7
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=4
| Time=13:14
| Team=ARK
| DriveLength=52
| DriveTime=
| Type=FG
| yards=19
| Kicker=Bill McClard
| Visitor=10
| Home=7
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=4
| Time=8:51
| Team=ARK
| DriveLength=30
| DriveTime=
| Type=FG
| yards=30
| Kicker=Bill McClard
| Visitor=13
| Home=7
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=4
| Time=1:56
| Team=UT
| DriveLength=37
| DriveTime=
| Type=RushTD
| Runner=Curt Watson
| yards=17
| kickresult=good
| Kicker=George Hunt
| Visitor=13
| Home=14
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEnd|Visitor=13|Home=14}}
{{Clear}}
Roster
{{American football roster/Header
| year = 1971
| team = Arkansas Razorbacks
| teamcolors = f
| offensive_players =
{{American football roster/Player|num=11|class=Jr|first=Joe|last=Ferguson|pos=QB|link=y}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=78|class=Sr|first=Mike|last=Kelson|pos=T}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=26|class=Jr|first=Mike|last=Reppond|pos=WR}}
| defensive_players=
{{American football roster/Player|num=63|class=Sr|first=Roger|last=Harnish|pos=DT}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=89|class=Jr|first=Dave|last=Reavis|pos=DE|link=y}}
| special_teams_players=
{{American football roster/Player|num=19|class=Sr|first=Bill|last=McClard|pos=K|link=y}}
}}
{{American football roster/Footer
| head_coach = *Frank Broyles
| asst_coach =
| accessdate=
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Arkansas Razorbacks football navbox}}
Category:Arkansas Razorbacks football seasons
{{collegefootball-1971-season-stub}}