1971 Arkansas Razorbacks football team

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.[1][2] The team finished the season ranked #16 in the final AP Poll and #20 in the final UPI Coaches Poll and went on to lose the 1971 Liberty Bowl to Tennessee by a 14–13 score.

1971 Arkansas Razorbacks football
Liberty Bowl, L 14–13 vs. Tennessee
ConferenceSouthwest Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 20
APNo. 16
1971 record8–3–1 (5–1–1 SWC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorDon Breaux
Offensive schemeMultiple
CaptainDavid Hogue, Ronnie Jones, Mike Kelson, Kay Maybry, Bobby Nichols
Home stadiumRazorback Stadium
War Memorial Stadium
1971 Southwest Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L T  W L T
No. 18 Texas $ 6 –1 –0  8 –3 –0
No. 16 Arkansas 5 –1 –1  8 –3 –1
TCU 5 –2 –0  6 –4 –1
Texas A&M 4 –3 –0  5 –6 –0
SMU 3 –4 –0  4 –7 –0
Rice 2 –4 –1  3 –7 –1
Texas Tech 2 –5 –0  4 –7 –0
Baylor 0 –7 –0  1 –9 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

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
DateOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 11California*No. 7
W 51–2054,176
September 18Oklahoma State*No. 6
  • War Memorial Stadium
  • Little Rock, AR
W 31–1054,176
September 25Tulsa*No. 7
L 20–2141,742
October 2TCUNo. 18
  • Razorback Stadium
  • Fayetteville, AR
W 49–1541,100
October 9at BaylorNo. 17
W 35–733,000
October 16No. 10 TexasNo. 16
  • War Memorial Stadium
  • Little Rock, AR (rivalry)
ABCW 31–754,446
October 23North Texas State*No. 9
  • Razorback Stadium
  • Fayetteville, Arkansas
W 60–2138,135
October 30Texas A&MNo. 8
  • Razorback Stadium
  • Fayetteville, AR (rivalry)
L 9–1754,446
November 6at RiceNo. 16
T 24–2432,000
November 13at SMUNo. 17
ABCW 18–1330,773
November 25Texas TechNo. 17
  • Razorback Stadium
  • Fayetteville, AR (rivalry)
W 15-043,000
December 20No. 9 Tennessee*No. 18
ABCL 13–1451,410
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Roster
1971 Arkansas Razorbacks football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
QB 11 Joe Ferguson Jr
T 78 Mike Kelson Sr
WR 26 Mike Reppond Jr
 Defense
Pos.#NameClass
DT 63 Roger Harnish Sr
DE 89 Dave Reavis Jr
 Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
K 19 Bill McClard Sr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured
  • Redshirt

Liberty Bowl
1 2 3 4 Total
#18 Razorbacks 0 7 0 6 13
#9 Volunteers 7 0 0 7 14

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.

Source: Razorback Bowl History – 1971 Liberty Bowl

References
  1. "Arkansas Yearly Results (1970-1974)". College Football Data Warehouse. David DeLassus. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
  2. "1971 Arkansas Razorbacks Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
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