1971 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team

The 1971 Western Kentucky football team represented Western Kentucky University during the 1971 NCAA College Division football season. The team was led by coach Jimmy Feix and won their second consecutive Ohio Valley Conference championship and the school's fourth overall.[1] The coaching staff included future NFL coach Romeo Crennel. The Hilltoppers’ rankings in the final polls were UPI 12[2] and AP 6,[3] and finished ranked 1st in Pass Defense in NCAA Division II. The team roster included future NFL players Virgil Livers, John Bushong, Clarence “Jazz” Jackson, and Mike McCoy. Jim Barber was named to the Universal Sports All-American team.[4] The All OVC team included Barber, Terry Kokinda, Bob Morehead, Leo Peckenpaugh, Bill Sykes, and Terry Thompson.[5]

1971 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football
OVC champion
ConferenceOhio Valley Conference
Ranking
APNo. 6
Record8–2 (6–1 OVC)
Head coach
Home stadiumL. T. Smith Stadium
1971 Ohio Valley Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 6 AP / No. 12 UPI Western Kentucky $ 6 –1 –08 –2 –0
Tennessee Tech 5 –2 –08 –2 –0
Middle Tennessee 5 –2 –07 –4 –0
Morehead State 4 –3 –07 –3 –0
Murray State 3 –3 –15 –4 –1
Eastern Kentucky 3 –4 –05 –6 –0
Austin Peay 1 –6 –02 –8 –0
East Tennessee State 0 –6 –10 –9 –1
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from College Division poll

Schedule
DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendance
September 18Wittenberg*No. 15 UPI
W 33–717,042
September 25at Austin PeayNo. 6
W 46–74,990
October 2East Tennessee StateNo. 4
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
W 36-716,276
October 9at No. 6 Eastern Michigan*No. 5
L 14–1712,200
October 16Tennessee TechdaggerNo. 10
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
W 15–719,926
October 23at No. 12 UPI Eastern KentuckyNo. 10 UPI
W 16–724,500
October 30Morehead StateNo. 9
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
W 34–1115,762
November 6at Middle TennesseeNo. 6
L 13–276,500
November 13at Butler*No. 7
W 31–07,450
November 20Murray StateNo. 6
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY (rivalry)
W 24–1016,327
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[6]

References
  1. Ruby, Earl (1979). Red Towel Territory: A History Of Athletics At Western Kentucky University. American National Bank and Trust Co. ASIN B00ILIOPAO.
  2. "Delaware Tops Final Poll". The Terre Haute Star. Terre Haute, Indiana. November 26, 1971. p. 27. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.open access
  3. "Delaware is first". The Courier-News. Bridgewater, New Jersey. November 24, 1971. p. 41. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.open access
  4. WKU Football Media Guide retrieved 31 March 2020.
  5. 2017 OVC Football Media Guide, retrieved 30 April 2020
  6. "Final 1971 Cumulative Football Statistics Report". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 17, 2022.


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