1971 Air Force Falcons football team

The 1971 Air Force Falcons football team represented the United States Air Force Academy in the 1971 NCAA University Division football season as an Independent. They were led by fourteenth–year head coach Ben Martin, and played their home games at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Air Force tied in scoring with their opponents 187–187 and finished with a record of 6 wins and 4 losses (6–4).

1971 Air Force Falcons football
Conference	Independent
1971 record	6–4
Head coach	Ben Martin (14th season)
Home stadium	Falcon Stadium

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
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
Xavier			–					1	–	9	–	0
Rankings from AP Poll

The previous season ended in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans on New Year's Day. This year, the Falcons began at 5–1 and were ranked 18th in the AP Poll in late October;[1] they dropped three of four, fell out of the polls, and did not play in the postseason.

This was the last season that the Navy was off of the Falcons' schedule; the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy was introduced the following year which matched the three academies annually. Previously, Air Force played Navy in even years and Army in odd years.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result
September 18	Missouri		Falcon Stadium Colorado Springs, CO	W 7–6
September 25	Wyoming		Falcon Stadium Colorado Springs, CO	W 23–19
October 2	at No. 9 Penn State		Beaver Stadium University Park, PA	L 14–16
October 9	SMU		Falcon Stadium Colorado Springs, CO	W 30–0
October 16	Army		Falcon Stadium Colorado Springs, CO (rivalry)	W 20–7
October 23	at Colorado State	No. 20	Hughes Stadium Fort Collins, CO (rivalry)	W 17–12
October 30	at No. 13 Arizona State	No. 18	Sun Devil Stadium Tempe, AZ	L 28–44
November 6	Oregon		Falcon Stadium Colorado Springs, CO	L 14–23
November 13	at Tulsa		Skelly Stadium Tulsa, OK	W 17–7
November 20	at No. 10 Colorado		Folsom Field Boulder, CO	L 17–53
Rankings from AP Poll

Source:[2]

Personnel

1971 Air Force Falcons football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class RB Brian Bream Sr C Orderia Mitchell Jr	Defense Pos. # Name Class DL Eugene Ogilvie Jr	Special teams Pos. # Name Class	Head coach Ben Martin Coordinators/assistant coaches Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt

References

1. "The Top 20". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. October 26, 1971. p. 17.
2. "1971 Air Force Falcons Schedule and Results". Sports-Reference. Retrieved November 28, 2017.