1971 Chico State Wildcats football team

The 1971 Chico State Wildcats football team represented Chico State College[note 1] during the 1971 NCAA College Division football season. Chico State competed in the Far Western Conference in 1971. They played home games at College Field in Chico, California. This was the last year the stadium was named College Field. With the school's change to University status in 1972, the stadium was renamed "University Stadium".

1971 Chico State Wildcats football
FWC co-champion
Camellia Bowl, L 28–32 vs. Boise State
Conference	Far Western Conference
1971 record	9–2 (5–1 FWC)
Head coach	Pete Riehlman (4th season)
Home stadium	College Field

1971 Far Western Conference football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 11 UPI Chico State +	5	–	1	–	0			9	–	2	–	0
UC Davis +	5	–	1	–	0			9	–	1	–	0
Cal State Hayward	3	–	2	–	1			7	–	2	–	1
Humboldt State	3	–	3	–	0			7	–	4	–	0
Sacramento State	2	–	3	–	1			4	–	5	–	1
San Francisco State	2	–	4	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Sonoma State	0	–	6	–	0			2	–	8	–	0
+ – Conference co-champions Rankings from College Division poll

The 1971 Wildcats were led by fourth-year head coach Pete Riehlman. Chico State finished the regular season as co-champion of the FWC, with a record of nine wins and one loss (9–1, 5–1 FWC). At the end of the season they were invited to play in the Camellia Bowl against Boise State. The Wildcats lost the game 28–32, giving them a final record of nine wins and two losses (9–2, 5–1 FWC). This would turn out to be the only end of season bowl game in which Chico State would participate. The Wildcats outscored their opponents 394–164 for the season.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance
September 18	Southern Oregon[note 2]*	College Field Chico, CA	W 31–9
September 25	at Redlands*	Redlands Stadium Redlands, CA	W 31–0
October 2	at US International[note 3]*	Balboa Stadium ? San Diego, CA	W 27–26
October 9	at Cal State Hayward[note 4]	Pioneer Stadium Hayward, CA	L 20–28
October 16	Sacramento State[note 5]	College Field Chico, CA	W 37–7
October 23	Humboldt State[note 6]	College Field Chico, CA	W 34–14
October 30	at UC Davis[note 7]	Toomey Field Davis, CA	W 38–20
November 6	San Francisco State[note 8]	College Field Chico, CA	W 54–7
November 13	San Francisco*	College Field Chico, CA	W 41–7
November 20	at Sonoma State[note 9]	Cossacks Stadium Rohnert Park, CA	W 53–14
December 11	at Boise State*	Hornet Stadium Sacramento, CA (Camellia Bowl)	L 28–32	16,313[1]
*Non-conference game

[2]

Team players in the NFL

The following Chico State players were selected in the 1972 NFL Draft.[3][4][5]

Player	Position	Round	Overall	NFL Team
Jewell McCullar	Linebacker	15	382	Cleveland Browns

Notes

1. California State University, Chico was known as Chico State College from 1935 to 1971.
2. Southern Oregon University was known as Southern Oregon College from 1956 to 1974.
3. Alliant International University was formed in 2001 via the merger of United States International University (USIU) and California School of Professional Psychology.
4. California State University, East Bay was known as California State College at Hayward from 1963 to 1971.
5. California State University, Sacramento was known as Sacramento State College from 1947 to 1971.
6. Humboldt State University was known as Humboldt State College from 1935 to 1972.
7. The University of California, Davis sports teams were commonly called the “Cal Aggies” from 1924 until the mid 1970s.
8. San Francisco State University was known as San Francisco State College from 1935 to 1971.
9. Sonoma State University was known as Sonoma State College from 1960 to 1977.

References

1. "2015 Boise State Football Media Guide". Boise State University Athletics. 2015. p. 157. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
2. "1971 - Cal St.-Chico". Retrieved March 4, 2017.
3. "1972 NFL Draft". Retrieved October 28, 2017.
4. "Cal State-Chico Players/Alumni". Retrieved October 28, 2017.
5. "Draft History: Chico State". Retrieved October 28, 2017.