1971 Colgate Red Raiders football team

The 1971 Colgate Red Raiders football team was an American football team that represented Colgate University as an independent during the 1971 NCAA University Division football season. In its fourth season under head coach Neil Wheelwright, the team compiled a 6–4 record. For the first time since the 1944 season, the team named two players as captains, Thomas Doyle and Steve Morgan.[1]

1971 Colgate Red Raiders football
Conference	Independent
1971 record	6–4
Head coach	Neil Wheelwright (4th season)
Captains	Thomas Doyle Steve Morgan
Home stadium	Andy Kerr 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 team played its home games at Andy Kerr Stadium in Hamilton, New York.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 18	Boston University	Andy Kerr Stadium Hamilton, NY	W 27–21	6,000	[2]
September 25	at Cornell	Schoellkopf Field Ithaca, NY (rivalry)	L 20–38	16,500	[3]
October 2	at Yale	Yale Bowl New Haven, CT	W 26–14	16,383	[4]
October 9	at Holy Cross	Fitton Field Worcester, MA	L 14–28	15,000	[5]
October 16	at Princeton	Palmer Stadium Princeton, NJ	L 12–35	14,000	[6]
October 23	Brown	Andy Kerr Stadium Hamilton, NY	W 42–32	7,000	[7]
October 30	at Lehigh	Taylor Stadium Bethlehem, PA	W 30–21	10,800	[8]
November 6	Bucknell	Andy Kerr Stadium Hamilton, NY	W 47–24	5,000	[9]
November 13	at Lafayette	Fisher Field Easton, PA	W 51–14	7,500	[10]
November 20	at Rutgers	Rutgers Stadium Piscataway, NJ	L 0–14		[11]

Leading players

Two trophies were awarded to the Red Raiders' most valuable players in 1971:[12]

• Brian Houseal, guard, received the Andy Kerr Trophy, awarded to the most valuable offensive player.
• Mike Harlow, defensive tackle, received the Hal W. Lahar Trophy, awarded to the most valuable defensive player.

Statistical leaders for the 1971 Red Raiders included:[13]

• Rushing: Mark van Eeghen, 846 yards and 11 touchdowns on 160 attempts
• Passing: Tom Parr, 720 yards, 41 completions and 6 touchdowns on 113 attempts
• Receiving: Steve Fraser, 381 yards and 3 touchdowns on 18 receptions
• Total offense: Tom Parr, 1,387 yards (720 passing, 667 rushing)
• Scoring: Two players with 66 points: Mark van Eeghen (11 touchdowns) and Tom Parr (11 touchdowns)
• All-purpose yards: Mark van Eeghen, 1,128 yards (846 rushing, 282 kickoff returning)

References

1. "Colgate Athletic History: Football" (PDF). Hamilton, N.Y.: Colgate University. p. 13. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
2. "Colgate Defeats Boston U., 27-21". The New York Times. New York, N.Y. Associated Press. September 19, 1971. p. S4.
3. "Marinaro Paces Cornell Victory". The New York Times. New York, N.Y. September 26, 1971. p. S4.
4. Strauss, Michael (October 3, 1971). "Pass Caps Late Comeback". The New York Times. New York, N.Y. p. S1.
5. "Holy Cross Tops Colgate by 28-14". The New York Times. New York, N.Y. United Press International. October 10, 1971. p. S6.
6. McGowen, Deane (October 17, 1971). "Princeton Routs Colgate, 35-12, for First Victory of Year". The New York Times. New York, N.Y. p. S5.
7. "Colgate Holds Off Brown's Comeback to Triumph, 42-32". The New York Times. New York, N.Y. United Press International. October 24, 1971. p. S4.
8. "Lehigh Stopped by Colgate, 30-21". The New York Times. New York, N.Y. October 31, 1971. p. S4.
9. "Sophomores Star in Colgate Romp". The New York Times. New York, N.Y. United Press International. November 7, 1971. p. S3.
10. "Colgate Trounces Lafayette, 51-14". The New York Times. New York, N.Y. Associated Press. November 14, 1971. p. S16.
11. "Rutgers Takes Advantage of Colgate's Errors to Score 28-to-16 Victory". The New York Times. New York, N.Y. November 21, 1971. p. S7.
12. "Colgate Athletic History: Football" (PDF). Hamilton, N.Y.: Colgate University. p. 19. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
13. "Colgate Athletic History: Football" (PDF). Hamilton, N.Y.: Colgate University. pp. 43–55. Retrieved June 15, 2020.