1971 Virginia Tech Gobblers football team

The 1971 Virginia Tech Gobblers football team was an American football team that represented Virginia Tech as an independent during the 1971 NCAA University Division football season. In their first year under head coach Charlie Coffey, the Gobblers compiled an overall record of 4–7.^[1]

1971 Virginia Tech Gobblers football
Conference	Independent
Record	4–7
Head coach	Charlie Coffey (1st season)
Home stadium	Lane Stadium
Seasons ← 1970 1972 →

1971 NCAA University Division independents football records
v t e	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
Holy Cross			–					4	–	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
Marshall			–					2	–	8	–	0
Xavier			–					1	–	9	–	0
Rankings from AP Poll

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 18	Wake Forest	Lane Stadium Blacksburg, VA	L 9–20	28,000	^[2]
September 25	at Oklahoma State	Lewis Field Stillwater, OK	L 16–24	23,500	^[3]
October 2	Florida State	Lane Stadium Blacksburg, VA	L 3–17	30,001	^[4]
October 9	at Tulsa	Skelly Field Tulsa, OK	L 39–46	21,500	^[5]
October 16	William & Mary	Lane Stadium Blacksburg, VA	W 41–30	20,000	^[6]
October 23	Ohio	Lane Stadium Blacksburg, VA	W 37–29	30,000	^[7]
October 30	at Kentucky	McLean Stadium Lexington, KY	L 27–33	37,000	^[8]
November 6	at Virginia	Scott Stadium Charlottesville, VA (rivalry)	W 6–0	30,100	^[9]
November 13	at No. 18 Houston	Houston Astrodome Houston, TX	L 29–56	28,105	^[10]
November 13	Southern Miss	Lane Stadium Blacksburg, VA	L 8–17	22,000	^[11]
November 27	vs. VMI	Victory Stadium Roanoke, VA (rivalry)	W 34–0	5,500	^[12]
Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Players

The following players were members of the 1971 football team according to the roster published in the 1972 edition of The Bugle, the Virginia Tech yearbook.^[13]

1971 Virginia Tech roster
	John Harwood "Jack" Abraham Rich Amsden Bruce Arians James William "J.B." Barber, Jr. Tony Bertovich Howy Beverly Robin Blair Robert Clinton Bond Jack Booth Tim Bosiack Sammy Bria Glenn Brown Mike Burnop Kurt Burwinkle Tom Carpenito Dennis Cogan Nick Colobro Jon Conlin Doug Coyner Curt Cretti Mike Cunningham Bobby Dabbs Barry DeMarr Buddy DeMarr John Dobbins Dennis Dodson Hal Durham Rusty Eddins Bill Ellenbogen Jerry Gaines Bob German		Bruce Glatthorn Tom Grys Larry Hartman Kent Henry Steve Herl Ronnie Holsinger Peter Michael Horoszko Bill House Andy Hromyak Rick Huebner Jeff Hunsucker Eddie Johns Bob Karlsen Lou Lagana Jim Lawlor Chip Lawson Bruce Arthur Lemmert Dick Maksanty Steve Maguigan Rich Matijevich Randy McCann John McDermott Ray McGinley Kevin Meehan Tom Mikus Steve Pasi Vic Perez Jim Polito Jimmy Quinn Barney Ratliff		Phil Reddick Don Reel Tom Reynolds Tom Rother Bruce Runyan Vince Russo Jerry Scharnus John William Schneider Rodney Schnurr Chuck Schoenadel Rod M. Sedwick Chuck Shorter Larry Smith Dale Soncini Bob Sporio John Sprenkle Don Sprouse Terry Stewart Wayne Stinnette Peter Christian Striffler Dave Strock Don Strock Ed Tennis Mike Thomas Joe Thompson Kit Utz Craig Valentine Joe Winfree Chris Woody Steve Zeigler

References

1. "1971 Virginia Tech Hokies". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
2. "Wake Forest wins". The Chicago Tribune. September 19, 1971. Retrieved December 14, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Whew! Pokes 'romp' to scary 24–16 win". The Daily Oklahoman. September 26, 1971. Retrieved December 14, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "Seminoles: 4–0, Huff hits 21 of 25". The Orlando Sentinel. October 3, 1971. Retrieved December 14, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Tulsa tops scoring jamboree". The Daily Oklahoman. October 10, 1971. Retrieved December 14, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Virginia Tech defeats W and M in scoring duel 41–30". The Danville Register. October 17, 1971. Retrieved December 14, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Ohio U. falls to Virginia Tech". The Cincinnati Enquirer. October 24, 1971. Retrieved December 14, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Cats win homecoming in 33–26 thriller". The Park City Daily News. October 31, 1971. Retrieved December 14, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Gobblers use 2 field goals, stiff defense to clip Cavaliers by 6–0". Daily Press. November 7, 1971. Retrieved December 14, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Coogs bomb Virginia Tech". Victoria Advocate. November 14, 1971. Retrieved December 14, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Southern Mississippi tops VPI". Daily Press. November 21, 1971. Retrieved March 23, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Gobblers glide by VMI, 34–0". The News and Observer. November 28, 1971. Retrieved December 14, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
13. "The Bugle 1972". Virginia Tech Bugle. 1972. p. 90. Retrieved 2019-08-26.