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
Conference	Ohio Valley Conference
Ranking
AP	No. 6
1971 record	8–2 (6–1 OVC)
Head coach	Jimmy Feix (4th season)
Assistant coach	Romeo Crennel
Home stadium	L. T. Smith Stadium

1971 Ohio Valley Conference football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 6 AP / No. 12 UPI Western Kentucky $	6	–	1	–	0			8	–	2	–	0
Tennessee Tech	5	–	2	–	0			8	–	2	–	0
Middle Tennessee	5	–	2	–	0			7	–	4	–	0
Morehead State	4	–	3	–	0			7	–	3	–	0
Murray State	3	–	3	–	1			5	–	4	–	1
Eastern Kentucky	3	–	4	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Austin Peay	1	–	6	–	0			2	–	8	–	0
East Tennessee State	0	–	6	–	1			0	–	9	–	1
$ – Conference champion Rankings from College Division poll

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result
September 18	Wittenberg*	No. 15 UPI	L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY	W 33–7
September 25	at Austin Peay	No. 6	Municipal Stadium Clarksville, TN	W 46–7
October 2	East Tennessee State	No. 4	L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY	W 36-7
October 9	at No. 6 Eastern Michigan*	No. 5	Rynearson Stadium Ypsilanti, MI	L 14–17
October 16	Tennessee Tech	No. 10	L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY	W 15–7
October 23	at No. 12 UPI Eastern Kentucky	No. 10 UPI	Hanger Field Richmond, KY (Battle of the Bluegrass)	W 16–7
October 30	Morehead State	No. 9	L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY	W 34–11
November 6	at Middle Tennessee	No. 6	Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium Murfreesboro, TN	L 13–27
November 13	at Butler*	No. 7	Butler Bowl Indianapolis, IN	W 31–0
November 20	Murray State	No. 6	L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY	W 24–10
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

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.
3. "Delaware is first". The Courier-News. Bridgewater, New Jersey. November 24, 1971. p. 41. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
4. WKU Football Media Guide retrieved 31 March 2020.
5. 2017 OVC Football Media Guide, retrieved 30 April 2020