1971 Air Force Falcons football team

The 1971 Air Force Falcons football team represented the United States Air Force Academy as an independent during the 1971 NCAA University Division football season. Led by 14th-year head coach Ben Martin, the Falcons compiled a record of 6–4 and tied in scoring with their opponents, 187–187. Air Force played their home games at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

1971 Air Force Falcons football
Conference	Independent
Record	6–4
Head coach	Ben Martin (14th season)
Captain	Brian Bream, John Greenlaw
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
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

The previous season ended in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans on New Year's Day. The 1971 Falcons began at 5–1 and were No. 18 in the AP Poll in late October, but lost three of their final four games, fell out of the polls, and did not play in the postseason.

This was the last season that Navy was not on the Falcons' schedule. The Commander-in-Chief's Trophy was introduced in 1972 and matched the three military academies annually. Previously, Air Force played Navy in even years and Army in odd years.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 18	Missouri		Falcon Stadium Colorado Springs, CO	W 7–6
September 25	Wyoming		Falcon Stadium Colorado Springs, CO	W 23–19	36,719
October 2	at No. 9 Penn State		Beaver Stadium University Park, PA	L 14–16	50,459
October 9	SMU		Falcon Stadium Colorado Springs, CO	W 30–0	45,050
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	23,194
October 30	at No. 13 Arizona State	No. 18	Sun Devil Stadium Tempe, AZ	L 28–44	50,380
November 6	Oregon		Falcon Stadium Colorado Springs, CO	L 14–23	26,435
November 13	at Tulsa		Skelly Stadium Tulsa, OK	W 17–7
November 20	at No. 10 Colorado		Folsom Field Boulder, CO	L 17–53	46,362
Rankings from AP Poll Poll released prior to the game

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