1971 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team

The 1971 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team represented Rutgers University in the 1971 NCAA University Division football season. In their 12th season under head coach John F. Bateman, the Scarlet Knights compiled a 4–7 record and were outscored by their opponents 243 to 193.[1][2] The team's statistical leaders included Leo Gasienica with 1,148 passing yards, Larry Robertson with 405 rushing yards, and Bob Carney with 351 receiving yards.[3]

1971 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football
ConferenceIndependent
Record4–7
Head coach
CaptainWilliam Donaldson, Sam Picketts, Larry Robertson
Home stadiumRutgers Stadium
Seasons
← 1970
1972 →
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 Scarlet Knights played their home games at Rutgers Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey, across the river from the university's main campus in New Brunswick.

Schedule

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DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 18 at Lafayette L 7–13 6,000–7,500 [4][5]
September 25 at Princeton W 33–18 27,000 [6]
October 2 Cornell L 17–31 15,000 [7]
October 9 Lehigh
  • Rutgers Stadium
  • Piscataway, NJ
L 14–35 12,000 [8]
October 16 at No. 1 Delaware L 7–48 16,709 [9]
October 23 Columbia
  • Rutgers Stadium
  • Piscataway, NJ
L 16–17 12,000 [10]
October 30 at Bucknell L 13–14 10,400 [11]
November 6 at Army L 17–30 39,841 [12]
November 13 Holy Cross
  • Rutgers Stadium
  • Piscataway, NJ
W 14–13 8,500 [13]
November 20 Colgate
  • Rutgers Stadium
  • Piscataway, NJ
W 28–16 10,500 [14]
November 27 Morgan State
  • Rutgers Stadium
  • Piscataway, NJ
W 27–8 9,000–10,000 [15][16]
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Roster

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1971 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
FB 22 Bill Donaldson Sr
QB 10 Leo Gasienica Jr
RB 36 Jim Jennings So
WR 14 Jack Rabuck Sr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
DT 74 Steve Allen Sr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
K 11 John Pace Jr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  •   Injured
  •   Redshirt

References

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  1. ^ "1971 Rutgers Scarlet Knights Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
  2. ^ "Rutgers Yearly Results (1970-1974)". College Football Data Warehouse. David DeLassus. Archived from the original on March 26, 2016. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
  3. ^ "1971 Rutgers Scarlet Knights Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
  4. ^ O'Brien, Ken (September 19, 1971). "Rutgers Drops Opener to Lafayette, 13-7". The Sunday Home News. New Brunswick, N.J. p. A1 – via Newspapers.com. Attendance figure in "Writer Returns to Victory" by John Bruns on p. B15.
  5. ^ "Final 1971 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Lafayette)". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  6. ^ Harvin, Al (September 26, 1971). "Rutgers Upsets Princeton, 33 to 18, in College Football's Oldest Rivalry". The New York Times. New York, N.Y. p. S5.
  7. ^ Van Sickle, Kenny (October 4, 1971). "Cornell Grinds Out Win over Rutgers". The Ithaca Journal. Ithaca, N.Y. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Kurland, Bob (October 10, 1971). "Lehigh Continues Hex over Rutgers, 35-14". The Sunday Record. Hackensack, N.J. p. C7 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Bruns, John (October 17, 1971). "Delaware Henpecks Scarlet Knights, 48-7". The Sunday Home News. New Brunswick, N.J. p. A1 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Fox, Larry (October 24, 1971). "Linebacker Saves Lions, 17-16". Sunday News. New York, N.Y. p. 152 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Bruns, John (October 31, 1971). "Bisons Bull Past Rutgers". The Sunday Home News. New Brunswick, N.J. p. A1 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Miller, Norm (November 7, 1971). "Cadets Crumble Rutgers, 30-17". Sunday News. New York, N.Y. p. 171 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ O'Brien, Ken (November 14, 1971). "Holy Cross! Rutgers Finally Nails a Win". The Sunday Home News. New Brunswick, N.J. p. A1 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Shannon, Bill (November 21, 1971). "Jennings Hero in Rutgers Win". The Sunday Record. Hackensack, N.J. p. C5 – via Newspapers.com. Attendance figure in "Rutgers, 28-16". The Arizona Republic. Phoenix, Ariz. November 21, 1971. p. D9.
  15. ^ O'Brien, Ken (November 28, 1971). "First Urban Classic: Rutgers Bests Morgan". The Sunday Home News. New Brunswick, N.J. p. A1 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Final 1971 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Morgan State)". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved March 17, 2024.