1971 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1971 Illinois Fighting Illini football 1971 Illinois Fighting Illini football team.jpg 285 Big Ten Conference Big Ten 5–6 5–3 Bob Blackman 1st Terry Masar Glenn Collier Larry McCarren Memorial Stadium The 1971 Illinois Fighting Illini football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1971 Big Ten season. In their first year under head coach Bob Blackman, the Illini compiled a 5–6 record (5–3 in conference games), finished in a three-way tie for third place in the Big Ten, and were outcored by a total of 238 to 163.1971 Illinois Fighting Illini Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 26, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/1971-schedule.html The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Mike Wells (1,007 passing yards, 46.9%), running back John Wilson (543 rushing yards, 4.7 yards per carry), and wide receiver Garvin Roberson (28 receptions for 372 yards).1971 Illinois Fighting Illini Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 26, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/1971.html Punter/halfback Terry Masar was selected as the team's most valuable player.Fighting Illini Football Record Book University of Illinois 2015 December 29, 2016 155 http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/fightingillini.com/documents/2015/8/3/3_History_7_30.pdf November 29, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201129040612/http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/fightingillini.com/documents/2015/8/3/3_History_7_30.pdf dead Defensive end Tab Bennett was selected as a first-team player on the 1971 All-Big Ten Conference football team.All Big Ten Selected Daily Illini November 24, 1971 http://idnc.library.illinois.edu/cgi-bin/illinois?a=d&d=DIL19711124.1.16&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-------#Sports Whirl The Daily News of the Virgin Islands November 24, 1971 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=757&dat=19711126&id=qXdSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=y60DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4157,1383396Unbeaten Michigan Dominate UPI Team Picked by Coaches: Ohio State Places 7 On All-Big Ten Teams The Times Recorder, Zanesville, OH November 25, 1971 9D https://www.newspapers.com/image/79039790/?terms=Daigneau%2Bferguson%2Bkingsriter%2B%22united%2Bpress%22 The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. Schedule 1971 AP September 11 l y Michigan State Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 0–10 42,083 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-blade-msu-holds-off-illini/182544889/ The Blade MSU holds off Illini September 12, 1971 October 7, 2025 Newspapers.com September 18 l y North Carolina Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 0–27 49,591 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-north-carolina-bla/139415289/ The Indianapolis Star North Carolina blasts Illinois September 19, 1971 January 23, 2024 Newspapers.com September 25 l y y USC 16 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 0–28 49,390 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-modesto-bee-troy-stumbles-but-whitew/182094209/ The Modesto Bee Troy stumbles but whitewashes Illinois September 26, 1971 October 7, 2025 Newspapers.com October 2 l y Washington 15 Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 14–52 48,127 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sunday-oregonian-huskies-club-illino/182095286/ The Sunday Oregonian Huskies club Illinois, 52–14 October 3, 1971 October 7, 2025 Newspapers.com October 9 l Ohio State 15 Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL Illibuck 10–24 53,555 Buckeyes Beat Illinois 24-10 Chicago Tribune Roy Damer October 10, 1971 3 (section 3) https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-buckeyes-beat-illinois-2/178710633/ October 7, 2025 Newspapers.com October 16 l y Michigan 3 Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI rivalry 6–35 73,406 U-M Rambles; UM 35, Illinois 6 Detroit Free Press 1C, 7C https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5238670/um_rambles_um_35_illinois_6/ Newspapers.com October 23 w Purdue 17 Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL rivalry 21–7 52,344 https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-illini-run-to-li/182546119/ St. Louis Post-Dispatch Illini run to light, 21–7 October 24, 1971 October 7, 2025 Newspapers.com October 30 w Northwestern Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL rivalry 24–7 40,144 https://www.newspapers.com/article/richmond-times-dispatch-illinois-surpris/182544256/ Richmond Times-Dispatch Illinois surprises for 2nd straight October 31, 1971 October 7, 2025 Newspapers.com November 6 w y Indiana Seventeenth Street Stadium Bloomington, IN rivalry 22–21 23,018 https://www.newspapers.com/article/herald-and-review-illinois-trails-217/182546256/ Herald and Review Illinois trails 21–7, then nips Indiana 22–21 to keep streak going November 7, 1971 October 7, 2025 Newspapers.com November 13 w y Wisconsin Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 35–27 65,459 https://www.newspapers.com/article/southern-illinoisan-four-straight-for-fi/182546350/ Southern Illinoisan Four straight for first time since '53 November 14, 1971 October 7, 2025 Newspapers.com November 20 w Iowa Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 31–0 40,703 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sioux-city-journal-improved-illini-s/182546454/ The Sioux City Journal Improved Illini slam Hawks November 21, 1971 October 7, 2025 Newspapers.com Schedule/Results (1971 Illinois) https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/130745 National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA Statistics October 7, 2025 Roster 1971 Illinois Fighting Illini f 76 Jr Mike Dobrzeniecki T 73 So Bruce Dobson T 79 Jr Dennis Driscoll T 86 So Bob Dubrish TE 64 Jr Bob Elledge G 56 So John Gann G 54 Jr Larry McCarren C y 51 So Gerry Sullivan C y 12 Jr Mike Wells Mike Wells (quarterback) QB y 52 Jr Larry Allen LB 75 Jr Tab Bennett DE 24 Sr Jamie Dufelmeier DB https://fightingillini.com/sports/2015/7/18/football_alltimerosters_1950_1974.aspx?#1971 *Bob Blackman References Illinois Category:Illinois Fighting Illini football seasons Illinois Fighting Illini football