1971 Tennessee Volunteers football team

American college football season February 2026 January 2019 1971 Tennessee Volunteers football Southeastern Conference SEC 9 9 10–2 4–2 Bill Battle 2nd Jackie Walker Neyland Stadium Liberty Bowl champion Liberty Bowl W Won 14–13 vs. Arkansas The 1971 Tennessee Volunteers football team (variously "Tennessee", "UT" or the "Vols") represented the University of Tennessee in the 1971 NCAA University Division football season. Playing as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the team was led by head coach Bill Battle, in his second year, and played their home games at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee. They finished the season with a record of ten wins and two losses (10–2 overall, 4–2 in the SEC) and a victory over Arkansas in the 1971 Liberty Bowl. Schedule 1971 AP September 18 w y 8 UC Santa Barbara Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN 48–6 65,114 September 19, 1971 Tennessee wallops Gauchos https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101324174/tennessee-wallops-gauchos/ May 7, 2022 The San Francisco Examiner Newspapers.com Associated Press September 25 l 9 Auburn 5 Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN rivalry ABC 9–10 62,990 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101324776/sullivan-finally-whips-auburn-past-vols/ The Selma Times-Journal Sullivan finally whips Auburn past Vols 10–9 September 26, 1971 May 7, 2022 Newspapers.com October 2 w y 12 Florida Florida Field Gainesville, FL rivalry 20–13 61,112 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101325070/tennessee-sidesteps-floridas-bid-for-an/ The Palm Beach Post Tennessee sidesteps Florida's bid for an upset, 20–13 October 3, 1971 May 7, 2022 Newspapers.com October 9 w y 13 Georgia Tech Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN rivalry 10–6 63,671 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101325286/vols-nip-jackets/ Pensacola News Journal Vols nip 'Jackets October 10, 1971 May 7, 2022 Newspapers.com October 16 l y 14 Alabama 4 Legion Field Birmingham, AL Third Saturday in October 15–32 73,828 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101325809/alabama-dashes-by-vols/ Fort Worth Star-Telegram Alabama dashes by Vols October 17, 1971 May 7, 2022 Newspapers.com October 23 w 18 y Mississippi State Memphis Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN 10–7 37,529 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101325982/vols-win-10-to-7/ The Tennessean Vols win 10 to 7 October 24, 1971 May 7, 2022 Newspapers.com October 30 w y 16 Tulsa Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN 38–3 62,513 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101326282/maxwell-rouses-vol-offense-to-383-victo/ The Paducah Sun Maxwell rouses Vol offense to 38–3 victory over Tulsa October 31, 1971 May 7, 2022 Newspapers.com November 6 w y y 11 South Carolina Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN rivalry 35–6 63,507 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101326806/tennessee-bowls-over-south-carolina-35/ The Times and Democrat Tennessee bowls over South Carolina, 35–6 November 7, 1971 May 7, 2022 Newspapers.com November 20 w y 11 Kentucky McLean Stadium Lexington, KY rivalry 21–7 35,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101327068/vols-edge-kentucky/ The Miami Herald Vols edge Kentucky November 21, 1971 May 7, 2022 Newspapers.com November 27 w 11 Vanderbilt Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN rivalry 19–7 56,244 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101327300/tennessee-erupts-for-19-in-fourth-to-end/ The Spokesman-Review Tennessee erupts for 19 in fourth to end Vanderbilt's upset attempt November 28, 1971 May 7, 2022 Newspapers.com December 4 w y 12 Penn State 5 Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN ABC 31–11 59,542 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101327478/tennessee-ends-penn-st-streak-3111/ The Philadelphia Inquirer Tennessee ends Penn St. streak, 31–11 December 5, 1971 May 7, 2022 Newspapers.com December 20 w y y 9 Arkansas 18 Memphis Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN Liberty Bowl ABC 14–13 51,410 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101327672/vols-take-liberty/ St. Louis Post-Dispatch Vols take Liberty December 21, 1971 May 7, 2022 Newspapers.com Game summaries At Florida 1971 Florida Gators football team Florida–Tennessee football rivalry Tennessee Volunteers 2; text-align:center collapsed #12 Tennessee Volunteers at Florida Gators October 2, 1971 Tennessee 3 10 7 0 Florida 0 13 0 0 Florida Field, Gainesville, Florida 61,112 New York Times, 1971 Oct 03. First quarter TENN – George Hunt 33-yard field goal. Tennessee 3–0. Drive: Second quarter TENN – George Hunt 34-yard field goal. Tennessee 6–0. Drive: TENN – Curt Watson 8-yard run (George Hunt kick). Tennessee 13–0. Drive: 74 yards. FLA – Willie Jackson 23-yard pass from John Reaves (kick failed), 2:12. Tennessee 13–6. Drive: FLA – Hank Foldberg 7-yard pass from John Reaves (Richard Franco kick). Tie 13–13. Drive: Third quarter TENN – Stan Trott 20-yard pass from Phil Pierce (George Hunt kick). Tennessee 20–13. Drive: 99 yards. Top passers TENN FLA – John Reaves – 19/40, 213 yards, 2 TD, INT Top rushers TENN FLA – Mike Rich – 9 rushes, 80 yards Top receivers TENN FLA – Willie Jackson – 7 receptions, 93 yards, TD Third-string quarterback Phil Pierce led Tennessee on a 99-yard drive in the third quarter, capped by a 20-yard touchdown pass to Stan Trott to take the lead for good. The Volunteers lost their first and second-string quarterbacks to knee injuries during the game. Penn State 1971 Penn State Nittany Lions football Tennessee Volunteers 2; text-align:center collapsed #5 Penn State Nittany Lions (10–0) at #12 Tennessee Volunteers (8–2) December 4, 1971 Penn St 0 3 0 8 Tennessee 7 14 0 10 Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, Tennessee 54,529 ABC Chris Schenkel, Bud Wilkinson Ocala Star-Banner, 1971 Dec 05. First quarter TENN – Conrad Graham 76-yard fumble return (George Hunt kick). Tennessee 7–0. Second quarter PSU – Alberto Vitello 27-yard field goal. Tennessee 7–3. Drive: TENN – Bill Rudder 1-yard run (George Hunt kick). Tennessee 14–3. Drive: 5 plays, 15 yards. TENN – Bobby Majors 44-yard punt return (George Hunt kick). Tennessee 21–3. Fourth quarter TENN – George Hunt 21-yard field goal. Tennessee 24–3. Drive: TENN – Jackie Walker 43-yard interception return (George Hunt kick). Tennessee 31–3. PSU – Lydell Mitchell 14-yard pass from John Hufnagel (run good). Tennessee 31–11. Drive: Before the game, Bobby Majors was honored alongside his brothers, Iowa State head coach Johnny and the late Billy, for the family's overall contribution to the school's football program. Majors finished his final home game with 195 return yards on kicks and punts. With the win, the Volunteers accepted a bid to play in the Liberty Bowl against Arkansas."Vols Win, 31–11." New York Times. 1971 Dec 05. Personnel 1971 Tennessee Volunteers y 76 Joe Balthrop OL 21 Dennis Chadwick QB Steve Chancey RB 64 Bill Emendorfer OL 65 Sr Phillip Fulmer OG y 73 Gaylon Hill OL Chip Howard WR Tom Johnson OL 84 Sonny Leach TE Emmon Love WR 16 Jim Maxwell QB Phil Pierce QB Bill Rudder FB George Silvey RB Haskel Stanback RB 20 Gary Theiler TE Joe Thompson WR Stan Trott WR Curt Watson RB Jimmy Young TE 13 Jr David Allen DB 86 Sr Tom Bennett DL Eddie Brown DB Conrad Graham CB Frank Howell DL Carl Johnson DL Ken Lambert DE 44 Sr Bobby Majors S y 58 Sr Ray Nettles LB y Jamie Rotella LB Claude Simonton DE Tim Townes DB John Wagster DL Sr Jackie Walker OLB C y Jackie Walker (American football, born 1950) 9 Sr George Hunt K y George Hunt (American football) Bill Battle Team players drafted into the NFL Tennessee Volunteers Player Position Round Pick NFL club Bobby Majors Defensive back 3 76 Philadelphia Eagles George Hunt Kicker 5 122 Cleveland Browns Jackie Walker Linebacker 6 148 San Francisco 49ers Curt Watson Running back 6 150 New Orleans Saints Ray Nettles Linebacker 6 155 Miami Dolphins Gary Theiler Tight end 12 308 Baltimore Colts Joe Balthrop Guard 16 397 New Orleans Saints https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1972/draft.htm?redir 1972 NFL Draft Pro-Football-Reference.com March 8, 2012 References Tennessee Category:Tennessee Volunteers football seasons Category:Liberty Bowl champion seasons Tennessee Volunteers football Category:Long stubs with short prose