1971 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team

1971 Oklahoma State Cowboys football
ConferenceBig Eight Conference
Record4–6–1 (2–5 Big 8)
Head coach
Home stadiumLewis Field
Seasons
← 1970
1972 →
1971 Big Eight Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 1 Nebraska $ 7 – 0 – 0 13 – 0 – 0
No. 2 Oklahoma 6 – 1 – 0 11 – 1 – 0
No. 3 Colorado 5 – 2 – 0 10 – 2 – 0
Iowa State 4 – 3 – 0 8 – 4 – 0
Kansas State 2 – 5 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Oklahoma State 2 – 5 – 0 4 – 6 – 1
Kansas 2 – 5 – 0 4 – 7 – 0
Missouri 0 – 7 – 0 1 – 10 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1971 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team represented Oklahoma State University in the Big Eight Conference during the 1971 NCAA University Division football season. In their third and final season under head coach Floyd Gass, the Cowboys compiled a 4–6–1 record (2–5 against conference opponents), tied for fifth place in the conference, and were outscored by opponents by a combined total of 322 to 184.[1][2]

The team's statistical leaders included Bobby Cole with 631 rushing yards, Tony Pounds with 792 passing yards, and Dick Graham with 631 receiving yards.[3][4]

The team played its home games at Lewis Field in Stillwater, Oklahoma.[5] It was the last year the Cowboys played their home games on natural grass; AstroTurf was installed as part of a massive stadium renovation during the offseason, and the facility, now known as Boone-Pickens Stadium, has sported artificial turf since.

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 11Mississippi State*
W 26–731,500[6]
September 18at No. 6 Arkansas*
L 10–3154,176
September 25Virginia Tech*
  • Lewis Field
  • Stillwater, OK
W 24–1623,500[7]
October 9at TCU*
T 14–14
October 16at Missouri
W 37–16
October 23No. 1 Nebraska
  • Lewis Field
  • Stillwater, OK
L 13–4137,000
October 30at Kansas
W 17–1038,813
November 6Kansas Statedagger
  • Lewis Field
  • Stillwater, OK
L 23–3534,758
November 13at No. 12 Colorado
L 6–4040,211
November 20at Iowa State
L 0–5423,596
December 4No. 3 Oklahoma
L 14–5836,571
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

After the season

The 1972 NFL draft was held on February 1–2, 1972. The following Cowboy was selected.[8]

Round Pick Player Position NFL club
17 424 Dick Graham Wide receiver New England Patriots

References

  1. ^ "1971 Oklahoma State Cowboys Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  2. ^ "Oklahoma State Cowboy Football 2016 Guide" (PDF). Oklahoma State University. p. 173. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 21, 2017. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  3. ^ 2016 Football Guide, pp. 168, 170.
  4. ^ "1971 Oklahoma State Cowboys Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  5. ^ 2016 Football Guide, pp. 217, 219.
  6. ^ "Cowboys lasso Mississippi State". The Wichita Eagle & Beacon. September 12, 1971. Retrieved October 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Whew! Pokes 'romp' to scary 24–16 win". The Daily Oklahoman. September 26, 1971. Retrieved December 14, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "1972 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 29, 2020.