The 1971 Ohio State Buckeyes football team was an American football team that represented the Ohio State University as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1971 Big Ten season. In their 21st season under head coach Woody Hayes, the Buckeyes compiled a 6–4 record (5–3 in conference games), finished in a three-way tie for third place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a total of 224 to 120. An early season loss to No. 10 Colorado snapped the Buckeyes' 19-game home winning streak. The Buckeyes ended the season with three consecutive losses for the first time since 1924 and were unranked in the final AP and UPI polls.

The Buckeyes gained an average of 211.6 rushing yards and 102.6 passing yards per game. On defense, they allowed 164.7 rushing yards and 118.2 passing yards per game. The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Don Lamka (718 passing yards, 50.5% completion percentage), tailback Rick Galbos (540 rushing yards, 3.8 yards per carry), right end Dick Wakefield (31 receptions for 432 yards), and linebacker Vic Koegel with 61 solo tackles and 126 total tackles. Lamka and kicker Fred Schram each scored 48 points to lead the team in scoring. Center Tom DeLeone received first-team All-America honors from, among others, the UPI and NEA. Five Ohio State players won first-team honors on the 1971 All-Big Ten Conference football team: DeLeone; offensive tackle Rick Simon; defensive tackle George Hasenohrl; and linebackers Stan White and Randy Gradishar.

The team played its home games at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Home attendance totaled 506,699 in six games, an average of 84,449 per game. This was the first season the field had artificial turf (the turf was scheduled to be installed for the 1970 season, but was delayed). The AstroTurf field remained in place through the 1989 season.

This was the first season the Buckeyes played ten regular season games, six years after the other nine members of the Big Ten added a 10th game. Ohio State and Purdue were the only Big Ten schools not to play an 11th game, which was first permitted by the NCAA in 1970.

Schedule

Game summaries Iowa

Don Lamka, who spent the last two seasons as a reserve defensive back, made his debut at quarterback with 211 total yards and four touchdowns.

Colorado

California

Illinois

Indiana

Wisconsin

Minnesota

Michigan State

Northwestern

Michigan

On November 20, Ohio State lost to rival Michigan, 10–7, before an NCAA record crowd of 104,016 persons in attendance at Michigan Stadium. Michigan took a 3–0 lead at halftime on a 32-yard field goal by Dana Coin. Ohio State took the lead in the third quarter on an 85-yard punt return by Tom Campana. Michigan running back Billy Taylor put Michigan back in the lead with a 21-yard touchdown run with two minutes and seven seconds left in the game. Ohio State's final drive ended when Thom Darden intercepted a pass with one-and-a-half minutes remaining. After the interception, Ohio State coach Woody Hayes ran across the field, berating the officials for Darden going over the back of intended receiver Dick Wakefield. The officials assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct against Hayes. When the official moved the first-down markers to assess the penalty, Hayes pulled the markers from ground, threw one onto the field and threw the other to the ground, proceeding to then rip the plastic flag from the pole with his hand. The victory gave Michigan an undefeated record in the regular season for the first time since 1948.

Roster

(coaching duties)

Statistics Rushing

Player Attempts Net yards Yards per attempt TouchdownsRichard Galbos1415403.83Morris Bradshaw653405.24Don Lamka1073082.98Elmer Lippert532655.02 John Bledsoe612654.32Randal Keith662163.34Greg Hare25843.42

Passing Player Attempts Completions Interceptions Comp % Yards TDDon Lamka10754550.57182Greg Hare5925542.42990

Scoring Player TD PAT FG PointsDon Lamka80-00-048Fred Schram027-277-1348Morris Bradshaw50-00-030Randal Keith40-00-024

Receiving Player No. Yards Avg TDDick Wakefield3143213.91Rick Middleton1115213.81Jimmy Harris920022.20Richard Galbos9475.20Fred Pagac55911.80

Awards and honors Senior center Tom DeLeone from Kent, Ohio, was the only Ohio State player to receive national recognition. He received first-team honors on the 1971 All-America team by the UPI, NEA, Football News, Time magazine, and The Sporting News. He received second-team honors from the AP. He was also selected as the team's most valuable player.

The following Ohio State players received first- or second-team honors on the 1971 All-Big Ten Conference football team: Tom DeLeone, center (AP-1, UPI-1) Rick Simon, offensive tackle (UPI-1) George Hasenohrl, defensive tackle (AP-1, UPI-1) Stan White, linebacker (AP-1, UPI-2) Randy Gradishar, linebacker (AP-2, UPI-1) Tom Campana, defensive back (UPI-2) Harry Howard, defensive back (UPI-2)

DeLeone and Harry Howard were the team's co-captains. Other team awards included: Sigma Alpha Epsilon trophy as outstanding performer in the homecoming game - Randy Gradishar Quarterback Club - Randy Gradishar and Vic Koegel Jack W. Stephenson award as outstanding tackle - George Hasenohrl

1972 NFL draft picks Tom DeLeone 5 106 Center Cincinnati Bengals Harry Howard 9 225 Defensive back Los Angeles Rams Jimmy Harris 12 312 Wide receiver Dallas Cowboys Tom Campana 13 316 Defensive back St. Louis Cardinals Dick Wakefield 16 409 Wide receiver Cleveland Browns Stan White 17 438 Linebacker Baltimore Colts

References