1971 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

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.

1971 Ohio State Buckeyes football
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Record	6–4 (5–3 Big Ten)
Head coach	Woody Hayes (21st season)
Defensive coordinator	George Hill (1st season)
MVP	Tom DeLeone
Captains	Tom DeLeone Harry Howard
Home stadium	Ohio Stadium
Seasons ← 1970 1972 →

1971 Big Ten Conference football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 6 Michigan $	8	–	0	–	0			11	–	1	–	0
Northwestern	6	–	3	–	0			7	–	4	–	0
Ohio State	5	–	3	–	0			6	–	4	–	0
Michigan State	5	–	3	–	0			6	–	5	–	0
Illinois	5	–	3	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Wisconsin	3	–	5	–	0			4	–	6	–	1
Minnesota	3	–	5	–	0			4	–	7	–	0
Purdue	3	–	5	–	0			3	–	7	–	0
Indiana	2	–	6	–	0			3	–	8	–	0
Iowa	1	–	8	–	0			1	–	10	–	0
$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

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 AstroTurf field remained in place through the 1989 season.^{[citation needed]}

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
September 11	1:30 p.m.	Iowa	No. 11	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH		W 52–21	75,596
September 25	1:30 p.m.	No. 10 Colorado*	No. 6	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH		L 14–20	85,586
October 2	1:32 p.m.	California*	No. 14	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH		W 35–3	86,280
October 9	2:30 p.m.	at Illinois	No. 15	Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL (Illibuck)		W 24–10	53,555
October 16	1:30 p.m.	at Indiana	No. 13	Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN		W 27–7	50,812
October 23	1:30 p.m.	Wisconsin	No. 12	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH	ABC	W 31–6	86,559
October 30	2:30 p.m.	at Minnesota	No. 10	Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN		W 14–12	36,281
November 6	1:30 p.m.	Michigan State	No. 9	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH		L 10–17	86,616
November 13	1:30 p.m.	Northwestern	No. 16	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH		L 10–14	86,062
November 20	1:30 p.m.	at No. 3 Michigan		Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI (rivalry)		L 7–10	104,016
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

Game summaries

Iowa

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Iowa	0	7	7	7	21
• Ohio St	17	7	14	14	52

• Date: September 11
• Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
• Game start: 1:32p.m. EST
• Elapsed time: 2:36
• Game attendance: 75,596
• Game weather: Rain, 67 °F (19 °C)

Scoring summary

Q1	13:07	OHST	Schram 39-yard field goal	Ohio St 3–0
Q1	5:39	OHST	Bledsoe 3-yard run (Schram kick)	Ohio St 10–0
Q1	4:55	OHST	Lamka 21-yard run (Schram kick)	Ohio St 17–0
Q2	11:37	IOWA	Holmes 1-yard run (Kokolus kick)	Ohio St 17–7
Q2	7:41	OHST	Bledsoe 11-yard run (Schram kick)	Ohio St 24–7
Q3	13:26	IOWA	Cabalka 10-yard pass from Sunderman (Kokolus kick)	Ohio St 24–14
Q3	10:42	OHST	Lamka 19-yard run (Schram kick)	Ohio St 31–14
Q3	5:20	OHST	Lamka 6-yard run (Schram kick)	Ohio St 38–14
Q4	12:14	OHST	Lamka 1-yard run (Schram kick)	Ohio St 45–14
Q4	6:55	OHST	Lippert 10-yard run (Schram kick)	Ohio St 52–14
Q4	3:02	IOWA	Mitchell 6-yard run (Kokolus kick)	Ohio St 52–21

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

Colorado Buffaloes at Ohio State Buckeyes

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Colorado	6	7	0	7	20
Ohio St	0	0	0	14	14

at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

• Date: September 25, 1971
• Game time: 1:30 p.m.
• Game weather: Cloudy, 64 °F (18 °C)
• Game attendance: 85,586

Game information

First quarter COL – Ken Johnson 6-yard run (kick failed), 6:51. Colorado 6–0. Drive: 10 plays, 71 yards. Second quarter COL – Cliff Branch 68-yard punt return (J.B. Dean kick), 10:49. Colorado 13–0. Fourth quarter OSU – Don Lamka 1-yard run (Fred Schram kick), 4:28. Colorado 13–7. Drive: 7 plays, 43 yards. COL – Ken Johnson 39-yard run (J.B. Dean kick), 3:30. Colorado 20–7. Drive: 3 plays, 45 yards. OSU – Rick Middleton 14-yard pass from Don Lamka (Fred Schram kick), 2:11. Colorado 20–14. Drive: 5 plays, 77 yards. Top passers COL – Ken Johnson – 4/9, 97 yards, 2 INT OSU – Don Lamka – 20/33, 255 yards, TD Top rushers COL – Charlie Davis – 18 rushes, 135 yards OSU – Don Lamka – 23 rushes, 60 yards, TD Top receivers COL – Willie Nichols – 2 receptions, 61 yards OSU – Dick Wakefield – 11 receptions, 172 yards

California

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
California	0	3	0	0	3
• Ohio St	14	0	0	21	35

• Date: October 2
• Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
• Game start: 1:32p.m. EST
• Elapsed time: 2:28
• Game attendance: 86,280
• Game weather: Clear, 85 °F (29 °C)

Scoring summary

Q1	6:17	OHST	Lamka 4 yard run (Schram kick)	OHST 7–0
Q1	1:50	OHST	Bradshaw 12 yard run (Schram kick)	OHST 14–0
Q2	7:20	CAL	Wersching 47 yard field goal	OHST 14–3
Q4	13:02	OHST	Hare 40 yard run (Schram kick)	OHST 21–3
Q4	9:39	OHST	Bradshaw 4 yard run (Schram kick)	OHST 28–3
Q4	0:33	OHST	Eggers 1 yard run (Schram kick)	OHST 35–3

Illinois

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
• Ohio St	14	0	10	0	24
Illinois	0	3	0	7	10

• Date: October 9
• Location: Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL
• Game start: 1:32p.m. CST
• Elapsed time: 2:32
• Game attendance: 53,555
• Game weather: Mostly cloudy, NE wind 10 mph (16 km/h), 53 °F (12 °C)

Scoring summary

Q1	11:58	OHST	Keith 1 yard run (Schram kick)	OHST 7–0
Q1	10:09	OHST	Keith 2 yard run (Schram kick)	OHST 14–0
Q2	9:52	ILL	Wells 37 yard field goal	OHST 14–3
Q3	9:47	OHST	Hare 3 yard run (Schram kick)	OHST 21–3
Q3	6:12	OHST	Schram 26 yard field goal	OHST 24–3
Q4	8:22	ILL	Navarro 1 yard run (Wells kick)	OHST 24–10

Indiana

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
• Ohio State	7	3	3	14	27
Indiana	0	0	7	0	7

• Date: October 16
• Location: Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN
• Game start: 1:30p.m. EST
• Elapsed time: 3:35
• Game attendance: 50,812
• Game weather: Overcast, 74 °F (23 °C)

Scoring summary

Q1	11:06	OHST	Keith 3 yard run (Schram kick)	OHST 7–0
Q2	0:10	OHST	Schram 31 yard field goal	OHST 10–0
Q3	12:24	IND	St. Pierre 21 yard run (Garner kick)	OHST 10–7
Q3	10:23	OHST	Schram 40 yard field goal	OHST 13–7
Q4	13:15	OHST	Keith 1 yard run (Schram kick)	OHST 20–7
Q4	0:47	OHST	Lamka 25 yard run (Schram kick)	OHST 27–7

Wisconsin

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Wisconsin	0	0	0	6	6
• Ohio St	0	17	0	14	31

• Date: October 23
• Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
• Game start: 2:00p.m. EST
• Elapsed time: 2:40
• Game attendance: 86,559
• Game weather: Rainy, 62 °F (17 °C)

Scoring summary

Q2	12:45	OHST	Lippert 48 yard run (Schram kick)	OHST 7–0
Q2	10:37	OHST	Bradshaw 88 yard run (Schram kick)	OHST 14–0
Q2	0:44	OHST	Schram 41 yard field goal	OHST 17–0
Q4	13:49	OHST	Galbos 1 yard run (Schram kick)	OHST 24–0
Q4	1:07	WIS	Lund 12 yard run (pass failed)	OHST 24–6
Q4	0:55	OHST	Bradshaw 88 yard kickoff return (Schram kick)	OHST 31–6

Minnesota

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
• Ohio St	0	0	7	7	14
Minnesota	0	6	0	6	12

• Date: October 30
• Location: Memorial Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Game start: 1:30 CST
• Elapsed time: 2:25
• Game attendance: 36,281
• Game weather: Rain, windy E(20-25 mph (40 km/h)), 50 °F (10 °C)

Scoring summary

Q2	1:27	MINN	Kingsriter 31 yard pass from Curry (kick failed)	MINN 6–0
Q3	7:42	OHST	Wakefield 4 yard pass from Lamka (Schram kick)	OHST 7–6
Q4	4:00	OHST	Galbos 4 yard run (Schram kick)	OHST 14–6
Q4	0:39	MINN	Curry 2 yard run (run failed)	OHST 14–12

Michigan State

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
• Michigan State	0	10	0	7	17
Ohio State	0	10	0	0	10

• Date: November 6
• Location: Ohio Stadium
• Game start: 1:29p.m. EST
• Elapsed time: 2:20
• Game attendance: 86,616
• Game weather: Rain/Snow, 35 °F (2 °C)

Scoring summary

Q2	14:12	MSU	Shlapak 47 yard field goal	MSU 0–3
Q2	9:55	OSU	Bradshaw 11 yard run (Schram kick)	OSU 7–3
Q2	5:54	MSU	Allen 5 yard run (Shlapak kick)	MSU 7–10
Q2	2:32	OSU	Shram 30 yard field goal	TIED 10–10
Q4	14:21	MSU	Allen 1 yard run (Shlapak kick)	MSU 17–10

Northwestern

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
• Northwestern	7	0	0	7	14
Ohio State	7	3	0	0	10

• Date: November 13
• Location: Ohio Stadium
• Game start: 1:32p.m. EST
• Elapsed time: 2:18
• Game attendance: 86,062
• Game weather: Clear, 60 °F (16 °C)

Scoring summary

Q1	4:19	OSU	Lamka 7 run (Schram kick)	OSU 7–0
Q1	4:05	NW	Strunk 93 yard kick-off return (Planisek kick)	TIED 7–7
Q2	5:13	OSU	Schram 27 yard field goal	OSU 10–7
Q4	7:25	NW	Anderson 1 yard run (Planisek kick)	NW 10–14

Michigan

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Ohio State	0	0	7	0	7
• Michigan	0	3	0	7	10

• Date: November 20
• Location: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI
• Game start: 1:30p.m. EST
• Elapsed time: 2:22
• Game attendance: 104,016
• Game weather: Overcast to Sunny, winds gusty 17 mph (27 km/h), 32 °F (0 °C)
• Referee: Jerry Markbreit (Big Ten)

Scoring summary

Q2	5:19	MICH	Coin 32 yard field goal	MICH 3–0
Q3	2:07	OSU	Campana 85 yard punt return (Schram kick)	OSU 3–7
Q4	2:07	MICH	Taylor 21 yard run (Coin kick)	MICH 10–7

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

1971 Ohio State Buckeyes football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class SE 23 Tom Battista Jr OT 78 Charles Beecroft Jr OT 77 Earl Belgrave Jr FB 34 John Bledsoe Jr G 58 Charles Bonica Jr QB 15 Bill Boyle So HB 25 Morris Bradshaw So HB 24 Tom Campagna Sr G 64 Bill Conley Sr C 52 Tom DeLeone (C) Sr FB 37 Pat Eggers So HB 46 Michael Gaffney So HB 33 Richard Galbos Jr HB 22 Richard Gales So QB 18 Greg Hare So SE 85 Jimmie Lee Harris Sr SE 82 David Hazel So G 57 Tom Houser Sr G 61 John Husband So SE 84 Scott Jones So G 63 Jim Kregel So QB 19 Don Lamka Sr HB 47 Elmer Lippert So OT 74 David Long Sr C 54 James Meckstroth So E 32 Richard Middleton So QB 12 Ross Moore Jr OT 72 Greg Mountz Sr C 56 Tom Nixon Jr E 80 Fred Pagac So G 50 Tony Pistick Jr OT 76 Dan Scott So OT 73 Richard Simon Sr E 96 John Smurda So G 60 Milan Vecanski Sr SE 91 Dick Wakefield Sr G 65 Tim Wersel Jr OT 71 Bob Willard So	Defense Pos. # Name Class DT 99 Tom Baxa Jr DE 93 Jeff Brown Jr DE 86 Richard Cappell Sr CB 11 Randall Cowman Jr S 8 Dan Cunnigham Sr DB 16 Jeff Davis So LB 51 Ken Dixon Jr LB 39 Richard Ferko Jr MG 55 Kevin Fletcher Jr LB 53 Randy Gradishar So DT 70 George Hasenohrl Jr CB 28 Harry Howard (C) Sr DB 14 Robert Kelly So DB 21 Carl Kern So CB 20 Marvin Kinsey Jr LB 62 Victor Koegel So DE 87 Ken Luttner Sr DE 81 Tom Marendt So MG 36 Glen Mason Sr CB 30 Louis Mathis So LB 59 Fred Pisanelli Jr MG 35 Rocco Rich So DE 83 Mike Scannell Jr DB 26 Warren Sharpp So DE 94 Terry Strong Jr DB 6 Monty Thompson So LB 88 Stan White Sr	Special teams Pos. # Name Class PK 2 Paul Johnston Sr P 92 Gary Lago Jr PK 1 Fred Schram Sr	Head coach Woody Hayes Coordinators/assistant coaches Earle Bruce (offensive guards and centers) George Chaump(offensive backfield) Charles Clausen (defensive line) George Hill (defensive coordinator) Rudy Hubbard (offensive backfield) John Mummey (freshman coach) Esco Sarkkinen (ends/scouting) Ralph Staub (offensive ends and tackles) Dick Walker (defensive backfield) Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster Last update: 2016-Oct-18

Statistics

Rushing

Player	Attempts	Net yards	Yards per attempt	Touchdowns
Richard Galbos	141	540	3.8	3
Morris Bradshaw	65	340	5.2	4
Don Lamka	107	308	2.9	8
Elmer Lippert	53	265	5.0	2
John Bledsoe	61	265	4.3	2
Randal Keith	66	216	3.3	4
Greg Hare	25	84	3.4	2

Passing

Player	Attempts	Completions	Interceptions	Comp %	Yards	TD
Don Lamka	107	54	5	50.5	718	2
Greg Hare	59	25	5	42.4	299	0

Scoring

Player	TD	PAT	FG	Points
Don Lamka	8	0-0	0-0	48
Fred Schram	0	27-27	7-13	48
Morris Bradshaw	5	0-0	0-0	30
Randal Keith	4	0-0	0-0	24

Receiving

Player	No.	Yards	Avg	TD
Dick Wakefield	31	432	13.9	1
Rick Middleton	11	152	13.8	1
Jimmy Harris	9	200	22.2	0
Richard Galbos	9	47	5.2	0
Fred Pagac	5	59	11.8	0

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

Player	Round	Pick	Position	NFL club
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