American college football season
The 1971 Vanderbilt Commodores football team represented Vanderbilt University in the 1971 NCAA University Division football season . The Commodores were led by head coach Bill Pace in his fifth season and finished the season with a record of four wins, six losses and one tie (4–6–1 overall, 1–5 in the SEC).
Date Time Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 11 Chattanooga * W 20–1914,629 [ 1]
September 18 7:32 p.m. Louisville * Dudley Field Nashville, TN T 0–018,700 [ 2]
September 25 at Mississippi State W 49–1929,000 [ 3]
October 2 at Virginia * L 23–2712,500 [ 4]
October 9 No. 6 Alabama Dudley Field Nashville, TN L 0–4234,000 [ 5] [ 6]
October 16 No. 8 Georgia Dudley Field Nashville, TN (rivalry ) L 0–2416,000 [ 7]
October 23 at Ole Miss L 7–2827,500 [ 8]
October 30 at Tulane * W 13–917,941 [ 9]
November 6 Kentucky Dudley Field Nashville, TN (rivalry ) L 7–1419,833 [ 10]
November 20 Tampa * Dudley Field Nashville, TN W 10–79,977–12,000 [ 11] [ 12]
November 27 at No. 11 Tennessee L 7–1956,244 [ 13]
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time
[ 14]
^ "Vandy survives Moc fangs" . The Tennessean . September 12, 1971. Retrieved September 14, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "U of L bullies Vandy, gets 0–0 for effort" . The Courier-Journal . September 19, 1971. Retrieved October 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Vandy gains upset win over Mississippi State" . Durham Morning Herald . September 26, 1971. Retrieved October 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Virginia upsets previously unbeaten Vanderbilt 27–23" . The Danville Register . October 3, 1971. Retrieved October 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
^ Reed, Delbert (October 10, 1971). "Tide keeps scoreboard busy, 42–0" . The Tuscaloosa News . p. B1. Retrieved February 2, 2014 .
^ "Tide trounces Vanderbilt, 42–0" . The Palm Beach Post-Times . Associated Press. October 10, 1971. p. E8. Retrieved February 2, 2014 .
^ "Georgia blanks Vanderbilt, 24–0" . Asheville Citizen-Times . October 17, 1971. Retrieved October 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Weese leads Rebs over Commodores" . The Atlanta Journal & Constitution . October 24, 1971. Retrieved October 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "O'Rourke, VU wreck Wave" . The Tennessean . October 31, 1971. Retrieved October 15, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Bishop's last-second grab gives UK 14–7 win" . The Courier-Journal . November 7, 1971. Retrieved October 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Vandy defeats Tampa" . The Miami Herald . November 21, 1971. Retrieved October 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Final 1971 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Tampa)" . National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved May 6, 2025 .
^ "Tennessee erupts for 19 in fourth to end Vanderbilt's upset attempt" . The Spokesman-Review . November 28, 1971. Retrieved May 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "1971 Vanderbilt Schedule and Results" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 20, 2015 .
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