1971 McNeese State Cowboys football team

1971 McNeese State Cowboys football
Grantland Rice Bowl, L 23–26 vs. Tennessee State
Conference	Independent
Record	9–1–1 ( Independent)
Head coach	Jack Doland (2nd season)
Home stadium	Cowboy Stadium

1971 NCAA College Division independents football records

	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 1 Delaware			–					10	–	1	–	0
No. 5 Tennessee State			–					9	–	1	–	0
No. 2 McNeese State			–					9	–	1	–	1
Colorado College			–					7	–	1	–	0
No. 8 Akron			–					8	–	2	–	0
Samford			–					8	–	2	–	0
No. 3 Eastern Michigan			–					7	–	1	–	2
Arkansas AM&N			–					7	–	2	–	0
Indiana (PA)			–					7	–	2	–	0
Kentucky State			–					8	–	3	–	0
Appalachian State			–					7	–	3	–	1
Northern Michigan			–					7	–	3	–	0
Hawaii			–					7	–	4	–	0
Ashland			–					6	–	4	–	0
Santa Clara			–					6	–	4	–	0
Southern Illinois			–					6	–	4	–	0
Tampa			–					6	–	5	–	0
UNLV			–					5	–	4	–	1
Bucknell			–					5	–	5	–	0
Central Michigan			–					5	–	5	–	0
Milwaukee			–					5	–	5	–	0
Nevada			–					5	–	5	–	0
St. Norbert			–					5	–	5	–	0
Wayne State (MI)			–					4	–	4	–	0
Hofstra			–					5	–	6	–	0
Cortland			–					4	–	5	–	0
Northeastern			–					4	–	5	–	0
Portland State			–					4	–	5	–	0
Chicago			–					3	–	4	–	0
Northeast Louisiana			–					4	–	6	–	1
Eastern Illinois			–					4	–	6	–	0
Indiana State			–					4	–	6	–	0
Saint Mary's			–					3	–	5	–	0
Rose-Hulman			–					3	–	6	–	0
Boston University			–					3	–	7	–	0
Drexel			–					2	–	6	–	0
Chattanooga			–					2	–	9	–	0
Rankings from AP small college poll

The 1971 McNeese State Cowboys football team was an American football team that represented McNeese State University as an independent during the 1971 NCAA College Division football season. In their second year under head coach Jack Doland, the team compiled an overall record of 9–1–1 and lost to Tennessee State in the Grantland Rice Bowl.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 11	East Texas State		Cowboy Stadium Lake Charles, LA	W 47–3	12,226
September 18	at Sam Houston State		Pritchett Field Huntsville, TX	W 15–13	7,000
September 25	at Tennessee–Martin		Pacer Stadium Martin, TN	W 24–20	7,000
October 2	No. 7 Louisiana Tech		Cowboy Stadium Lake Charles, LA	W 29–22	13,500
October 9	Lamar	No. 10	Cowboy Stadium Lake Charles, LA (rivalry)	W 38–0	13,000
October 16	at Northeast Louisiana	No. 4	Brown Stadium Monroe, LA	W 31–21	8,000
October 30	Troy State	No. 2	Cowboy Stadium Lake Charles, LA	W 17–7	14,300
November 6	at Northwestern State	No. 1	Demon Stadium Natchitoches, LA (rivalry)	T 3–3	7,000
November 13	Southeastern Louisiana	No. 2	Cowboy Stadium Lake Charles, LA	W 31–0	13,000
November 19	at Southwestern Louisiana	No. 2	Cajun Field Lafayette, LA (rivalry)	W 20–10	25,000
December 11	vs. No. 5 Tennessee State	No. 2	BREC Memorial Stadium Baton Rouge, LA (Grantland Rice Bowl)	L 23–26	15,271
Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game