1971 Penn State @ Tennessee; Football Game ABC

[@ericarmstrong6540]

Few games more perfectly illustrate the importance of special teams and defense than this game. Tennessee scored two touchdowns on interception/fumble returns, one on a punt return and a fourth was set up by an interception return deep in Penn State territory. Bobby Majors, a defensive back, was named the games most valuable offensive player, because he had almost 200 yards in kick returns.

[@matman1451]

I remember watching the game with my father! What a great time!

[@collegefootballhistorian2078]

I got into this whole game collecting thing 20 some years ago because I wanted to watch a game with my dad he'd talk about for a life time 1969 Michigan v Ohio state. As it turns out he passed away a few years later. I'm so glad I got into this when I did. It's a treasured memory.

[@chuckwest7045]

These two teams went on to finish ranked in the final Top Ten of the 1971 AP poll. Penn St. finished #5 after beating Texas in the Cotton Bowl and Tennessee finished #9 after beating Arkansas in the Liberty Bowl. I know everyone often refers to how the Big Eight Conference went 1-2-3 (Nebraska, Oklahoma Colorado) in the final 1971 AP poll but the SEC was deeper claiming 6 of the next 12 spots.

[@jamesfields2916]

Chris Shenkel called the bowling match between Woody Harrelson and Bill Murray in Kingpin.

[@douglascoffman5413]

Wow, can't believe seeing coach Fulmer, John Cappelletti, Lydell Mitchell and Franco Harris, who I met in State College years later. Ha, I didn't kbow how tall he was. I just said, "wow, you're really big!". He just smiled and said "a lot of them are a lot bigger!" Class act.

[@jamesfields2916]

I used to love watching 'This Week in College Football ' with Bill Fleming on Sunday afternoon s. They would show highlights from all the ABC regional games. Living in California it was the only time you would see highlights of teams you normally you wouldn't get on local tv

[@collegefootballhistorian2078]

I know what you're talking about. I think I've seen one or two on video. College was such a regional sport back then. The south got SEC coverage, the midwest got big ten, etc.

[@jamesfields2916]

@@collegefootballhistorian2078 amazing I can remember being a fifth grader in 1975 talking about Tony Dorsett and none of us had ever seen him play. The first we got to see him was the 75 Sun Bowl.

[@jamesfields2916]

Tennessee finished the regular season beating Penn State and then opened the 72 season beating Penn State

[@DNSKansas]

The '72 Volunteers opened vs. Georgia Tech in Atlanta. The Penn St. game was the home opener and first night game at Neyland.

[@americasevilgenius]

Amazing how small Neyland Stadium looks when compared to today.

[@doncarpenter1040]

That struck me, as well. Simpler times.

[@ebf1957]

@@doncarpenter1040 ESPN was just a pipe dream.

[@jamesfields2916]

Attendance for this game 59,542! Stadium has over 40,000 more seats now.

[@DNSKansas]

First major expansion began immediately after this game and was ready by time the Nittany Lions returned nine months later.

[@jamesfields2916]

Opening kickoff saving tackle made by future Heisman winner John Cappeletti.

[@nate61]

Amazing how the times has changed from then to now

[@michaelleroy9281]

Tennessee 31 Penn State 11 December 4 1971

[@williamdunphy352]

Commentators: Chris Schenkel, Bud Wilkinson & Bill Flemming.

[@Playsinvain]

YaY!

[@jamesfields2916]

Schenkel was still around in 1996 and made an appearance in the Woody Harrelson movie ' Kingpin '.

[@Dagan81]

So weird to watch a UT game without "Rocky Top" blaring 40 times.

[@byrd56]

Because this was a year before the UT band, so the story goes, first played "Rocky Top" at a halftime show, and a decade before it became more of a staple at Vol football games.

[@yeildo1492]

Bud, those are not the same play (3:34). The first is a sprint draw and the Guard pulls and kicks out on the second one. It is a power. 35:31 Tenn lines up in Trips. Newfangled stuff from Coach Majors!

[@ebf1957]

No on screen clutter.

[@tucker.84]

10:12 & 1:31:48 for the PSU Blue Band!

[@Road2redemtion]

Ruddle was a dang log truck

[@jamesfields2916]

Paterno coached another 40 years before getting fired.

[@jc4388]

30:27 oops, uh oh, sounded like frank drebin

[@darylevrba6705]

hello...do you have any ABC games from 1970 you could upload? thanks

[@collegefootballhistorian2078]

I do have the 1970 Michigan Ohio State game, but youtube blacoked it.

[@FlintyCobblestone]

Like a death in the family. 😮‍💨

[@jasonponto1032]

Oh Joe........"Don't do Drugs"..........but do send all of your young boys to Jerry and Joe Pa's Football Camp........

[@Road2redemtion]

Pedd State

[@jrodlange8099]

Too bad Penn State didn't have any talent with their 2 starting running backs. Not to shabby

[@jamesfields2916]

And John Capelletti was a DB that season.

[@michaelthompson729]

Yes and Oklahoma and Nebraska buried both Auburn and Alabama in the orange and sugar bowls....hot damn for the SEC

[@chuckwest7045]

And LSU beat Iowa St. in the Sun Bowl thus giving the SEC a bowl win over the Big Eight that year.......hot damn as well !!

[@debbyturley1174]

Yea ,Nebraska finally beat Bama after Bama kicked their behind in two previous bowl games !

[@michaelthompson729]

Whoop di do Iowa State

[@michaelthompson729]

Then Bama lost 8 bowl games in a row

[@chuckwest7045]

@@michaelthompson729 Iowa St. was the 4th best team in the Big Eight conference in 1971. They finished 8-4 on the season and 17th in the final Coaches poll that year. Learn the facts.

[@hermanator74301]

Schenkel and Wilkinson talking about black PSU running back Lydell Mitchell : " they've kept that ' boy ' bottled up all day ". Moments later, again speaking of the mostly black running backs, : " they all look alike ". Try saying that today.

[@dexculpepper-py1jr]

You sir need to quit looking for things you think are bad.

[@douglascoffman5413]

​@@dexculpepper-py1jrsometimes the truth hurts

[@williamdunphy352]

Commentators: Chris Schenkel, Bud Wilkinson & Bill Flemming.