1971 Appalachian State Mountaineers football team

1971 Appalachian State Mountaineers football
Conference	Independent
Record	7–3–1
Head coach	Jim Brakefield (1st season)
Home stadium	Conrad 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 Appalachian State Mountaineers football team was an American football team that represented Appalachian State University as an independent during the 1971 NCAA College Division football season. In their first year under head coach Jim Brakefield, the Mountaineers compiled an overall record of 7–3–1. Brakefield was hired from Wofford in January 1971 to replace Carl Messere who resigned to focus exclusively on his teaching duties.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 11	at Furman	Sirrine Stadium Greenville, SC	T 0–0	5,000
September 18	at East Tennessee State	Memorial Stadium Johnson City, TN	W 28–24	7,000
September 25	Western Carolina	Conrad Stadium Boone, NC (rivalry)	L 0–26	10,300
October 2	vs. Davidson	American Legion Memorial Stadium Charlotte, NC	W 35–10	5,626
October 9	Lenoir Rhyne	Conrad Stadium Boone, NC	W 14–0	9,000
October 16	Catawba	Conrad Stadium Boone, NC	W 55–21	10,500
October 23	Bluefield State	Conrad Stadium Boone, NC	W 49–0	950
October 30	at Wofford	Snyder Field Spartanburg, SC	L 16–26	6,500
November 6	Florence State	Conrad Stadium Boone, NC	W 59–6	5,000
November 13	at Eastern Kentucky	Hanger Field Richmond, KY	L 14–28	13,250
November 20	at Elon	Burlington Memorial Stadium Burlington , NC	W 14–10	9,000
Homecoming