1971 California Golden Bears football team

1971 California Golden Bears football
ConferencePacific-8 Conference
Record6–5 (4–3 Pac-8)
Head coach
Home stadiumCalifornia Memorial Stadium
1971 Pacific-8 Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 10 Stanford $ 6 1 0 9 3 0
No. 20 USC 3 2 1 6 4 1
No. 19 Washington 4 3 0 8 3 0
4 3 0 6 5 0
Oregon State 3 3 0 5 6 0
Oregon 2 4 0 5 6 0
Washington State 2 5 0 4 7 0
UCLA 1 4 1 2 7 1
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1971 California Golden Bears football team was an American football team that represented the University of California, Berkeley in the Pacific-8 Conference (Pac-8) during the 1971 NCAA University Division football season. In their eighth year under head coach Ray Willsey, the Golden Bears compiled a 6–5 record (4–3 in Pac-8, third), and were outscored 262 to 186.[1][2] Home games were played on campus at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, California.

California's statistical leaders on offense were quarterback Jay Cruze with 1,284 passing yards, Steve Kemnitzer with 686 rushing yards, and Steve Sweeney with 579 receiving yards.[3]

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 115:30 p.m.at No. 7 Arkansas*L 20–5154,176[4]
September 181:31 p.m.West Virginia*W 20–1023,001–25,000[5]
September 251:31 p.m.San Jose State*
  • California Memorial Stadium
  • Berkeley, CA
W 34–1019,851
October 210:32 a.m.at No. 14 Ohio State*L 3–3586,280
October 91:30 p.m.Oregon State
  • California Memorial Stadium
  • Berkeley, CA
W 30–2733,561
October 161:30 p.m.at Washington StateW 24–2312,600
October 237:32 p.m.at UCLAW 31–2430,741
October 301:31 p.m.No. 20 USC
  • California Memorial Stadium
  • Berkeley, CA
L 0–2854,000
November 61:59 p.m.No. 20 Washington
  • California Memorial Stadium
  • Berkeley, CA
L 7–3036,517
November 131:30 p.m.at OregonW 17–1018,500
November 201:35 p.m.at No. 18 StanfordL 0–1486,000
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Pacific time

[6][7]

Roster

1971 California Golden Bears football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
QB Jay Cruze
WR Steve Sweeney
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
DB Scott Stringer Jr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches

    Legend
    • (C) Team captain
    • (S) Suspended
    • (I) Ineligible
    • Injured
    • Redshirt

    References

    1. ^ "1971 California Golden Bears Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
    2. ^ "California 2015 Football Information Guide" (PDF). CalBears.com. Cal Golden Bears Athletics. p. 165. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 26, 2016. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
    3. ^ "1971 California Golden Bears Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
    4. ^ "Razorbacks rack California, 51–20". San Angelo Standard-Times. September 12, 1971. Retrieved March 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
    5. ^ "Cal zaps Mountaineers". Oakland Tribune. September 19, 1971. Retrieved January 23, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
    6. ^ "1971-72 California Golden Bears; Schedule/Results". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
    7. ^ 2015 Football Information Guide (PDF). Cal Athletics. 2015. p. 165. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 26, 2016.