1971 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team

1971 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football
Boardwalk Bowl, W 72–22 vs. C.W. Post
ConferenceIndependent
Record10–1
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorTed Kempski (4th season)
Offensive schemeDelaware Wing-T
Base defense5–2
Home stadiumDelaware Stadium
1971 NCAA College Division independents football records
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW 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 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team was an American football team that represented the University of Delaware as an independent during the 1971 NCAA College Division football season. In their sixth season under head coach Tubby Raymond, the team compiled a 10–1 record and was voted No. 1 in the AP and UPI small college polls. The season concluded with a 72–22 victory over C.W. Post in the Boardwalk Bowl.

The Blue Hens were the top-ranked small-college team in both total offense (515.6 yards per game) and rushing (371.2 yards per game). Their average of 42.2 yards per game ranked second to Michigan Tech. Running back Gardy Kahoe led the team with 1,216 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns in the regular season. He added 112 rushing yards in the Boradwalk Bowl. Quarterback Sam Neff led the team in passing with 1,177 passing yards.

Kahoe was also selected as a first-team player on the 1971 Little All-America college football team. Kahoe and defensive back John Bush were both selected as first-team players on the Eastern College Athletic Conference Division II All-Star team.

The team played its home games at Delaware Stadium in Newark, Delaware. Ralph Borgess was the team captain.