1981 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

Last updated

1981 Alabama Crimson Tide football
SEC co-champion
Cotton Bowl, L 12–14 vs. Texas
Conference Southeastern Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 6
APNo. 7
Record9–2–1 (6–0 SEC)
Head coach
Captains
  • Warren Lyles
  • Alan Gray
Home stadium Bryant–Denny Stadium
(Capacity: 60,210)
Legion Field
(Capacity: 75,808)
Seasons
←  1980
1982  →
1981 Southeastern Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 6 Georgia + 6 –0 –010 –2 –0
No. 7 Alabama + 6 –0 –09 –2 –1
Mississippi State 4 –2 –08 –4 –0
Tennessee 3 –3 –08 –4 –0
Florida 3 –3 –07 –5 –0
Auburn 2 –4 –05 –6 –0
Kentucky 2 –4 –03 –8 –0
Ole Miss 1 –4 –14 –6 –1
LSU 1 –4 –13 –7 –1
Vanderbilt 1 –5 –04 –7 –0
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1981 Alabama Crimson Tide football team (variously "Alabama", "UA" or "Bama") represented the University of Alabama in the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 87th overall and 48th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Bear Bryant, in his 24th year, and played their home games at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished season with nine wins, two losses and one tie (9–2–1 overall, 6–0 in the SEC), as SEC co-champions with Georgia and with a loss against Texas in the Cotton Bowl.

Contents

Alabama recovered from an upset loss to a 1–10 Georgia Tech team to win its ninth SEC title in eleven years (shared with Georgia). It was Bama's 18th SEC championship, and the 13th and last conference title for Paul "Bear" Bryant at Alabama. Alabama's 28–17 win over Auburn was Coach Bryant's 315th career victory, breaking the then all-time record held by Amos Alonzo Stagg. [1] Alabama's Cotton Bowl Classic loss to Texas dropped the Tide's all-time record against the Longhorns to 0–7–1.

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 58:00 p.m.at LSU No. 4
 ABC W 24–778,066 [2]
September 124:00 p.m. Georgia Tech *No. 2
 ESPN L 21–2478,865 [3]
September 1912:30 p.m.at Kentucky No. 12
W 19–1057,853 [4]
September 267:00 p.m.at Vanderbilt No. 10
W 28–741,000 [5]
October 31:30 p.m. Ole Miss [A 1] *No. 11
W 38–760,210 [7]
October 101:30 p.m. Southern Miss *No. 7
  • Legion Field
  • Birmingham, AL
T 13–1376,400 [8]
October 171:30 p.m. Tennessee No. 15
W 38–1978,550 [9]
October 241:30 p.m. Rutgers *Dagger-14-plain.pngNo. 11
  • Bryant–Denny Stadium
  • Tuscaloosa, AL
W 31–760,210 [10]
October 311:30 p.m.No. 7 Mississippi State No. 8
  • Bryant–Denny Stadium
  • Tuscaloosa, AL (rivalry)
W 13–1060,210 [11]
November 1411:30 a.m.at No. 5 Penn State *No. 6
ABCW 31–1685,133 [12]
November 282:45 p.m.vs. Auburn No. 4
ABCW 28–1778,170 [13]
January 1, 19821:00 p.m.vs. No. 6 Texas *No. 3
 CBS L 12–1473,243 [14]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Dagger-14-plain.pngHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Central time

[15]

Notes

  1. ↑ Prior to the 1980 season, the SEC ruled if two SEC teams scheduled each another independently, and not through the conference office, the game would not count in SEC standings. As such, although both were members of the SEC, the Alabama–Ole Miss games in 1980 and 1981 did not count as conference games in the official SEC standings. [6]

Related Research Articles

The 1978 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1978 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 84th overall and 45th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Bear Bryant, in his 21st year, and played their home games at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished season with eleven wins and one loss, as SEC champions and as national champions after a victory over Penn State in the Sugar Bowl. Alabama's costumed "Big Al" mascot officially debuted this season, appearing at the Sugar Bowl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team</span> American college football season

The 1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 85th overall and 46th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Bear Bryant, in his 22nd year, and played their home games at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished the season undefeated and with a victory over Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl. For their collective efforts, the Crimson Tide were recognized as unanimous national champions for the 1979 season.

The 2000 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 2000 college football season. The team was led by head coach Mike DuBose, who was coaching his final season at the program. The team finished 6th in the SEC Western Division. The Crimson Tide, also known informally as the Tide, played their home games at Bryant–Denny Stadium, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Legion Field, in Birmingham, Alabama.

The 1998 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the college football season of 1998–99. The team's head coach was Mike DuBose, who was entering his second year at Alabama. They played their home games at both Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama and competed in the West Division of the Southeastern Conference. They improved upon a 4–7 record from the 1997 season by finishing the 1998 campaign with a 7–5 record and an appearance in the Music City Bowl.

The 1997 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the college football season of 1997–98. The team's head coach was Mike DuBose, who was entering his first year at Alabama. They played their home games at both Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama, and competed in the West Division of the Southeastern Conference. Alabama finished with a record of 4–7 record in suffering the program's first losing season since the 1984 season.

The 1996 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama for the 1996–97 college football season, competing in the Western Division in the Southeastern Conference. Gene Stallings led the Crimson Tide to a 10–3 record in his final year with the program. The team played their home games at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama.

The 1993 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama for the 1993 NCAA Division I-A football season, competing in the Southeastern Conference Western Division. The team was led by head coach Gene Stallings, who was in his fourth season at the position.

The 1991 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1991 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was led by head coach Gene Stallings who was in his second season at Alabama. The team played their home games at Bryant–Denny Stadium, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. The team competed in the Southeastern Conference.

The 1980 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 86th overall and 47th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Bear Bryant, in his 23rd year, and played their home games at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished season with ten wins and two losses and with a victory over Baylor in the Cotton Bowl.

The 1982 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1982 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 88th overall and 49th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Bear Bryant, in his 25th and final year, and played their home games at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished season with eight wins and four losses and with a victory over Illinois in the Liberty Bowl.

The 1983 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1983 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 89th overall and 50th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Ray Perkins, in his first year, and played their home games at both Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished the season with a record of eight wins and four losses. Ray Perkins, who played as a wide receiver for Bear Bryant in the 1960s, was named as the new head coach at Alabama on December 14, 1982, to succeed Bryant after his 26-year tenure as Alabama's head coach.

The 1984 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1984 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 90th overall and 51st season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Ray Perkins, in his second year, and played its home games at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. Alabama finished the season with a record of five wins and six losses. This marked Alabama's first losing season since the Tide went 2–7–1 in 1957 under Jennings B. Whitworth, and ended its streak of 26 straight bowl appearances.

The 1985 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1985 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 93rd overall and 52nd season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Ray Perkins, in his third year, and played their home games at both Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished the season with a record of nine wins, two losses and one tie and with a victory in the Aloha Bowl over USC.

The 1986 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1986 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 94th overall and 53rd season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Ray Perkins, in his fourth year, and played their home games at both Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished the season with a record of ten wins and three losses and with a victory in the Sun Bowl over Washington.

The 1987 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1987 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 95th overall and 54th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Bill Curry, in his first year, and played their home games at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished the season with a record of seven wins and five losses and with a loss in the Hall of Fame Bowl to Michigan.

The 1988 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1988 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 96th overall and 55th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Bill Curry, in his second year, and played their home games at both Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished the season with a record of nine wins and three losses and with a victory in the Sun Bowl over the Army.

The 1989 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 97th overall and 56th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Bill Curry, in his third year, and played their home games at both Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished the season with a record of ten wins and two losses, as SEC co-champions and with a loss in the Sugar Bowl against national championship winner Miami.

The 1995 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama for the 1995–96 college football season, competing in the Western Division in the Southeastern Conference. The team played their home games at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. Gene Stallings led the Crimson Tide to an 8–3 record. Due to NCAA sanctions, no bowl appearance was made.

The 1994 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama for the 1994–95 college football season, competing in the Western Division in the Southeastern Conference. Gene Stallings led the Crimson Tide to a perfect 11–0 regular season, only to see the Crimson Tide lose to the Florida Gators by one point in the SEC Championship Game. Highlights include a win over then unbeaten Auburn, and a dramatic victory over Georgia which is rebroadcast occasionally as part of the ESPN "Classic" series. Alabama beat Ohio State in the 1995 Florida Citrus Bowl to finish their 1994 season with a 12–1 record.

The 1958 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1958 college football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 64th overall and 25th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Bear Bryant, in his first year, and played their home games at Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Legion Field in Birmingham and at Ladd Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. They finished with a record of five wins, four losses and one tie. As they finished the season above .500, Alabama secured its first winning season since 1953, and their five victories gave Bryant more wins games in one season than former head coach Jennings B. Whitworth did in previous three.

References

General

Specific

  1. ↑ Smothers, Jimmy (November 29, 1981). "Bryant now winningest college coach in history". The Gadsden Times. Google News Archives. p. 17. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Alabama gets an easy one". The Anniston Star. September 6, 1981. Retrieved February 19, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "Tech 24, Alabama 21 - it really did happen". The Atlanta Constitution. September 13, 1981. Retrieved February 19, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "'Bama bounces back to beat UK 19–10". The Courier-Journal. September 20, 1981. Retrieved February 19, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Tide sinks Commodores, 28–7". The Tennessean. September 27, 1981. Retrieved February 19, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ McNair, Kirk (February 7, 2006). "SEC football - With the death late last week of legendary Mississippi Football Coach John Vaught, the question was raised as to why Alabama and Coach Paul Bryant had so few meetings against the Rebels and Vaught". 'BamaMag. Scout.com. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  7. ↑ "King Bama ain't dead yet". The Clarion-Ledger. October 4, 1981. Retrieved February 19, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "USM ties a 13–13 shocker on Alabama". The Clarion-Ledger. October 11, 1981. Retrieved February 19, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "Tide's first half monsoon wrecks Vols". The Tennessean. October 18, 1981. Retrieved February 19, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Bama varies attack, and buries Rutgers". The Anniston Star. October 25, 1981. Retrieved February 19, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "State fires and falls back 13–10". The Clarion-Ledger. November 1, 1981. Retrieved February 19, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "Penn State falls to Alabama, 31–16". Sunday News. November 15, 1981. Retrieved February 19, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "Bendross sparks Alabama offense". The Montgomery Advertiser. November 29, 1981. Retrieved February 19, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ "UT turns tide on 'Bama, 14–12". Austin American-Statesman. January 2, 1982. Retrieved February 19, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ "1981 Alabama football archives". RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
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