1981 BYU Cougars football team

Last updated

1981 BYU Cougars football
WAC champion
Holiday Bowl champion
Conference Western Athletic Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 11
APNo. 13
Record11–2 (7–1 WAC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorRoger French (1st season)
Offensive scheme West Coast
Defensive coordinator Fred Whittingham (3rd season)
Base defense 3–4
Home stadium Cougar Stadium
Seasons
←  1980
1982  →
1981 Western Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 13 BYU $ 7 –1 –011 –2 –0
Hawaii 5 –1 –09 –2 –0
Utah 4 –1 –18 –2 –1
Wyoming 6 –2 –08 –3 –0
New Mexico 3 –4 –14 –7 –1
Air Force 2 –3 –04 –7 –0
San Diego State 3 –5 –06 –5 –0
UTEP 1 –6 –01 –10 –0
Colorado State 0 –8 –00 –12 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1981 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University (BYU) in the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Cougars were led by 10th-year head coach LaVell Edwards and played their home games at Cougar Stadium in Provo, Utah. The team competed as a member of the Western Athletic Conference, winning their sixth consecutive conference title with a conference record of 7–1. BYU was invited to the 1981 Holiday Bowl, where they defeated Washington State. They were ranked 13th in the final AP Poll with an overall record of 11–2.

Contents

Schedule

DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 5at Long Beach State *No. 16
W 31–820,953 [1]
September 12 Air Force No. 15
W 45–2138,712 [2]
September 19at UTEP No. 13
W 65–819,400
September 26at Colorado *No. 11
W 41–2043,259
October 2 Utah State *No. 10
W 32–2641,129
October 10 UNLV *No. 8
  • Cougar Stadium
  • Provo, UT
L 41–4539,852 [3]
October 17at San Diego State No. 17
W 27–741,727
October 24at Wyoming No. 13
L 20–3322,745
October 31 New Mexico
  • Cougar Stadium
  • Provo, UT
W 31–736,343
November 7at Colorado State
W 63–1417,851
November 14at No. 19 Hawaii
W 13–345,355
November 21 Utah No. 18
W 56–2847,163
December 18vs. No. 20 Washington State *No. 14
W 38–3652,419
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[4]

Personnel

1981 BYU Cougars football team roster
PlayersCoaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
QB 6 Robbie Bosco Fr
RB Bruce Hansen So
TE 95 Gordon Hudson So
WR 7 Glen Kozlowski RFr
QB 9 Jim McMahon RSr
C 50 Bart Oates Redshirt.svg  Jr
RB 23 Vai Sikahema So
QB 8 Steve Young So
Defense
Pos.#NameClass
DT 78 Chuck Ehin Jr
DE 92 Jim Herrmann Fr
DB Tom Holmoe
DE 77Mike MorganJr
LB Todd Shell
LB 59 Kyle Whittingham Sr
Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
K Kurt Gunther
P 10 Lee Johnson Fr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured
  • Redshirt.svg Redshirt

Roster

Game summaries

At Long Beach State

#16 BYU Cougars (0–0) at Long Beach State 49ers (0–0)
Period1234Total
BYU 71014031
Long Beach St 00088

at Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim, California

  • Date: September 5, 1981
  • Game weather: Clear, 87 °F (31 °C)
  • Game attendance: 20,953
  • TV: ESPN
  • Box Score
External videos
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg Full game
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg BYU highlights
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
BYUPassing Jim McMahon 28/45, 403 Yds, 2 INT
RushingScott Pettis5 Rush, 37 Yds,TD
ReceivingDan Plater8 Rec, 99 Yds
Long Beach StPassingAngelo Gasca11/24, 73 Yds, 3 INT
RushingTim Gross14 Rush, 40 Yds
ReceivingLouis Leidelmeyer2 Rec, 43 Yds

Air Force

1234Total
Air Force077721
• BYU101471445
Scoring summary
Q1BYU Hudson 10 yard pass from McMahon (Gunther kick)BYU 7–0
Q1BYUGunther 32 yard field goalBYU 10–0
Q2BYUHamilton 1 yard run (Gunther kick)BYU 17–0
Q2AFAKirby 75 yard punt return (Pavlich kick)BYU 17–7
Q2BYU Kozlowski 12 yard pass from McMahon (Gunther kick)BYU 24–7
Q3BYUHamilton 4 yard pass from McMahon (Gunther kick)BYU 31–7
Q3AFASundquist 1 yard run (Pavlich kick)BYU 31–14
Q4AFAJames 13 yard run (Pavlich kick)BYU 31–21
Q4BYUHamilton 12 yard pass from McMahon (Gunther kick)BYU 38–21
Q4BYU Sikahema 8 yard run (Gunther kick)BYU 45–21

[5]

At UTEP

At Colorado

1234Total
•BYU143141041
Colorado0061420
Scoring summary
1BYUPlater 44-yard pass from McMahon (Gunther kick)BYU 7-0
1BYUPettis 7-yard pass from McMahon (Gunther kick)BYU 14-0
2BYUGunther 40-yard field goalBYU 17-0
3BYUKozlowski 3-yard pass from McMahon (Gunther kick)BYU 24-0
3COLJames 33-yard pass from Essington (pass failed)BYU 24-6
3BYUHudson 11-yard pass from Young (Gunther kick)BYU 31-6
4COLRouson 7-yard run (pass failed)BYU 31-12
4BYUPlater 22-yard pass from Young (Gunther kick)BYU 38-12
4BYUGunther 32-yard field goalBYU 41-12
4COLBeebe 1-yard pass from Essington (Johnson pass from Essington)BYU 41-20

[6]

Utah State

1234Total
Utah St0771226
•BYU0761932
  • Date: October 2
  • Location: Cougar Stadium • Provo, Utah
Scoring summary
2USUJones 8-yard pass from Canales (Money kick)Utah St 7-0
2BYUPettis 6-yard run (Gunther kick)Tie 7-7
3USUMcPherson 4-yard pass from Canales (Money kick)Utah St 14-7
3BYUHamilton 1-yard run (kick failed)Utah St 14-13
4USUMcPherson 5-yard pass from Canales (kick failed)Utah St 20-13
4BYUCollie 8-yard pass from Young (Gunther kick)Tie 20-20
4USUTurner 6-yard run (kick failed)Utah St 26-20
4BYUHamilton 42-yard run (kick failed)Tie 26-26
4BYUShell 19-yard interception return (kick failed)BYU 32-26

[7]

UNLV

At San Diego State

At Wyoming

#13 BYU Cougars (6–1) at Wyoming Cowboys (4–2)
Period1234Total
BYU 1400620
Wyoming 01471233

at War Memorial Stadium, Laramie, Wyoming

  • Date: October 24, 1981
  • Game weather: Snow, 32 °F (0 °C)
  • Game attendance: 22,745
  • Box Score
Game information

I'd rather lose and live in Provo than win and live in Wyoming.

LaVell Edwards, following the loss

New Mexico

At Colorado State

At Hawaii

1234Total
•BYU067013
Hawaii00033
Scoring summary
2BYUGunther 19-yard field goalBYU 3-0
2BYUGunther 45-yard field goalBYU 6-0
3BYUBalholm recovered fumble in end zone (Gunther kick)BYU 13-0
4HAWLarsen 40-yard field goalBYU 13-3

[8]

Utah

Utah at #18 BYU
1234Total
Utah10117028
•BYU142114756
Scoring summary
1UTAHRodgers 87-yard run (Alvarez kick)Utah 7-0
1BYUPettis 6-yard run (Gunther kick)Tied 7-7
1UTAHAlvarez 43-yard field goalUtah 10-7
1BYUHudson 8-yard pass from McMahon (Gunther kick)BYU 14-10
2UTAHAlvarez 27-yard field goalBYU 14-13
2BYUHamilton 1-yard run (Gunther kick)BYU 21-13
2BYUMills 6-yard pass from McMahon (Gunther kick)BYU 28-13
2BYUMcKee 18-yard interception return (Gunther kick)BYU 35-13
2UTAHRodgers 1-yard run (Ferguson to Rodgers pass)BYU 35-21
3UTAHRodgers 8-yard run (Alvarez kick)BYU 35-28
3BYUHamilton 1-yard run (Gunther kick)BYU 42-28
3BYUPlater 27-yard pass from McMahon (Gunther kick)BYU 49-28
4BYUHudson 37-yard pass from McMahon (Gunther kick)BYU 56-28

Jim McMahon passes for 565 yards and becomes the NCAA's career leader in the category.

Holiday Bowl (vs Washington State)

Team players in the NFL

The following were selected in the 1982 NFL Draft.

PlayerPositionRoundOverallNFL team
Jim McMahon Quarterback15 Chicago Bears
Dan PlaterWide receiver4106 Denver Broncos

[9]

Awards and honors

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LaVell Edwards</span> American football player and coach (1930–2016)

Reuben LaVell Edwards was an American football head coach for Brigham Young University (BYU). With 257 career victories, he ranks as one of the most successful college football coaches of all time. Among his many notable accomplishments, Edwards guided BYU to a national championship in 1984 and coached Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer in 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BYU Cougars football</span> College football program representing Brigham Young University

The BYU Cougars football team is the college football program representing Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah. The Cougars began collegiate football competition in 1922, and have won 23 conference championships and one national championship in 1984.

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The 1990 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University (BYU) in the 1990 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Cougars offense scored 524 points while the defense allowed 350 points. Led by head coach LaVell Edwards, the team participated in the Holiday Bowl.

The 1972 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University (BYU) for the 1972 NCAA University Division football season. It was their first year under head coach LaVell Edwards and the Cougars finished over .500 for the first time since 1969.

The 1977 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University (BYU) for the 1977 NCAA Division I football season. The Cougars were led by sixth-year head coach LaVell Edwards and played their home games at Cougar Stadium in Provo, Utah. The team competed as a member of the Western Athletic Conference, winning a share of the conference title for the second consecutive year, sharing the title with Arizona State with a conference record of 6–1.

The 1979 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University (BYU) for the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Cougars were led by eighth-year head coach LaVell Edwards and played their home games at Cougar Stadium in Provo, Utah. The team competed as a member of the Western Athletic Conference, winning the conference title for the fourth consecutive year with a conference record of 7–0. BYU finished the regular season with an undefeated record of 11–0. BYU was invited to the 1979 Holiday Bowl, where they lost to Indiana. They were ranked 13th in the final AP Poll and 12th in the final Coaches Poll.

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The 1978 BYU Cougars football team represented the Brigham Young University (BYU) in the 1978 NCAA Division I-A football season as a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). The team was led by head coach LaVell Edwards, in his seventh year, and played their home games at Cougar Stadium in Provo, Utah. They finished the season with a record of nine wins and four losses, as WAC champions and with a loss against Navy in the Holiday Bowl.

The 1973 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University during the 1973 NCAA Division I football season. The Cougars were led by second-year head coach LaVell Edwards and played their home games at Cougar Stadium in Provo, Utah. The team competed as a member of the Western Athletic Conference, finishing tied for fourth with a conference record of 3–4.

The 1975 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University during the 1975 NCAA Division I football season. The Cougars were led by fourth-year head coach LaVell Edwards and played their home games at Cougar Stadium in Provo, Utah. The team competed as a member of the Western Athletic Conference, finishing tied for fourth with a conference record of 4–3.

The 1974 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University during the 1974 NCAA Division I football season. The Cougars were led by third-year head coach LaVell Edwards and played their home games at Cougar Stadium in Provo, Utah. The team competed as a member of the Western Athletic Conference, winning the conference for the first time since 1965 with an undefeated conference record of 6–0–1. BYU was invited to the 1974 Fiesta Bowl, where they lost to Oklahoma State.

The 1976 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University during the 1976 NCAA Division I football season. The Cougars were led by fifth-year head coach LaVell Edwards and played their home games at Cougar Stadium in Provo, Utah. The team competed as a member of the Western Athletic Conference, winning a share of the conference title with Wyoming with a conference record of 6–1. BYU was invited to the 1976 Tangerine Bowl, where they lost to Oklahoma State.

The 1985 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University during the 1985 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Cougars were led by 14th-year head coach LaVell Edwards and played their home games at Cougar Stadium in Provo, Utah. The team competed as a member of the Western Athletic Conference, winning a share of their 10th consecutive conference title with a conference record of 7–1, sharing the title with Air Force. BYU was invited to the 1985 Florida Citrus Bowl, where they lost to Ohio State. The Cougars were ranked 16th in the final AP Poll with an overall record of 11–3. Their loss to UTEP is considered to be one of the biggest upsets in college football history, with it being tied for the fifth biggest by points spread.

The 1989 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University as a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) during the 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by 18th-year head coach LaVell Edwards, the Cougars compiled a record of 10–3 overall and 7–1 in conference play, winning the WAC title. BYU was invited to the Holiday Bowl, where the Cougars lost to Penn State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1981 Washington State Cougars football team</span> American college football season

The 1981 Washington State Cougars football team was an American football team that represented Washington State University in the Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10) during the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their fourth season under head coach Jim Walden, the Cougars compiled an 8–3–1 record, and outscored their opponents 297 to 197.

The 1987 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University during the 1987 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Cougars were led by 16th-year head coach LaVell Edwards and played their home games at Cougar Stadium in Provo, Utah. The team competed as members of the Western Athletic Conference, finishing in second with a record of 9–4. BYU was invited to the All-American Bowl, where they were defeated by Virginia. The Cougars also participated in a rare college football game played outside the United States, in a regular season finale against Colorado State played in Melbourne, Australia. The game was promoted as the "Melbourne Bowl" but was met with weak enthusiasm in Australia.

The 1988 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University during the 1988 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Cougars were led by 17th-year head coach LaVell Edwards and played their home games at Cougar Stadium in Provo, Utah. The team competed as members of the Western Athletic Conference, finishing tied for third with a record of 9–4. BYU was invited to the 1988 Freedom Bowl, where they defeated Colorado.

The 2023 Cincinnati Bearcats football team represented the University of Cincinnati during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bearcats, members of the Big 12 Conference, played home games at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. 2023 was the program's first season under head coach Scott Satterfield.

The 2023 Sam Houston Bearkats football team represented Sam Houston State University in Conference USA during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bearkats were led by tenth-year head coach K. C. Keeler. They played their home games at Bowers Stadium in Huntsville, Texas. They were ineligible for a bowl game, the conference championship, or the College Football Playoff due to rules governing transitions from FCS to FBS.

References

  1. ↑ "Long Beach: BYU Defense Is Too Much". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. September 6, 1981. p. III-7. Retrieved February 10, 2017– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  2. ↑ Dunn, Marion (September 13, 1981). "Bottom Line: BYU 45, AFA 21". Daily Herald . p. 6. Retrieved October 20, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "Vegas shocks BYU, 45-41". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). wire service reports. October 11, 1981. p. 6B.
  4. ↑ "BYU '82 Football" (PDF). BYU Athletics. p. 2. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  5. ↑ "BYU Thumps Air Force." Gainesville Sun. 1981 Sept 13.
  6. ↑ Eugene Register-Guard. 1981 Sept 27.
  7. ↑ Eugene Register-Guard. 1981 Oct 3.
  8. ↑ Eugene Register-Guard. 1981 Nov 17.
  9. ↑ "1982 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on December 21, 2007.
  10. ↑ "Awards". www.touchdownclubofcolumbus.com. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011.
  11. ↑ "College Football Awards - ESPN". Archived from the original on February 18, 2009. Retrieved February 20, 2007.
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