1981 BYU Cougars football team

1981 BYU Cougars football
WAC champion Holiday Bowl champion
Holiday Bowl, W 38–36 vs. Washington State
Conference	Western Athletic Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 11
AP	No. 13
Record	11–2 (7–1 WAC)
Head coach	LaVell Edwards (10th season)
Offensive coordinator	Roger French (1st season)
Offensive scheme	West Coast
Defensive coordinator	Fred Whittingham (3rd season)
Base defense	4–3
Home stadium	Cougar Stadium
Seasons ←  1980 1982  →

1981 Western Athletic Conference football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 13 BYU $	7	–	1	–	0			11	–	2	–	0
Hawaii	5	–	1	–	0			9	–	2	–	0
Utah	4	–	1	–	1			8	–	2	–	1
Wyoming	6	–	2	–	0			8	–	3	–	0
New Mexico	3	–	4	–	1			4	–	7	–	1
Air Force	2	–	3	–	0			4	–	7	–	0
San Diego State	3	–	5	–	0			6	–	5	–	0
UTEP	1	–	6	–	0			1	–	10	–	0
Colorado State	0	–	8	–	0			0	–	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.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 5	at Long Beach State *	No. 16	Anaheim Stadium Anaheim, CA	W 31–8	20,953	[1]
September 12	Air Force	No. 15	Cougar Stadium Provo, UT	W 45–21	38,712	[2]
September 19	at UTEP	No. 13	Sun Bowl El Paso, TX	W 65–8	19,400	[3]
September 26	at Colorado *	No. 11	Folsom Field Boulder, CO	W 41–20	43,259	[4]
October 2	Utah State *	No. 10	Cougar Stadium Provo, UT (rivalry)	W 32–26	41,129	[5]
October 10	UNLV *	No. 8	Cougar Stadium Provo, UT	L 41–45	39,852	[6]
October 17	at San Diego State	No. 17	Jack Murphy Stadium San Diego, CA	W 27–7	41,727	[7]
October 24	at Wyoming	No. 13	War Memorial Stadium Laramie, WY	L 20–33	22,745	[8]
October 31	New Mexico		Cougar Stadium Provo, UT	W 31–7	36,343	[9]
November 7	at Colorado State		Hughes Stadium Fort Collins, CO	W 63–14	17,851	[10]
November 14	at No. 19 Hawaii		Aloha Stadium Halawa, HI	W 13–3	45,355	[11]
November 21	Utah	No. 18	Cougar Stadium Provo, UT (Holy War)	W 56–28	47,163	[12]
December 18	vs. No. 20 Washington State *	No. 14	Jack Murphy Stadium San Diego, CA (Holiday Bowl)	W 38–36	52,419	[13]
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

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Game summaries

At Long Beach State

#16 BYU Cougars (0–0) at Long Beach State 49ers (0–0)

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
BYU	7	10	14	0	31
Long Beach St	0	0	0	8	8

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
Full game
BYU highlights

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
BYU	Passing	Jim McMahon	28/45, 403 Yds, 2 INT
	Rushing	Scott Pettis	5 Rush, 37 Yds, TD
	Receiving	Dan Plater	8 Rec, 99 Yds
Long Beach St	Passing	Angelo Gasca	11/24, 73 Yds, 3 INT
	Rushing	Tim Gross	14 Rush, 40 Yds
	Receiving	Louis Leidelmeyer	2 Rec, 43 Yds

Scoring summary

Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP BYU LBS 1 BYU Scott Pettis 10-yard touchdown run, Kurt Gunther kick good 7 0 2 BYU Interception returned 12 yards for touchdown by Todd Shell, Kurt Gunther kick good 14 0 2 BYU 32-yard field goal by Kurt Gunther 17 0 3 BYU Waymon Hamilton 2-yard touchdown run, Kurt Gunther kick good 24 0 3 BYU Blocked punt recovered in end zone for touchdown by Tom Holmoe, Kurt Gunther kick good 31 0 4 Long Beach St Darryl Stokes 11-yard touchdown reception from Doug Disney, 2-point run good 31 8 "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 31 8

Air Force

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Air Force	0	7	7	7	21
• BYU	10	14	7	14	45

• Date: September 12
• Location: Cougar Stadium, Provo, Utah
• Game attendance: 38,712

Scoring summary

Q1		BYU	Hudson 10 yard pass from McMahon (Gunther kick)	BYU 7–0
Q1		BYU	Gunther 32 yard field goal	BYU 10–0
Q2		BYU	Hamilton 1 yard run (Gunther kick)	BYU 17–0
Q2		AFA	Kirby 75 yard punt return (Pavlich kick)	BYU 17–7
Q2		BYU	Kozlowski 12 yard pass from McMahon (Gunther kick)	BYU 24–7
Q3		BYU	Hamilton 4 yard pass from McMahon (Gunther kick)	BYU 31–7
Q3		AFA	Sundquist 1 yard run (Pavlich kick)	BYU 31–14
Q4		AFA	James 13 yard run (Pavlich kick)	BYU 31–21
Q4		BYU	Hamilton 12 yard pass from McMahon (Gunther kick)	BYU 38–21
Q4		BYU	Sikahema 8 yard run (Gunther kick)	BYU 45–21

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At Colorado

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
•BYU	14	3	14	10	41
Colorado	0	0	6	14	20

• Date: September 26
• Location: Folsom Field • Boulder, Colorado
• Game attendance: 43,259

Scoring summary

1		BYU	Plater 44-yard pass from McMahon (Gunther kick)	BYU 7-0
1		BYU	Pettis 7-yard pass from McMahon (Gunther kick)	BYU 14-0
2		BYU	Gunther 40-yard field goal	BYU 17-0
3		BYU	Kozlowski 3-yard pass from McMahon (Gunther kick)	BYU 24-0
3		COL	James 33-yard pass from Essington (pass failed)	BYU 24-6
3		BYU	Hudson 11-yard pass from Young (Gunther kick)	BYU 31-6
4		COL	Rouson 7-yard run (pass failed)	BYU 31-12
4		BYU	Plater 22-yard pass from Young (Gunther kick)	BYU 38-12
4		BYU	Gunther 32-yard field goal	BYU 41-12
4		COL	Beebe 1-yard pass from Essington (Johnson pass from Essington)	BYU 41-20

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Utah State

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Utah St	0	7	7	12	26
•BYU	0	7	6	19	32

• Date: October 2
• Location: Cougar Stadium • Provo, Utah

Scoring summary

2		USU	Jones 8-yard pass from Canales (Money kick)	Utah St 7-0
2		BYU	Pettis 6-yard run (Gunther kick)	Tie 7-7
3		USU	McPherson 4-yard pass from Canales (Money kick)	Utah St 14-7
3		BYU	Hamilton 1-yard run (kick failed)	Utah St 14-13
4		USU	McPherson 5-yard pass from Canales (kick failed)	Utah St 20-13
4		BYU	Collie 8-yard pass from Young (Gunther kick)	Tie 20-20
4		USU	Turner 6-yard run (kick failed)	Utah St 26-20
4		BYU	Hamilton 42-yard run (kick failed)	Tie 26-26
4		BYU	Shell 19-yard interception return (kick failed)	BYU 32-26

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At Wyoming

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

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
BYU	14	0	0	6	20
Wyoming	0	14	7	12	33

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

First quarter BYU – Waymon Hamilton 2-yard run (Kurt Gunther kick). BYU 7–0. BYU – Scott Collie 63-yard pass from Jim McMahon (Lee Johnson kick). BYU 14–0. Second quarter WYO – Phil Davis 30-yard run (kick failed). BYU 14–6. WYO – Charles Moore 25-yard run (run good). Tie 14–14. Third quarter WYO – Phil Davis 32-yard run (Steve Tobin kick). Wyoming 21–14. Fourth quarter WYO – James Williams 81-yard pass from Phil Davis (two-point conversion failed). Wyoming 27–14. WYO – Phil Davis 28-yard run (two-point conversion failed). Wyoming 33–14. BYU – David Mills 5-yard pass from Jim McMahon (kick failed). Wyoming 33–20. Top passers BYU – Jim McMahon – 29/47, 393 yards, 2 TD, INT WYO – Phil Davis – 5/11, 124 yards, TD Top rushers BYU – Scott Pettis – 9 rushes, 58 yards WYO – Phil Davis – 16 rushes, 140 yards, 3 TD Top receivers BYU – Scott Collie – 5 receptions, 123 yards, TD WYO – James Williams – 4 receptions, 114 yards, TD

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

LaVell Edwards, following the loss

At Hawaii

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
•BYU	0	6	7	0	13
Hawaii	0	0	0	3	3

• Date: November 16
• Location: Aloha Stadium • Honolulu, Hawaii

Scoring summary

2		BYU	Gunther 19-yard field goal	BYU 3-0
2		BYU	Gunther 45-yard field goal	BYU 6-0
3		BYU	Balholm recovered fumble in end zone (Gunther kick)	BYU 13-0
4		HAW	Larsen 40-yard field goal	BYU 13-3

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Utah

Utah at #18 BYU

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Utah	10	11	7	0	28
•BYU	14	21	14	7	56

• Date: Saturday, November 21
• Location: Cougar Stadium, Provo, Utah
• Game attendance: 47,163

• Source: Eugene Register-Guard

Scoring summary

1		UTAH	Rodgers 87-yard run (Alvarez kick)	Utah 7-0
1		BYU	Pettis 6-yard run (Gunther kick)	Tied 7-7
1		UTAH	Alvarez 43-yard field goal	Utah 10-7
1		BYU	Hudson 8-yard pass from McMahon (Gunther kick)	BYU 14-10
2		UTAH	Alvarez 27-yard field goal	BYU 14-13
2		BYU	Hamilton 1-yard run (Gunther kick)	BYU 21-13
2		BYU	Mills 6-yard pass from McMahon (Gunther kick)	BYU 28-13
2		BYU	McKee 18-yard interception return (Gunther kick)	BYU 35-13
2		UTAH	Rodgers 1-yard run (Ferguson to Rodgers pass)	BYU 35-21
3		UTAH	Rodgers 8-yard run (Alvarez kick)	BYU 35-28
3		BYU	Hamilton 1-yard run (Gunther kick)	BYU 42-28
3		BYU	Plater 27-yard pass from McMahon (Gunther kick)	BYU 49-28
4		BYU	Hudson 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.

Personnel

1981 BYU Cougars football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class G, C 57 Robert Anae  Fr QB 6 Robbie Bosco Fr RB 2 Bruce Hansen So TE 95 Gordon Hudson So WR 7 Glen Kozlowski RFr QB 9 Jim McMahon RSr C 50 Bart Oates  Jr RB 23 Vai Sikahema So QB 8 Steve Young So	Defense Pos. # Name Class DT 78 Chuck Ehin Jr DE 92 Jim Herrmann Fr DB 46 Tom Holmoe Jr DE 77 Mike Morgan Jr LB 47 Todd Shell So LB 59 Kyle Whittingham Sr	Special teams Pos. # Name Class K 2 Kurt Gunther Jr P 10 Lee Johnson Fr	Head coach LaVell Edwards Coordinators/assistant coaches Jim Paronto (Graduate assistant) Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster

Awards and honors

• Jim McMahon – Sammy Baugh Trophy, ^[20] Davey O'Brien Award ^[21]

Team players in the NFL

The following were selected in the 1982 NFL draft.

Player	Position	Round	Overall	NFL team
Jim McMahon	Quarterback	1	5	Chicago Bears
Dan Plater	Wide receiver	4	106	Denver Broncos

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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.
2. Dunn, Marion (September 13, 1981). "Bottom Line: BYU 45, AFA 21". Daily Herald . p. 6. Retrieved October 20, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
3. "BYU continues winning string". The Daily Spectrum. September 20, 1981. Retrieved October 31, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
4. "BYU breezes; Colorado no match for McMahon & Co". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. September 27, 1981. Retrieved October 31, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
5. "BYU interception saves winning streak". The Times-News. October 3, 1981. Retrieved October 31, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
6. "Vegas shocks BYU, 45-41". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. wire service reports. October 11, 1981. p. 6B.
7. "Kofler, Aztecs blitzed by BYU in WAC shootout". Daily Times-Advocate. October 18, 1981. Retrieved October 31, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
8. "Wyoming Cowboys bury BYU Cougars, 33–20". South Idaho Press. October 25, 1981. Retrieved October 31, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
9. "McMahon, BYU roll by Lobos". Carlsbad Current-Argus. November 1, 1981. Retrieved October 31, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
10. "BYU's Jim McMahon passes for seven TDs, 538 yards". The Roanoke Times. November 8, 1981. Retrieved October 31, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
11. "Cougar defense stops Rainbows". The Salt Lake Tribune. November 15, 1981. Retrieved October 31, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
12. "BYU crushes Utah". The Atlanta Journal & Constitution. November 22, 1981. Retrieved October 31, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
13. "McMahon leads BYU to victory". The Arizona Republic. December 19, 1981. Retrieved October 31, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
14. "1981 Brigham Young Cougars Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
15. "BYU '82 Football" (PDF). BYU Athletics. p. 2. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
16. "BYU Thumps Air Force." Gainesville Sun. 1981 Sept 13.
17. Eugene Register-Guard. 1981 Sept 27.
18. Eugene Register-Guard. 1981 Oct 3.
19. Eugene Register-Guard. 1981 Nov 17.
20. "Awards". www.touchdownclubofcolumbus.com. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011.
21. "College Football Awards - ESPN". Archived from the original on February 18, 2009. Retrieved February 20, 2007.
22. "1982 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on December 21, 2007.