1981 Pittsburgh Panthers football team

Last updated

1981 Pittsburgh Panthers football
National champion (NCF)
Sugar Bowl champion
Sugar Bowl, W 24–20 vs. Georgia
ConferenceIndependent
Ranking
CoachesNo. 2
APNo. 4
Record11–1
Head coach
Offensive coordinator Joe Moore, Paul McCullough (1st, 6th season)
Offensive schemeMultiple pro-style
Defensive coordinator Foge Fazio (3rd season)
Base defenseMultiple front
Home stadium Pitt Stadium
Seasons
  1980
1982  
1981 Major eastern college football independents records
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 3 Penn State $ 5 0 010 2 0
No. 4 Pittsburgh 5 1 011 1 0
No. 17 West Virginia 3 3 09 3 0
Temple 2 3 05 5 0
Syracuse 2 4 04 6 1
Boston College 1 4 05 6 0
Rutgers 1 4 05 6 0
Rankings from AP Poll
1981 NCAA Division I-A independents football records
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 4 Pittsburgh    11 1 0
No. 3 Penn State    10 2 0
No. 8 Miami (FL)    9 2 0
Southern Miss    9 2 1
No. 17 West Virginia    9 3 0
Colgate    7 3 0
Virginia Tech    7 4 0
Navy    7 4 1
Cincinnati    6 5 0
Florida State    6 5 0
Holy Cross    6 5 0
Tulane    6 5 0
UNLV    6 6 0
South Carolina    6 6 0
Temple    5 5 0
Boston College    5 6 0
East Carolina    5 6 0
Northeast Louisiana    5 6 0
Louisville    5 6 0
Notre Dame    5 6 0
Rutgers    5 6 0
William & Mary    5 6 0
Syracuse    4 6 1
Richmond    4 7 0
Army    3 7 1
North Texas State    2 9 0
Georgia Tech    1 10 0
Memphis State    1 10 0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1981 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh in the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. The one-loss Panthers were selected as national champion by NCAA-designated major selector National Championship Foundation [1] and also by Montgomery Full Season Championship. [2] The school does not claim a national championship for this season.

Contents

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 51:30 p.m. Illinois No. 8W 26–646,022 [3]
September 191:30 p.m. Cincinnati No. 7
  • Pitt Stadium
  • Pittsburgh, PA (River City Rivalry)
W 38–740,172 [4]
October 33:50 p.m.at South Carolina No. 4 ABC W 42–2856,495 [5]
October 101:30 p.m.at West Virginia No. 4W 17–054,280 [6]
October 171:30 p.m.No. 11 Florida State No. 3
  • Pitt Stadium
  • Pittsburgh, PA
W 42–1455,112 [7]
October 241:30 p.m. Syracuse Dagger-14-plain.pngNo. 2
  • Pitt Stadium
  • Pittsburgh, PA (rivalry)
USA W 23–1050,330 [8]
October 311:00 p.m.at Boston College No. 2W 29–2425,500 [9]
November 71:00 p.m.at Rutgers No. 1W 47–334,636 [10]
November 141:30 p.m. Army No. 1
  • Pitt Stadium
  • Pittsburgh, PA
W 48–053,225 [11]
November 211:30 p.m.at Temple No. 1USAW 35–032,570 [12]
November 2812:25 p.m.No. 11 Penn State No. 1
  • Pitt Stadium
  • Pittsburgh, PA (rivalry)
ABCL 14–4860,260 [13]
January 1, 19828:00 p.m.vs. No. 2 Georgia No. 10ABCW 24–2077,224 [14]

[15]

Game summaries

Illinois

Illinois Fighting Illini at No. 8 Pittsburgh Panthers – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Fighting Illini06006
No. 9 Panthers14010226

at Pitt StadiumPittsburgh, PA

  • Date: September 7
  • Game time: 1:30 PM EDT
  • Game attendance: 46,022
StatisticsILLPITT
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
IllinoisPassing
Rushing
Receiving
PittsburghPassing
Rushing
Receiving

Cincinnati

Cincinnati Bearcats at No. 7 Pittsburgh Panthers – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Bearcats00077
No. 7 Panthers21010738

at Pitt StadiumPittsburgh, PA

  • Date: September 19
  • Game time: 1:30 PM EDT
  • Game attendance: 40,172
StatisticsUCPITT
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
CincinnatiPassing
Rushing
Receiving
PittsburghPassing
Rushing
Receiving

At South Carolina

No. 4 Pittsburgh Panthers at South Carolina Gamecocks – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
No. 4 Panthers141414042
Gamecocks0021728

at Williams–Brice StadiumColumbia, SC

StatisticsPITTS CAR
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
PittsburghPassing
Rushing
Receiving
South CarolinaPassing
Rushing
Receiving

At West Virginia

No. 4 Pittsburgh Panthers at West Virginia Mountaineers – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
No. 4 Panthers0710017
Mountaineers00000

at Mountaineer FieldMorgantown, WV

  • Date: October 10
  • Game time: 1:30 PM EDT
  • Game attendance: 54,280
StatisticsPITTWVU
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
PittsburghPassing
Rushing
Receiving
West VirginiaPassing
Rushing
Receiving

#11 Florida State

No. 11 Florida State Seminoles at No. 3 Pittsburgh Panthers – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
No. 11 Seminoles077014
No. 3 Panthers71414742

at Pitt StadiumPittsburgh, PA

  • Date: October 17
  • Game time: 1:30 PM EDT
  • Game attendance: 55,112
StatisticsFSUPITT
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Florida StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving
PittsburghPassing
Rushing
Receiving

Syracuse

Syracuse Orangemen at No. 2 Pittsburgh Panthers – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Orangemen1000010
No. 2 Panthers0170623

at Pitt StadiumPittsburgh, PA

  • Date: October 24
  • Game time: 1:30 PM EDT
  • Game attendance: 50,330
  • TV: USA
StatisticsSYRPITT
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
SyracusePassing
Rushing
Receiving
PittsburghPassing
Rushing
Receiving

At Boston College

No. 2 Pittsburgh Panthers at Boston College Eagles – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
No. 2 Panthers7139029
Eagles377724

at Alumni StadiumChestnut Hill, MA

  • Date: October 31
  • Game time: 1:00 PM EST
  • Game attendance: 25,500
StatisticsPITTBC
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
PittsburghPassing
Rushing
Receiving
Boston CollegePassing
Rushing
Receiving

At Rutgers

No. 1 Pittsburgh Panthers at Rutgers Scarlet Knights – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
No. 1 Panthers014141947
Scarlet Knights30003

at Giants StadiumEast Rutherford, NJ

  • Date: November 7
  • Game time: 1:00 PM EST
  • Game attendance: 34,636
StatisticsPITTRUT
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
PittsburghPassing
Rushing
Receiving
RutgersPassing
Rushing
Receiving

Army

Army Cadets at No. 1 Pittsburgh Panthers – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Cadets00000
No. 1 Panthers14720748

at Pitt StadiumPittsburgh, PA

  • Date: November 14
  • Game time: 1:30 PM EST
  • Game attendance: 53,225
StatisticsARMYPITT
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
ArmyPassing
Rushing
Receiving
PittsburghPassing
Rushing
Receiving

At Temple

No. 1 Pittsburgh Panthers at Temple Owls – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
No. 1 Panthers2107735
Owls00000

at Veterans StadiumPhiladelphia, PA

  • Date: November 21
  • Game time: 1:30 PM EST
  • Game attendance: 32,570
  • TV: USA
StatisticsPITTTU
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
PittsburghPassing
Rushing
Receiving
TemplePassing
Rushing
Receiving

#11 Penn State

No. 11 Penn State Nittany Lions at No. 1 Pittsburgh Panthers – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
No. 11 Nittany Lions014171748
No. 1 Panthers1400014

at Pitt StadiumPittsburgh, PA

StatisticsPSUPITT
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Penn StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving
PittsburghPassing
Rushing
Receiving

Vs. #2 Georgia (Sugar Bowl)

1982 Sugar Bowl: No. 10 Pittsburgh Panthers vs. No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
No. 10 Panthers0371424
No. 2 Bulldogs076720

at Louisiana SuperdomeNew Orleans, LA

StatisticsPITTUGA
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
PittsburghPassing
Rushing
Receiving
GeorgiaPassing
Rushing
Receiving

Personnel

Coaching staff

1981 Pittsburgh Panthers football staff
Coaching staff
  • Jackie Sherrill – Head coach
  • Foge Fazio – Assistant head coach/defensive coordinator/linebackers
  • Joe Moore – Offensive coordinator/offensive line
  • Joe Daniels – Quarterbacks
  • Bob Davie – Drop Backs
  • Joe Naunchik – Receivers
  • George Pugh – Tight ends
  • Andy Urbanic – Running backs
  • Ray Zingler – Rush Ends
 Support staff
  • Alex Kramer – Administrative assistant
  • Kevin Dickey – Recruiting doordinator
  • Anthony Folino – Part-Time Assistant–Defensive Backs
  • Bob Matey – Part-Time Assistant–Defensive Line
  • Jim Miceli – Part-Time Assistant–Defensive Line
  • Michael Sherman – Part-Time Assistant–Offensive Line
  • Steve Heintzelman – Volunteer coach
 Strength and conditioning staff
  • Buddy Morris – Weight training coordinator

Roster

1981 Pittsburgh Panthers football team roster
PlayersCoaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
G 70 Emil Boures Sr
OT 75 Jimbo Covert Jr
QB 13 Dan Marino Jr
G 77 Ron Sams Jr
Defense
Pos.#NameClass
DB 5 Tom Flynn So
DB 26 Tim Lewis Jr
DT 71 Bill Maas So
Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injury icon 2.svg Injured
  • Redshirt.svg Redshirt

Awards and honors

Team players drafted into the NFL

PlayerPositionRoundPickNFL club
Emil Boures Center7182 Pittsburgh Steelers
Sal Sunseri Linebacker10267 Pittsburgh Steelers
Sam Clancy Defensive end11284 Seattle Seahawks

[16]

Media

Radio

Flagship stationPlay-by-playColor commentatorSideline reporterStudio host
WTAE–AM 1250 Bill Hillgrove John Sauer

References

  1. 2018 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. August 2018. p. 114. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
  2. College Football Data Warehouse; Pittsburgh All National Championships, accessdate=2009-01-29 Archived July 4, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  3. "Pitt overcomes jitters, Illinois". Wisconsin State Journal. September 6, 1981. Retrieved October 31, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Marino tosses five TDs in Pitt victory". The Scrantonian. September 20, 1981. Retrieved October 31, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Pitt romps 42–28". The Roanoke Times & World-News. October 4, 1981. Retrieved January 28, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Pitt shelves air attack, wins, 17–0". The Miami Herald. October 11, 1981. Retrieved January 28, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Seminoles Octoberfest ends as Pitt hammers FSU, 42–14". The Times Argus. October 18, 1981. Retrieved October 31, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Pitt trips Syracuse, 23–10". Sunday News. October 25, 1981. Retrieved October 31, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
  9. "No. 2-ranked Pitt escapes BC 29–24". St. Petersburg Times (AP story). November 1, 1981. p. 11C via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Pittsburgh proves too much for Rutgers". Asbury Park Press. November 8, 1981. Retrieved October 31, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
  11. "No. 1 Pitt routs Army". Sunday Telegram. November 15, 1981. Retrieved October 31, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
  12. "Pitt cruises by Temple". The Post-Crescent. November 22, 1981. Retrieved October 31, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
  13. "Penn State stuns top-ranked Pitt". The Times and Democrat. November 29, 1981. Retrieved October 31, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
  14. "Pitt, Marino put the bite on Bulldogs". The Pittsburgh Press. January 2, 1982. Retrieved October 31, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  15. "1981 Pitt Panthers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  16. "1982 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Archived from the original on December 21, 2007.