1981 Pittsburgh Panthers football team

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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 coordinatorJoe Moore (1st season)
Offensive schemeMultiple pro-style
Defensive coordinatorFoge Fazio (3rd season)
Base defenseMultiple front
Home stadiumPitt Stadium
Seasons
← 1980
1982 →
1981 Major eastern college football independents records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 3 Penn State $ 6 – 0 – 0 10 – 2 – 0
No. 4 Pittsburgh 5 – 1 – 0 11 – 1 – 0
No. 17 West Virginia 3 – 3 – 0 9 – 3 – 0
Temple 2 – 3 – 0 5 – 5 – 0
Syracuse 2 – 4 – 0 4 – 6 – 1
Boston College 1 – 4 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Rutgers 1 – 4 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Rankings from AP Poll
1981 NCAA Division I-A independents football records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   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.

Schedule[edit]

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 51:30 p.m.IllinoisNo. 8
W 26–646,022
September 191:30 p.m.CincinnatiNo. 7
  • Pitt Stadium
  • Pittsburgh, PA (River City Rivalry)
W 38–740,172
October 33:50 p.m.at South CarolinaNo. 4
ABCW 42–2856,495[3]
October 101:30 p.m.at West VirginiaNo. 4
W 17–054,280[4]
October 171:30 p.m.No. 11 Florida StateNo. 3
  • Pitt Stadium
  • Pittsburgh, PA
W 42–1455,112
October 241:30 p.m.SyracusedaggerNo. 2
  • Pitt Stadium
  • Pittsburgh, PA (rivalry)
USAW 23–1050,330
October 311:00 p.m.at Boston CollegeNo. 2
W 29–2425,500
November 71:00 p.m.at RutgersNo. 1
W 47–334,636
November 141:30 p.m.ArmyNo. 1
  • Pitt Stadium
  • Pittsburgh, PA
W 48–053,225
November 211:30 p.m.at TempleNo. 1
USAW 35–032,570
November 2812:25 p.m.No. 11 Penn StateNo. 1
  • Pitt Stadium
  • Pittsburgh, PA (rivalry)
ABCL 14–4860,260
January 18:00 p.m.vs. No. 2 GeorgiaNo. 10
ABCW 24–2077,224[5]

Game summaries[edit]

Illinois[edit]

See also: 1982 Illinois Fighting Illini football team
Illinois Fighting Illini at No. 8 Pittsburgh Panthers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Fighting Illini 0 6 006
No. 9 Panthers 14 0 10226

at Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA

  • Date: September 7
  • Game time: 1:30 PM EDT
  • Game attendance: 46,022
Statistics ILL PITT
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Illinois Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Pittsburgh Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Cincinnati[edit]

See also: 1981 Cincinnati Bearcats football team and River City Rivalry
Cincinnati Bearcats at No. 7 Pittsburgh Panthers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Bearcats 0 0 077
No. 7 Panthers 21 0 10738

at Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA

  • Date: September 19
  • Game time: 1:30 PM EDT
  • Game attendance: 40,172
Statistics UC PITT
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Cincinnati Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Pittsburgh Passing
Rushing
Receiving

At South Carolina[edit]

See also: 1981 South Carolina Gamecocks football team
No. 4 Pittsburgh Panthers at South Carolina Gamecocks – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
No. 4 Panthers 14 14 14042
Gamecocks 0 0 21728

at Williams–Brice Stadium • Columbia, SC

Statistics PITT S CAR
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Pittsburgh Passing
Rushing
Receiving
South Carolina Passing
Rushing
Receiving

At West Virginia[edit]

See also: 1981 West Virginia Mountaineers football team and Backyard Brawl
No. 4 Pittsburgh Panthers at West Virginia Mountaineers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
No. 4 Panthers 0 7 10017
Mountaineers 0 0 000

at Mountaineer Field • Morgantown, WV

  • Date: October 10
  • Game time: 1:30 PM EDT
  • Game attendance: 54,280
Statistics PITT WVU
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Pittsburgh Passing
Rushing
Receiving
West Virginia Passing
Rushing
Receiving

#11 Florida State[edit]

See also: 1981 Florida State Seminoles football team
No. 11 Florida State Seminoles at No. 3 Pittsburgh Panthers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
No. 11 Seminoles 0 7 7014
No. 3 Panthers 7 14 14742

at Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA

  • Date: October 17
  • Game time: 1:30 PM EDT
  • Game attendance: 55,112
Statistics FSU PITT
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Florida State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Pittsburgh Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Syracuse[edit]

See also: 1981 Syracuse Orangemen football team and Pittsburgh–Syracuse football rivalry
Syracuse Orangemen at No. 2 Pittsburgh Panthers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Orangemen 10 0 0010
No. 2 Panthers 0 17 0623

at Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA

  • Date: October 24
  • Game time: 1:30 PM EDT
  • Game attendance: 50,330
  • TV: USA
Statistics SYR PITT
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Syracuse Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Pittsburgh Passing
Rushing
Receiving

At Boston College[edit]

See also: 1981 Boston College Eagles football team
No. 2 Pittsburgh Panthers at Boston College Eagles – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
No. 2 Panthers 7 13 9029
Eagles 3 7 7724

at Alumni Stadium • Chestnut Hill, MA

  • Date: October 31
  • Game time: 1:00 PM EST
  • Game attendance: 25,500
Statistics PITT BC
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Pittsburgh Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Boston College Passing
Rushing
Receiving

At Rutgers[edit]

See also: 1981 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team
No. 1 Pittsburgh Panthers at Rutgers Scarlet Knights – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
No. 1 Panthers 0 14 141947
Scarlet Knights 3 0 003

at Giants Stadium • East Rutherford, NJ

  • Date: November 7
  • Game time: 1:00 PM EST
  • Game attendance: 34,636
Statistics PITT RUT
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Pittsburgh Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Rutgers Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Army[edit]

See also: 1981 Army Cadets football team
Army Cadets at No. 1 Pittsburgh Panthers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cadets 0 0 000
No. 1 Panthers 14 7 20748

at Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA

  • Date: November 14
  • Game time: 1:30 PM EST
  • Game attendance: 53,225
Statistics ARMY PITT
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Army Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Pittsburgh Passing
Rushing
Receiving

At Temple[edit]

See also: 1981 Temple Owls football team
No. 1 Pittsburgh Panthers at Temple Owls – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
No. 1 Panthers 21 0 7735
Owls 0 0 000

at Veterans Stadium • Philadelphia, PA

  • Date: November 21
  • Game time: 1:30 PM EST
  • Game attendance: 32,570
  • TV: USA
Statistics PITT TU
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Pittsburgh Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Temple Passing
Rushing
Receiving

#11 Penn State[edit]

See also: 1981 Penn State Nittany Lions football team and Penn State–Pittsburgh football rivalry
No. 11 Penn State Nittany Lions at No. 1 Pittsburgh Panthers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
No. 11 Nittany Lions 0 14 171748
No. 1 Panthers 14 0 0014

at Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA

Statistics PSU PITT
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Penn State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Pittsburgh Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Vs. #2 Georgia (Sugar Bowl)[edit]

See also: 1981 Georgia Bulldogs football team and 1982 Sugar Bowl
1982 Sugar Bowl: No. 10 Pittsburgh Panthers vs. No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
No. 10 Panthers 0 3 71424
No. 2 Bulldogs 0 7 6720

at Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA

Statistics PITT UGA
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Pittsburgh Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Georgia Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Personnel[edit]

Coaching staff[edit]

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[edit]

1981 Pittsburgh Panthers football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
G 70 Emil Boures Sr
OT 75 Jimbo Covert Jr
QB 13 Dan Marino Jr
G 77 Ron Sams Jr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
DB 5 Tom Flynn So
DB 26 Tim Lewis Jr
DT 71 Bill Maas So
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Awards and honors[edit]

Team players drafted into the NFL[edit]

Player Position Round Pick NFL club
Emil Boures Center 7 182 Pittsburgh Steelers
Sal Sunseri Linebacker 10 267 Pittsburgh Steelers
Sam Clancy Defensive end 11 284 Seattle Seahawks

[6]

Media[edit]

Radio[edit]

Flagship station Play-by-play Color commentator Sideline reporter Studio host
WTAE–AM 1250 Bill Hillgrove John Sauer

References[edit]

  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 romps 42–28". The Roanoke Times & World-News. October 4, 1981. Retrieved January 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Pitt shelves air attack, wins, 17–0". The Miami Herald. October 11, 1981. Retrieved January 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Pitt, Marino put the bite on Bulldogs". The Pittsburgh Press. January 2, 1982. Retrieved October 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "1982 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Archived from the original on December 21, 2007.
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