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1981 BYU Cougars football team

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1981 BYU Cougars football
WAC champion
Holiday Bowl champion
ConferenceWestern Athletic Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 11
APNo. 13
Record11–2 (7–1 WAC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorRoger French (1st season)
Offensive schemeWest Coast
Defensive coordinatorFred Whittingham (3rd season)
Base defense4–3
Home stadiumCougar Stadium
1981 Western Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 13 BYU $7–1–011–2–0
Hawaii5–1–09–2–0
Utah4–1–18–2–1
Wyoming6–2–08–3–0
New Mexico3–4–14–7–1
Air Force2–3–04–7–0
San Diego State3–5–06–5–0
UTEP1–6–01–10–0
Colorado State0–8–00–12–0
  • $ – 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.

Schedule

DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 5at Long Beach State*No. 16
W 31–820,953[1]
September 12Air ForceNo. 15
W 45–2138,712[2]
September 19at UTEPNo. 13
W 65–819,400[3]
September 26at Colorado*No. 11
W 41–2043,259[4]
October 2Utah State*No. 10
W 32–2641,129[5]
October 10UNLV*No. 8
  • Cougar Stadium
  • Provo, UT
L 41–4539,852[6]
October 17at San Diego StateNo. 17
W 27–741,727[7]
October 24at WyomingNo. 13
L 20–3322,745[8]
October 31New Mexico
  • Cougar Stadium
  • Provo, UT
W 31–736,343[9]
November 7at Colorado State
W 63–1417,851[10]
November 14at No. 19 Hawaii
W 13–345,355[11]
November 21UtahNo. 18
W 56–2847,163[12]
December 18vs. No. 20 Washington State*No. 14
W 38–3652,419[13]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[14][15]

Game summaries

At Long Beach State

#16 BYU Cougars (0–0) at Long Beach State 49ers (0–0)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
BYU 7 10 14031
Long Beach St 0 0 088

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
video icon Full game
video icon BYU highlights
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
BYU PassingJim McMahon28/45, 403 Yds, 2 INT
RushingScott Pettis5 Rush, 37 Yds, TD
ReceivingDan Plater8 Rec, 99 Yds
Long Beach St PassingAngelo Gasca11/24, 73 Yds, 3 INT
RushingTim Gross14 Rush, 40 Yds
ReceivingLouis Leidelmeyer2 Rec, 43 Yds

Air Force

Team 1 234Total
Air Force 0 777 21
• BYU 10 14714 45
Scoring summary
Q1BYUHudson 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
Q2BYUKozlowski 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
Q4BYUSikahema 8 yard run (Gunther kick)BYU 45–21

[16]

At UTEP

At Colorado

Team 1 234Total
• BYU 14 31410 41
Colorado 0 0614 20
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

[17]

Utah State

Team 1 234Total
Utah St 0 7712 26
• BYU 0 7619 32
  • 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

[18]

UNLV

At San Diego State

At Wyoming

#13 BYU Cougars (6–1) at Wyoming Cowboys (4–2)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
BYU 14 0 0620
Wyoming 0 14 71233

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

New Mexico

At Colorado State

At Hawaii

Team 1 234Total
• BYU 0 670 13
Hawaii 0 003 3
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

[19]

Utah

Utah at #18 BYU
Team 1 234Total
Utah 10 1170 28
• BYU 14 21147 56
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)

1981 Holiday Bowl

Personnel

1981 BYU Cougars football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
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.#NameClass
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.#NameClass
K 2 Kurt Gunther Jr
P 10 Lee Johnson Fr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Roster

[20][21]

Awards and honors

Team players in the NFL

The following were selected in the 1982 NFL draft.

PlayerPositionRoundOverallNFL team
Jim McMahonQuarterback15Chicago Bears
Dan PlaterWide receiver4106Denver Broncos

[24]

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 icon
  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. "Starting lineups". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). December 18, 1981. p. 12B.
  21. "Holiday Bowl team rosters". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). December 18, 1981. p. 14B.
  22. "Awards". www.touchdownclubofcolumbus.com. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011.
  23. "College Football Awards - ESPN". Archived from the original on February 18, 2009. Retrieved February 20, 2007.
  24. "1982 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 21, 2007.