1981 Pittsburgh Panthers football team

1981 NCAA Division I-A independents football records
	Rankings from AP Poll

1981 Pittsburgh Panthers football
1981 Pittsburgh Panthers football
National champion (NCF); Sugar Bowl champion
Sugar Bowl, W 24–20 vs. Georgia
Conference	Independent
Ranking
Coaches	No. 2
AP	No. 4
1981 record	11–1
Head coach	Jackie Sherrill (5th season);
Offensive coordinator	Joe Moore (1st season)
Offensive scheme	Multiple pro-style
Defensive coordinator	Foge Fazio (3rd season)
Base defense	Multiple front
Home stadium	Pitt Stadium; (Capacity: 56,500)
	Seasons ← 1980 1982 →

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[]

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 5	1:30 p.m.	Illinois	No. 8	Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA		W 26–6	46,022
September 19	1:30 p.m.	Cincinnati	No. 7	Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA (River City Rivalry)		W 38–7	40,172
October 3	3:50 p.m.	at South Carolina	No. 4	Williams-Brice Stadium Columbia, SC	ABC	W 42–28	56,495
October 10	1:30 p.m.	at West Virginia	No. 4	Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV (Backyard Brawl)		W 17–0	54,280
October 17	1:30 p.m.	No. 11 Florida State	No. 3	Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA		W 42–14	55,112
October 24	1:30 p.m.	Syracuse	No. 2	Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA (rivalry)	USA	W 23–10	50,330
October 31	1:00 p.m.	at Boston College	No. 2	Alumni Stadium Chestnut Hill, MA		W 29–24	25,500
November 7	1:00 p.m.	at Rutgers	No. 1	Giants Stadium East Rutherford, NJ		W 47–3	34,636
November 14	1:30 p.m.	Army	No. 1	Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA		W 48–0	53,225
November 21	1:30 p.m.	at Temple	No. 1	Veterans Stadium Philadelphia, PA	USA	W 35–0	32,570
November 28	12:25 p.m.	No. 11 Penn State	No. 1	Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA (rivalry)	ABC	L 14–48	60,260
January 1	8:00 p.m.	vs. No. 2 Georgia	No. 10	Louisiana Superdome New Orleans, LA (Sugar Bowl)	ABC	W 24–20	77,224
Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

Roster[]

1981 Pittsburgh Panthers football team roster

Players

Coaches

Offense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
G	`70`	Emil Boures	Sr
T	`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

Jackie Sherrill

Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend

(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible

Injured
Redshirt

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 Coordinator 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

Season summary[]

Illinois[]

Illinois Fighting Illini at #8 Pittsburgh Panthers

	1	2	3	4	Total
Illinois	0	6	0	0	6
#7 Pittsburgh	14	0	10	2	26

at Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA

Date: September 5
Game time: 1:30 PM EDT
Game attendance: 46,022

showGame information

showScoring summary

Cincinnati[]

Cincinnati Bearcats at #7 Pittsburgh Panthers

	1	2	3	4	Total
Cincinnati	0	0	0	7	7
#7 Pittsburgh	21	0	10	7	38

at Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA

Date: September 19
Game time: 1:30 PM EDT
Game attendance: 40,172

showGame information

showScoring summary

at South Carolina[]

#4 Pittsburgh Panthers at South Carolina Gamecocks

	1	2	3	4	Total
#4 Pittsburgh	14	14	14	0	42
South Carolina	0	0	21	7	28

at Williams-Brice Stadium • Columbia, SC

Date: October 3
Game time: 3:50 PM EDT
Game attendance: 56,495
TV announcers (ABC): Keith Jackson, Frank Broyles, Steve Davis

showGame information

showScoring summary

at West Virginia[]

#4 Pittsburgh Panthers at West Virginia Mountaineers

	1	2	3	4	Total
#4 Pittsburgh	0	7	10	0	17
West Virginia	0	0	0	0	0

at Mountaineer Field • Morgantown, WV

Date: October 10
Game time: 1:30 PM EDT
Game attendance: 54,280

showGame information

showScoring summary

#11 Florida State[]

#11 Florida State Seminoles at #3 Pittsburgh Panthers

	1	2	3	4	Total
#11 Florida State	0	7	7	0	14
#3 Pittsburgh	7	14	14	7	42

at Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA

Date: October 17
Game time: 1:30 PM EDT
Game attendance: 55,112

showGame information

showScoring summary

Syracuse[]

Syracuse Orangemen at #2 Pittsburgh Panthers

	1	2	3	4	Total
Syracuse	10	0	0	0	10
#2 Pittsburgh	0	17	0	6	23

at Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA

Date: October 24
Game time: 1:30 PM EDT
Game attendance: 50,330
TV: USA

showGame information

showScoring summary

at Boston College[]

#2 Pittsburgh Panthers at Boston College Eagles

	1	2	3	4	Total
#2 Pittsburgh	7	13	9	0	29
Boston College	3	7	7	7	24

at Alumni Stadium • Chestnut Hill, MA

Date: October 31
Game time: 1:00 PM EST
Game attendance: 25,500

showGame information

showScoring summary

at Rutgers[]

#1 Pittsburgh Panthers Rutgers Scarlet Knights

	1	2	3	4	Total
#1 Pittsburgh	0	14	14	19	47
Rutgers	3	0	0	0	3

at Giants Stadium • East Rutherford, NJ

Date: November 7
Game time: 1:00 PM EST
Game attendance: 34,636

showGame information

showScoring summary

Army[]

Army Cadets at #1 Pittsburgh Panthers

	1	2	3	4	Total
Army	0	0	0	0	0
#1 Pittsburgh	14	7	20	7	48

at Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA

Date: November 14
Game time: 1:30 PM EST
Game attendance: 53,225

showGame information

showScoring summary

at Temple[]

#1 Pittsburgh Panthers at Temple Owls

	1	2	3	4	Total
#1 Pittsburgh	21	0	7	7	35
Temple	0	0	0	0	0

at Veterans Stadium • Philadelphia, PA

Date: November 21
Game time: 1:30 PM EST
Game attendance: 32,570
TV: USA

showGame information

showScoring summary

#11 Penn State[]

#11 Penn State Nittany Lions at #1 Pittsburgh Panthers

	1	2	3	4	Total
#11 Penn State	0	14	17	17	48
#1 Pittsburgh	14	0	0	0	14

at Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA

Date: November 28
Game time: 12:25 PM EST
Game attendance: 60,260
TV announcers (ABC): Bill Flemming, Darrell Royal

showGame information

showScoring summary

vs. #2 Georgia (Sugar Bowl)[]

1982 Sugar Bowl: #10 Pittsburgh Panthers vs. #2 Georgia Bulldogs

	1	2	3	4	Total
#10 Pittsburgh	0	3	7	14	24
#2 Georgia	0	7	6	7	20

at Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA

Date: January 1
Game time: 8:00 PM EST
Game attendance: 77,224
Referee: Ken Faulkner (SWC)
TV announcers (ABC): Keith Jackson, Frank Broyles, Bill Flemming

showGame information

showScoring summary

Team players drafted into the NFL[]

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

^[3]

Awards and honors[]

Dan Marino, Fourth in Heisman Trophy voting

Media[]

Radio[]

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

References[]

^ 2018 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. August 2018. p. 114. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
^ College Football Data Warehouse; Pittsburgh All National Championships, accessdate=2009-01-29 Archived July 4, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
^ https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1982.htm

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[2018ncaabook-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] ttps://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1982.htm

[1]

[2]

[3]

show v t Pittsburgh Panthers football
Venues	Recreation Park (1898–99) Exposition Park (1900) Schenley Park (1901) Coliseum (1902–03) Exposition Park (1904–08) Forbes Field (1909–24) Pitt Stadium (1925–99) Three Rivers Stadium (2000) Heinz Field (2001–present) UPMC Sports Performance Complex (practice)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Cincinnati (River City Rivalry) Notre Dame Penn State Syracuse West Virginia (Backyard Brawl)
Culture & lore	Panthers "Hail to Pitt" "Pitt Victory Song" Marching band 1921 Backyard Brawl (first college football game to be radio broadcasted) 2007 Backyard Brawl Highest-scoring game
People	Head coaches All-Americans NFL draftees Statistical leaders
Seasons	1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
National championship seasons in bold

1981 Pittsburgh Panthers football

National champion (NCF) Sugar Bowl champion
Sugar Bowl, W 24–20 vs. Georgia
Conference	Independent
Ranking
Coaches	No. 2
AP	No. 4
1981 record	11–1
Head coach	Jackie Sherrill (5th season)
Offensive coordinator	Joe Moore (1st season)
Offensive scheme	Multiple pro-style
Defensive coordinator	Foge Fazio (3rd season)
Base defense	Multiple front
Home stadium	Pitt Stadium (Capacity: 56,500)
Seasons ← 1980 1982 →

1981 NCAA Division I-A independents football records
v t	Conf					Overall
Team	W		L		T	W		L		T
No. 3 Penn State		–		–		10	–	2	–	0
No. 4 Pittsburgh		–		–		11	–	1	–	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