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American college football season
The 1981 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team represented the University of Minnesota in the 1981 Big Ten Conference football season . In their third year under head coach Joe Salem , the Golden Gophers compiled a 6–5 record and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 274 to 264.[ 1] It was the final season in Memorial Stadium .[ 2]
Quarterback Mike Hohensee received the team's Most Valuable Player award, while flanker Chester Cooper was named offensive MVP, and linebacker Jim Fahnhorst was named the defensive MVP. Fahnhorst and offensive tackle Ken Dallafior were named All-Big Ten first team. Cooper, offensive lineman Bill Humphries, defensive end Karl Mecklenburg , and defensive lineman Fred Orgas were named All-Big Ten second team. Defensive lineman Brent Harms and Fred Orgas, free safety Mike Robb, and safety Rick Witthus were named Academic All-Big Ten.[ 3]
Several Minnesota players ranked among the Big Ten leaders, including the following:
Mike Hohensee led the conference with 20 passing touchdowns and ranked fourth with 2,412 passing yards.[ 4]
Wide receiver Chester Cooper led the conference with 1,012 receiving yards and ranked second with 58 receptions.[ 4]
Running back Frank Jacobs ranked sixth in the conference with 638 rushing yards and fifth with eight rushing touchdowns.[ 4]
Placekicker Jim Gallery ranked second in the conference with 13 field goals made, fourth with a 59.8 field goal percentage, and seventh with 62 points scored.[ 4]
Total attendance for the season was 301,248, which averaged to 43,035. The season high for attendance was against Michigan .[ 5]
Date Time Opponent Site TV Result Attendance Source September 12 Ohio * W 19–1740,086
September 19 Purdue Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN WLFI-TV [ 6] W 16–1341,530
September 26 Oregon State * Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN W 42–1230,890
October 3 at Illinois L 29–3863,814
October 10 Northwestern Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN W 35–2345,949
October 17 at Indiana L 16–1746,460
October 24 at No. 6 Iowa W 12–1060,000
October 31 No. 15 Michigan ON-TV L 13–3452,875 [ 7]
November 7 1:00 pm No. 18 Ohio State Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN ESPN [ 8] W 35–3142,793
November 14 at Michigan State L 36–4356,571
November 21 Wisconsin Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN (rivalry ) L 21–2647,125
*Non-conference game HomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
1981 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team roster
Players
Coaches
Offense
Defense
Special teams
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
Injured
Redshirt
Roster
1
2 3 4 Total
Oregon St
3
0 2 7
12
• Minnesota
6
20 9 7
42
Date: September 26Location: Memorial Stadium • Minneapolis, Minnesota
Scoring summary 1 MINN Carroll 1 yard pass from Hohensee (kick failed) Minnesota 6-0
1 ORST Mangold 52 yard field goal Minnesota 6-3
2 MINN Curtis 8 yard pass from Hohensee (Gallery kick) Minnesota 13-3
2 MINN Curtis 14 yard pass from Hohensee (Gallery kick) Minnesota 20-3
2 MINN Cooper 38 yard pass from Hohensee (kick failed) Minnesota 26-3
3 MINN Gallery 28 yard field goal Minnesota 29-3
3 ORST Safety, ball snapped out of end zone Minnesota 29-5
3 MINN Weckbecker 27 yard pass from Hohensee (kick failed) Minnesota 35-5
4 MINN Henry 1 yard run (Gallery kick) Minnesota 42-5
4 ORST Terrell 6 yard run (Mangold kick) Minnesota 42-12
[ 9]
Ohio State Buckeyes at Minnesota Golden Gophers
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Ohio St
14
7
7 3 31
Minnesota
0
7
14 14 35
at Memorial Stadium , Minneapolis, Minnesota
Date : November 7Game time : 1:00 p.m.Game weather : Clear, 64 °F (18 °C)Game attendance : 42,793Referee : Glenn FortinBox Score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
MINN – Todd Hallstrom 1-yard pass from Mike Hohensee (Jim Gallery kick), 9:53. Ohio St 14–7. Drive: 11 plays, 80 yards, 5:07.'
OSU – Tim Spencer 2-yard run (Bob Atha kick), 7:39. Ohio St 21–7. Drive: 6 plays, 74 yards, 2:14.
Third quarter
MINN – Jay Carroll 27-yard pass from Mike Hohensee (Jim Gallery kick), 11:25. Ohio St 21–14. Drive: 12 plays, 64 yards, 2:35.
MINN – Frank Jacobs 17-yard pass from Mike Hohensee (Jim Gallery kick), 8:34. Tie 21–21. Drive: 4 plays, 36 yards, 1:20.
OSU – Art Schlichter 1-yard run (Bob Atha kick), 0:30. Ohio St 28–21. Drive: 9 plays, 57 yards, 3:39.
Fourth quarter
OSU – Bob Atha 31-yard field goal, 8:18. Ohio St 31–21. Drive: 4 plays, 27 yards, 1:13.
MINN – Jay Carroll 18-yard pass from Mike Hohensee (Jim Gallery kick), 6:56. Ohio St 31–28. Drive: 5 plays, 68 yards, 1:23.
MINN – Jay Carroll 28-yard pass from Mike Hohensee (Jim Gallery kick), 2:38. Minnesota 35–31. Drive: 5 plays, 40 yards, 1:03
Top passers
Top rushers
OSU – Tim Spencer – 16 rushes, 135 yards, 2 TD
MINN – Tony Hunter – 6 rushes, 19 yards
Top receivers
OSU – Gary Williams – 4 receptions, 72 yards
MINN – Chester Cooper – 12 receptions, 182 yards
The loss overshadowed a record-setting day for Mike Hohensee and Chester Cooper. Hohensee set the single season school records for completions and passing yardage while Chester Cooper broke the single season school record for receiving yardage.[ 11]
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Wisconsin
Passing
Jess Cole
6/17, 84 Yds
Rushing
Receiving
Minnesota
Passing
Mike Hohensee
17/34, 254 Yds, TD
Rushing
Receiving
Chester Cooper
6 Rec, 123 Yds, TD
^ "1981 Minnesota Golden Gophers Schedule and Results" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 1, 2017 .
^ Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF) , p. 161 [permanent dead link ]
^ Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF) , pp. 179–182 [permanent dead link ]
^ a b c d "1981 Big Ten Conference Year Summary" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 19, 2016 .
^ Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF) , p. 160 [permanent dead link ]
^ 2020 Football Media Guide, https://gophersports.com/documents/2020/10/14/2020_Football_Media_Guide_WEB.pdf
^ Joe Lapointe (November 1, 1981). "U-M buries Gophers" . Detroit Free Press . pp. 1H, 9H – via Newspapers.com .
^ "1981 #18 Ohio State @ Minnesota No Huddle" . YouTube . April 12, 2020.
^ Palm Beach Post. 1981 Sept 27.
^ "Wisconsin 26, Minnesota 21" . UPI Archives . November 22, 1981. Retrieved December 18, 2022 .
^ "Wisconsin 26, Minnesota 21" . UPI Archives . November 22, 1981. Retrieved December 18, 2022 .
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