1981 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team
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| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 15 Ohio State + | 6 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 9 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 18 Iowa + | 6 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 8 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 12 Michigan | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 9 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Illinois | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wisconsin | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minnesota | 4 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Michigan State | 4 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purdue | 3 | – | 6 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indiana | 3 | – | 6 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 8 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northwestern | 0 | – | 9 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 11 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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]
Schedule
September 12Ohio*
W 19–17 40,086 September 19Purdue
- Memorial Stadium
- Minneapolis, MN
W 16–13 41,530 September 26Oregon State*
- Memorial Stadium
- Minneapolis, MN
W 42–12 30,890 October 3at Illinois
L 29–38 63,814
October 10Northwestern
- Memorial Stadium
- Minneapolis, MN
W 35–23 45,949 October 17at Indiana
L 16–17 46,460 October 24at No. 6 Iowa
W 12–10 60,000 October 31No. 15 Michigan
- Memorial Stadium
- Minneapolis, MN (Little Brown Jug)
L 13–34 52,875 November 7No. 18 Ohio State
- Memorial Stadium
- Minneapolis, MN
W 35–31 42,793 November 14at Michigan State
L 36–43 56,571 November 21Wisconsin
- Memorial Stadium
- Minneapolis, MN (Rivalry)
L 21–26 47,125
Game summaries
Oregon State
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Roster
| 1981 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Offense
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Defense
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Special teams
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References
- ^ "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]
- ^ Palm Beach Post. 1981 Sept 27.