| 1981 Michigan Wolverines football | |
Bluebonnet Bowl Champions | |
|---|---|
Bluebonnet Bowl, W 33–14 vs. UCLA | |
| Conference | Big Ten Conference |
| Ranking | |
| Coaches | No. 10 |
| AP | No. 12 |
| 1981 record | 9–3 (6–3 Big Ten) |
| Head coach | Bo Schembechler (13th season) |
| MVP | Butch Woolfolk |
| Captain | Kurt Becker |
| Captain | Robert Thompson |
| Home stadium | Michigan Stadium |
Seasons | |
| 1981 Big Ten football standings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| #15/12 Ohio State § | 6 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 9 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| #18/15 Iowa § | 6 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 8 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| #12/10 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| § – Conference co-champions Rankings from AP Poll / Coaches' Poll | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The 1981 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team's head coach was Bo Schembechler. The Wolverines played their home games at Michigan Stadium.
The September 19 25–7 victory over top-ranked Notre Dame, was one of the largest margins of victory over a #1 ranked team ever.[1]
Schedule[]
| Date | Time | Opponent# | Rank# | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 12, 1981 | at Wisconsin | #1/1 | Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI | L 21–14 | 68,733 | |||
| September 19, 1981* | #1/1 Notre Dame | #11/12 | Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI | W 25–7 | 105,888 | |||
| September 26, 1981* | Navy | #7/6 | Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI | W 21–16 | 105,213 | |||
| October 3, 1981 | at Indiana | #8/8 | Memorial Stadium • Bloomington, IN | W 31–17 | 50,612 | |||
| October 10, 1981 | at Michigan State | #6/6 | Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI | W 38–20 | 77,923 | |||
| October 17, 1981 | Iowa | #5/5 | Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI | L 9–7 | 105,915 | |||
| October 24, 1981† | Northwestern | #18/19 | Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI | W 38–0 | 104,361 | |||
| October 31, 1981 | at Minnesota | #15/14 | Memorial Stadium • Minneapolis, MN | W 34–13 | 52,875 | |||
| November 7, 1981 | Illinois | #12/10 | Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI | W 70–21 | 105,570 | |||
| November 14, 1981 | at Purdue | #11/8 | Ross–Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, IN | W 28–10 | 69,736 | |||
| November 21, 1981 | Ohio State | #7/6 | Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI | L 14–9 | 106,043 | |||
| December 31, 1981* | vs. #19/16 UCLA | #16/13 | Astrodome • Houston, TX (Bluebonnet Bowl) | W 33–14 | 77,893 | |||
| *Non-Conference Game. †Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll / Coaches' Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time. | ||||||||
Game notes[]
Wisconsin[]
- First loss in season opener under Bo Schembechler
Michigan State[]
- Butch Woolfolk 39 Rush, 253 Yds [2]
Purdue[]
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Players[]
Offense[]
- Art Balourdos, offensive line, freshman, Chicago, Illinois
- Vincent Bean, wide receiver, sophomore, Southfield, Michigan - started all 12 games at split end
- Kurt Becker, offensive guard, senior, Aurora, Illinois - started all 12 games at left offensive guard
- Norm Betts, tight end, senior, Midland, Michigan - started all 12 games at tight end
- Fred Brockington, wide receiver, senior, Detroit, Michigan
- Anthony Carter, wide receiver, junior, Riviera Beach, Florida - started all 12 games at flanker
- Milt Carthens, tight end, sophomore, Pontiac, Michigan
- Brian J. Dickey, quarterback, senior, Ottawa, Ohio
- Jerry Diorio, offensive guard, sophomore, Youngstown, Ohio - started 4 games at right offensive guard
- Tom Dixon, center, sophomore, Fort Wayne, Indiana - started all 12 games at center
- Craig Dunaway, tight end, senior, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Stanley Edwards, tailback, senior, Detroit, Michigan - started 11 games at fullback
- Jeff Felten, center, senior, Centerville, Michigan
- Brad Fischer, quarterback, senior, Ortonville, Michigan
- Tom Garrity, center, Grafton, Wisconsin
- Thomas J. Hassel, fullback, sophomore, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Rich Hewlett, quarterback, junior, Plymouth, Michigan
- Stefan Humphries, offensive guard, sophomore, Broward, Florida - started 8 games at right offensive guard
- Jerald Ingram, fullback, junior, Beaver, Pennsylvania - started 1 game at fullback
- Eric Kattus, tight end, freshman, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Ed Muransky, offensive tackle, senior, Youngstown, Ohio - started all 12 games at right offensive tackle
- Tom Neal, offensive tackle, senior, Orlando, Florida
- Bubba Paris, offensive tackle, senior, Louisville, Kentucky - started all 12 games at left offensive tackle
- Lawrence Ricks, tailback, junior, Barberton, Ohio
- Rick Rogers, running back, freshman, Inkster, Michigan
- Steve Smith, quarterback, sophomore, Grand Blanc, Michigan - started all 12 games at quarterback
- Rich Strenger, offensive tackle, senior, Grafton, Wisconsin
- Larry Sweeney, center, sophomore, Alma, Michigan
- Butch Woolfolk, tailback, senior, Westfield, New Jersey - started all 12 games at tailback
Defense[]
- Marion Body, defensive back, senior, Detroit, Michigan - started 4 gams at short cornerback, 2 games at wide cornerback
- Mike Boren, linebacker, sophomore, Columbus, Ohio - started all 12 games at inside linebacker
- Keith Bostic, defensive back, junior, Ann Arbor, Michigan - started 11 games at strong safety
- Jerry Burgei, defensive back, junior, Ottawa, Ohio - started 6 games at short cornerback
- Brian Carpenter, defensive back, senior, Flint, Michigan - started 8 games at wide cornerback
- Winfred Carraway, middle guard, senior, Detroit, Michigan - started 5 games at defensive tackle, 1 game at middle guard
- Brad Cochran, defensvie back, freshman, Royal Oak, Michigan
- Cedric Coles, defensive tackle, senior, Detroit, Michigan - started 6 games at defensive tackle
- Evan Cooper, defensive back, sophomore, Miami, Florida - started 2 games at wide cornerback, 2 games at short cornerback
- Mike Czarnota, inside linebacker, senior, Detroit, Michigan
- Paul Girgash, linebacker, junior, Lakewood, Ohio - started all 12 games at inside linebacker
- Stuart Harris, defensive back, senior, Chagrin Falls, Ohio
- Mike Hammerstein, line, freshman, Wapakoneta, Ohio - started 1 game at middle guard
- Jim Herrmann, inside linebacker, junior, Dearborn Heights, Michigan
- Tony Jackson, defensive back, senior, Cleveland, Ohio - started all 12 games at free safety
- Doug James, defensive tackle, sophomore, Louisville, Kentucky - started 5 games at middle guard
- Louis Kovacs, defensive back, junior, Toledo, Ohio (father of 2012 team co-captain Jordan Kovacs)
- Mike Lemirande, outside linebacker, senior, Grafton, Wisconsin - started 2 games at outside linebacker
- John Lott, defensive back, junior, Masury, Ohio
- Mike Mallory, linebacker, freshman, DeKalb, Illinois
- Clay Miller, defensive tackle, freshman, Norman, Oklahoma - started 3 games at defensive tackle
- Ben Needham, inside linebacker, senior, Groveport, Ohio - started 10 games at outside linebacker
- Tony Osbun, defensive tackle, senior, Kenton, Ohio - started 10 games at defensive tackle
- Jeff Reeves, defensive back, senior, Columbus, Ohio - started 1 game at strong safety
- Carlton Rose, linebacker, sophomore, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida - started 4 games at outside linebacker
- Alan Sincich, middle guard - linebacker, freshman, Cleveland, Ohio - started 5 games at middle guard
- Kevin Smith, defensive back, senior, Dallas, Texas
- Robert Thompson, outside linebacker, senior, Blue Island, Illinois - started 8 games at outside linebacker
- Sanford Washington, inside linebacker, senior, Youngstown, Ohio
Kickers[]
- Don Bracken, punter, sophomore, Thermopolis, Wyoming
- Ali Haji-Sheikh, place-kicker, junior, Arlington, Texas
- Karl Tech, place-kicker, punter, senior, Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan
Awards[]
- All-Americans: Kurt Becker, Ed Muransky, William "Bubba" Paris, Butch Woolfolk, Anthony Carter
- Academic All-American: Ed Muransky (first team)[4]
- All-Conference: Anthony Carter, Ed Muransky, Kurt Becker, Bubba Paris
- Most Valuable Player: Butch Woolfolk
- Meyer Morton Award: Stanley Edwards
- Frederick Matthei Award: Lawrence Ricks
- Arthur Robinson Scholarship Award: Norm Betts
- John Maulbetsch Award: Tom Dixon
Professional football[]
The following players were claimed in the 1982 NFL Draft.
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | NFL Club |
| Butch Woolfolk | Running Back | 1 | 18 | New York Giants |
| Bubba Paris | Tackle | 2 | 29 | San Francisco 49ers |
| Stan Edwards | Running Back | 3 | 72 | Houston Oilers |
| Ed Muransky | Tackle | 4 | 91 | Los Angeles Raiders |
A total of twenty-three (23) members of the 1980 Michigan football team went on to play professional football. They are: Kurt Becker (Chicago Bears, 1982-88, 1990, Los Angeles Rams, 1989), Marion Body (Michigan Panthers, 1983), Keith Bostic (Houston Oilers, 1983-88), Cleveland Browns, 1990), Don Bracken (Green Bay Packers, 1985-90, Los Angeles Rams, 1992-93), Anthony Carter (Michigan Panthers, 1983-84, Oakland Invaders, 1985, Minnesota Vikings, 1985-93, Detroit Lions, 1994-95), Milt Carthens (Indianapolis Colts, 1987), Evan Cooper (Philadelphia Eagles, 1984-87, Atlanta Falcons, 1988-89), Jerry Diorio (Detroit Lions, 1987), Tom Dixon (Michigan Panthers, 1984), Craig Dunaway (Pittsburgh Steelers, 1983), Stanley Edwards (Houston Oilers, 1982-86, Detroit Lions, 1987), Paul Girgash (Michigan Panthers, 1984), Ali Haji-Sheikh (New York Giants, 1983-85, Atlanta Falcons, 1986, Washington Redskins, 1987), Mike Hammerstein (Cincinnati Bengals, 1986-90), Stefan Humphries (Chicago Bears, 1984-86, Denver Broncos, 1987-88), Eric Kattus (Cincinnati Bengals, 1986-91, New York Jets, 1992), Ed Muransky (Los Angeles Raiders, 1982-84, Orlando Renegades, 1985), Bubba Paris (San Francisco 49ers, 1983-90, Indianapolis Colts, 1991, Detroit Lions 1991), Lawrence Ricks (Kansas City Chiefs, 1983-84), Carlton Rose (Washington Redskins, 1987), Rich Strenger (Detroit Lions, 1983-87), Robert Thompson (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1983-84, Detroit Lions, 1987), and Butch Woolfolk (New York Giants, 1982-84, Houston Oilers, 1985-86, Detroit Lions, 1987-88).
Coaching staff[]
- Head coach: Bo Schembechler
- Assistant coaches: Tirrel Burton, Lloyd Carr, Jerry Hanlon, Bill McCartney, Jerry Meter, Les Miles, Gary Moeller, Paul Schudel, Bob Thornbladh, Milan Vooletich
- Trainer: Russ Miller
- Managers: John D. Carr, Charles Fromm, Thomas Luxton, Greg Pearlman, Fred Spademan, Randall Tharp
References[]
- ↑ "2009 Division I Football Records Book: Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) Records". National Collegiate Athletic Association. p. 91. http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/stats/football_records/DI/2009/2009FBS.pdf. Retrieved 2010-07-09.
- ↑ University of Michigan Football Record Book Pt. 1
- ↑ "Michigan in Big 10 lead." Eugene Register-Guard. 1981 Nov 15.
- ↑ "Michigan's Academic All-Americans". CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 18 July 2010. http://web.archive.org/web/20100718015918/http://www.mgoblue.com/trads/academic-all-americans.html. Retrieved 2010-07-10.
- ↑ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1982.htm
External links[]
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