1981 Michigan State Spartans football team

The 1981 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University in the 1981 Big Ten Conference football season. In their second season under head coach Muddy Waters, the Spartans compiled a 5–6 overall record (4–5 against Big Ten opponents) and finished in a tie for sixth place in the Big Ten Conference.[1][2]

1981 Michigan State Spartans football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
1981 record5–6 (4–5 Big Ten)
Head coachMuddy Waters (2nd season)
Offensive coordinatorJoe Pendry (2nd season)
CaptainGeorge Cooper, John Leister
Home stadiumSpartan Stadium
(Capacity: 76,000)
1981 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW 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
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

Four Spartans were recognized by the Associated Press (AP) and/or the United Press International (UPI) as first-team players on the 1981 All-Big Ten Conference football team: center Tom Piette (AP-2; UPI-1); linebacker Carl Banks (AP-2; UPI-1); defensive back James Burroughs (AP-2; UPI-1); and placekicker Morten Andersen (AP-1; UPI-1).[3][4] Several Michigan State players ranked among the Big Ten leaders, including the following:

  • Placekicker Morten Andersen led the conference with 15 field goals made and a 75.0 field goal percentage.[5]
  • Quarterback Bryan Clark ranked third in the conference with a 128.9 passing efficiency rating, fourth with a 53.4% pass completion percentage and seventh with 1,521 passing yards.[5]
  • Running back Aaron Roberts ranked seventh in the conference with 4.9 yards per carry and 10th with 461 rushing yards.[5]
  • Ted Jones ranked sixth in the conference with 44 receptions and ninth with 624 receiving yards.[5]
  • Daryl Turner ranked eighth in the conference with 653 receiving yards.[5]

Schedule
DateOpponentSiteResult
September 12Illinois
L 17–27
September 19at No. 8 Ohio State
L 13–27
September 26Bowling Green*
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI
W 10–7
October 3at Notre Dame*
L 7–20
October 10No. 6 Michigan
L 20–38
October 17No. 14 Wisconsin
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI
W 33–14
October 24at Purdue
L 26–27
October 31Indiana
W 26–3
November 7at Northwestern
  • Dyche Stadium
  • Evanston, IL
W 61–14
November 14Minnesota
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI
W 43–36
November 21at No. 19 Iowa
L 7–36
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
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References
  1. "Michigan State Yearly Results (1980-1984)". College Football Data Warehouse. David DeLassus. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
  2. "2015 Michigan State Football Media Guide" (PDF). Michigan State University. p. 147. Retrieved July 4, 2016.
  3. Joe Mooshil (December 1, 1981). "Eason Edges Schlichter on All-Big Ten". The Argus-Press, Owosso, Michigan (AP story). p. 14.
  4. Randy Minkoff (November 25, 1981). "Name All Big Ten". The Bryan Times (UPI story). p. 19.
  5. "1981 Big Ten Conference Year Summary". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 19, 2016.


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