1981 Purdue Boilermakers football team

The 1981 Purdue Boilermakers football team represented Purdue University during the 1981 Big Ten Conference football season. Led by Jim Young in his fifth and final season as head coach, the Boilermakers compiled an overall record of 5–6 with a mark of 3–6 in conference play, tying for eighth place in the Big Ten. Purdue played home games at Ross–Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana.

1981 Purdue Boilermakers football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Record5–6 (3–6 Big Ten)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorDoug Redmann (2nd season)
Defensive coordinatorLeon Burtnett (5th season)
MVPSteve Bryant
CaptainSteve Bryant, Ray Gunner, Bobby Williams
Home stadiumRoss–Ade Stadium
Seasons
← 1980
1982 →
1981 Big Ten Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 15 Ohio State +620930
No. 18 Iowa +620840
No. 12 Michigan630930
Illinois630740
Wisconsin630750
Minnesota450650
Michigan State450560
Purdue360560
Indiana360380
Northwestern0900110
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

Several Purdue players ranked among the Big Ten leaders, including the following:

  • Wide receiver Steve Bryant led the Big Ten with 60 receptions and 11 receiving touchdowns and ranked second with 971 receiving yards and fifth with 66 points scored.[1]
  • Quarterback Scott Campbell ranked second in the conference with 185 pass completions, a 57.6% pass completion percentage, 2,686 passing yards, a 138.3 passing efficiency rating, and 2,809 total yards.[1]
  • Running back Jimmy Smith ranked fourth in the conference with 152 rushing attempts and ninth with 540 rushing yards.[1]

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 12No. 19 Stanford*W 27–1969,958
September 19at MinnesotaL 13–1641,530
September 26No. 13 Notre Dame*
  • Ross–Ade Stadium
  • West Lafayette, IN (rivalry)
W 15–1470,007
October 3at WisconsinL 14–2068,603
October 10Illinois
  • Ross–Ade Stadium
  • West Lafayette, IN (rivalry)
W 44–2069,846
October 17at NorthwesternW 35–020,777
October 24Michigan State
  • Ross–Ade Stadium
  • West Lafayette, IN
W 27–2669,877
October 3112:30 p.m.Ohio State
  • Ross–Ade Stadium
  • West Lafayette, IN
L 33–4569,927
November 7at IowaL 7–3360,114
November 14No. 11 Michigan
  • Ross–Ade Stadium
  • West Lafayette, IN
L 10–2869,736[2][3]
November 21at IndianaL 17–2048,466
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[4]

Personnel

1981 Purdue Boilermakers football team roster
PlayersCoaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
QBScott Campbell
QBJim Everett
FBBruce King
RBJimmy Smith
Defense
Pos.#NameClass
Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
KRick Anderson
KTim Clark
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured
  • Redshirt

Game summaries

Notre Dame

1234Total
Notre Dame070714
Purdue007815
  • Date: September 26
  • Location: Ross–Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, Indiana
  • Game attendance: 70,007

[5]

Ohio State

Ohio State Buckeyes (5–2) at Purdue Boilermakers (5–2)
Period1234Total
Ohio St01772145
Purdue7761333

at Ross–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana

  • Date: October 31, 1981
  • Game time: 12:30 p.m.
  • Game weather: Partly sunny, 66 °F (19 °C)
  • Game attendance: 69,927
  • Referee: Jerry Hendrickson
  • TV: ABC
  • Box Score
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Ohio StPassingArt Schlichter19/33, 336 Yds, 3 TD, INT
RushingTim Spencer22 Rush, 95 Yds, TD
ReceivingGary Williams7 Rec, 126 Yds
PurduePassingScott Campbell31/52, 516 Yds, 3 TD, 2 INT
RushingJimmy Smith11 Rush, 33 Yds
ReceivingSteve Bryant10 Rec, 195 Yds, 2 TD

Indiana

Statistics

  • Jeff Feulner 18 rushes, 108 yards

References