1981 SMU Mustangs football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1981 SMU Mustangs football Southwest Conference SWC 5 10–1 7–1 Ron Meyer 6th Option Steve Sidwell 6th 3–4 Texas Stadium Co-national champion (NCF)SWC champion The 1981 SMU Mustangs football team represented Southern Methodist University (SMU) as a member of the Southwest Conference (SWC) during the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by Ron Meyer in his sixth and final season as head coach, the Mustangs compiled an overall record 10–1 with a mark of 7–1 in conference play, winning the SWC title. The Mustangs had been put on probation by the NCAA for recruiting violations and were banned from participating in any bowl game in 1981. Since SMU's performance would have given them an automatic berth in the Cotton Bowl Classic, the team decided to treat its final regular season game at Arkansas as their bowl game and nicknamed it the "Polyester Bowl". SMU defeated the Razorbacks 32–18. SMU finished at No. 5 in the final AP Poll. Because its rules prevent schools under probation from being considered, the Mustangs were not ranked in the Coaches Poll at all during the season. At season's end, the Mustangs were recognized as one of five co-national champions by the National Championship Foundation (NCF).http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2020/FBS.pdf 2020 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records The National Collegiate Athletic Association July 2020 Indianapolis January 12, 2021 November 1, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201101032438/http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2020/FBS.pdf live 112–114 The team's offense scored 365 points while the defense allowed 137 points. Schedule 1981 AP September 5 w y UT Arlington Texas Stadium Irving, TX 48–0 20,130 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67271002/mustangs-mash-mavericks/ Fort Worth Star-Telegram Mustangs mash Mavericks September 6, 1981 January 9, 2021 B1 Newspapers.com September 12 w y North Texas State Texas Stadium Irving, TX rivalry 34–7 20,400 SMU runners slash NT, 34–7 Fort Worth Star-Telegram September 13, 1981 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87948000/smu-runners-slash-nt-347/ October 28, 2021 Newspapers.com September 19 w y Grambling State Texas Stadium Irving, TX 59–27 45,700 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121137933/mustangs-rally-past-grambling-5927/ Longview News-Journal Mustangs rally past Grambling, 59–27 September 20, 1981 November 2, 2024 Newspapers.com September 26 w y 20 TCU Amon G. Carter Stadium Fort Worth, TX rivalry 20–9 25,862 https://www.newspapers.com/article/winston-salem-journal-mustanga-stay-unbe/158276229/ Winston-Salem Journal Mustangs stay unbeaten by whipping TCU 20–9 September 27, 1981 November 2, 2024 Newspapers.com October 10 w 14 Baylor Texas Stadium Irving, TX 37–20 33,110 https://www.newspapers.com/article/corpus-christi-caller-times-smu-tramples/158277554/ Corpus Christi Caller-Times SMU tramples Baylor, 37–20 October 11, 1981 November 2, 2024 Newspapers.com October 17 w y 10 Houston Houston Astrodome Houston, TX rivalry 38–22 36,892 https://www.newspapers.com/article/victoria-advocate-smu-rolls-past-coogs/158291513/ The Victoria Advocate SMU rolls past Coogs, 38–22 October 18, 1981 November 2, 2024 Newspapers.com October 24 l 8 Texas 10 Texas Stadium Irving, TX 7–9 62,777 https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman-ut-bounces-bac/158291809/ Austin American-Statesman UT bounces back with defense October 25, 1981 November 2, 2024 Newspapers.com October 31 w y 13 Texas A&M Kyle Field College Station, TX 27–7 62,646 https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman-smu-handles-a/158279220/ Austin American-Statesman SMU handles A&M, 27–7 November 1, 1981 November 2, 2024 Newspapers.com November 7 w 10 Rice Texas Stadium Irving, TX rivalry 33–12 28,750 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tyler-courier-times-smu-corrals-rice/158278605/ The Tyler Courier-Times SMU corrals Rice, 33–12 November 8, 1981 November 2, 2024 Newspapers.com November 14 w 8 Texas Tech Texas Stadium Irving, TX 30–6 24,410 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-galveston-daily-news-smu-eases-by-te/158245014/ The Galveston Daily News SMU eases by Texas Tech November 15, 1981 November 2, 2024 Newspapers.com November 21 w y 6 Arkansas 16 Razorback Stadium Fayetteville, AR 32–18 43,842 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tampa-bay-times-smu-belts-arkansas-rule/158291299/ St. Petersburg Times SMU belts Arkansas, rules SWC November 22, 1981 November 2, 2024 Newspapers.com 1981 SMU Mustangs Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football November 2, 2024 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/southern-methodist/1981-schedule.html Roster 1981 SMU Mustangs 19 Jr Eric Dickerson RB y 28 Jr Charles Drayton FB 77 Sr Perry Hartnett OL y 32 Jr Craig James Craig James (running back) RB y 11 So Lance McIlhenny QB y 75 Sr Harvey Armstrong DL y 74 Jr Michael Carter Michael Carter (nose tackle) DT y 99 Sr Eric Ferguson DL Jr Jerry Kovar DL yes 20 Sr James Mobley DB 29 So Russell Carter Russell Carter (American football) DB y Jr Tony Good OLB {{American football 1 Jr Eddie Garcia Eddie Garcia (American football) K y *Ron Meyer 1981 SMU Mustangs Roster Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football November 2, 2024 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/southern-methodist/1981-roster.html Rankings 1981 NCAA Division I-A football rankings AP 0 14 NR NR NR 20 15 14 10 8 13 10 8 6 6 5 5 Team players drafted into the NFL 2 SMU Mustangs Player Position Round Pick NFL club Perry Hartnett Tackle 5 116 Chicago BearsHarvey Armstrong Defensive tackle7190 Philadelphia EaglesEddie Garcia Kicker10264 Green Bay Packershttps://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1982.htm 1982 NFL Draft Listing Pro-Football-Reference.com 2015-12-24 2007-12-21 https://web.archive.org/web/20071221202828/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1982.htm dead References SMU Category:SMU Mustangs football seasons Category:Southwest Conference football champion seasons SMU Mustangs football Category:Long stubs with short prose