1981 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team

American college football season March 2026 August 2023 1981 Western Illinois Leathernecks football Association of Mid-Continent Universities Mid-Con 5–6 2–1 Pete Rodriguez 3rd Hanson Field Mid-Con co-champion The 1981 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team represented Western Illinois University as a member of the Association of Mid-Continent Universities during the 1981 NCAA Division I-AA football season. They were led by third-year head coach Pete Rodriguez and played their home games at Hanson Field. The Leathernecks finished the season with a 5–6 record overall and a 2–1 record in conference play, making them conference co-champions with Eastern Illinois and Northern Iowa.Western Illinois Football Record Book https://goleathernecks.com/documents/2021/10/17/Football_Record_Book_Updated_Oct_2021_.pdf Western Illinois University Athletics November 13, 2021 71Eastern Illinois loses https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88866041/southern-illinoisan/ November 13, 2021 The Southern Illinoisan Associated Press November 1, 1981 14 Newspapers.com Schedule 1981 NCAA Division II NCAA Division II Football Committee September 5 l y y Illinois State Hancock Stadium Normal, IL 7–31 9,179 Lewis Mark ISU destroys Western https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88866196/the-pantagraph/ November 13, 2021 The Pantagraph September 6, 1981 C1 Newspapers.com September 12 w y 1981 South Dakota State Jackrabbits South Dakota State Hanson Field Macomb, IL 17–13 Jacks come up short https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88866431/argus-leader/ November 13, 2021 Argus Leader September 13, 1981 1C Newspapers.com September 19 l y y Drake Drake Stadium Des Moines, IA 6–21 10,185 Grett Wayne Unbeaten Drake pins Leathernecks, 21-6 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88866746/the-des-moines-register/ November 13, 2021 Des Moines Register September 20, 1981 1D Newspapers.com September 26 w Southwest Missouri State Hanson Field Macomb, IL 19–7 9,003 Mayes Warren Errors cost SMS league loss to Western Illinois https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88867023/springfield-leader-and-press/ November 13, 2021 Springfield News-Leader September 27, 1981 3F Newspapers.com October 3 w y y 1981 Northeast Missouri State Bulldogs Northeast Missouri State Stokes Stadium Kirksville, MO 17–7 W. Illinois 17, NE Missouri 7 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88867467/the-belleville-news-democrat/ November 13, 2021 Belleville News-Democrat UPI October 4, 1981 6B Newspapers.com October 10 w Northern Iowa Hanson Field Macomb, IL 21–14 6,200 Western Illinois hands UNI its 5th loss, 21-14 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88868263/the-gazette/ November 13, 2021 The Gazette UPI October 11, 1981 6C Newspapers.com October 17 l y Eastern Illinois O'Brien Field Charleston, IL 8–20 5,000 Fallstrom Bob Davis rushes from nobody to somebody https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88869403/herald-and-review/ November 13, 2021 Herald and Review October 18, 1981 B1 Newspapers.com October 24 l y Northern Michigan 2 Hanson Field Macomb, IL 14–28 11,794 NMU Whips Western Illinois Detroit Free Press October 25, 1981 7H https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-nmu-whips-western-ill/133483057/ Newspapers.comWestern falters late https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88870049/the-dispatch/ November 13, 2021 The Dispatch UPI October 25, 1981 30 Newspapers.com October 31 l y y New Mexico State Aggie Memorial Stadium Las Cruces, NM 24–31 Aggies ring Leathernecks https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88870867/the-santa-fe-new-mexican/ November 13, 2021 The Santa Fe New Mexican Associated Press November 1, 1981 B3 Newspapers.com November 7 l y y Youngstown State Rayen Stadium Youngstown, OH 22–34 Leathernecks upended https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88871199/the-dispatch/ November 13, 2021 The Dispatch UPI November 8, 1981 32 Newspapers.com November 14 w y Howard Hanson Stadium Macomb, IL 20–17 Punt return sparks Western by Howard https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88871437/the-pantagraph/ November 13, 2021 The Pantagraph Associated Press November 15, 1981 C7 Newspapers.com References Western Illinois Category:Western Illinois Leathernecks football seasons Category:Association of Mid-Continent Universities football champion seasons Western Illinois Leathernecks football