1981 Pittsburgh Panthers football team

American college football season May 2019 February 2026 1981 Pittsburgh Panthers football Independent 2 4 11–1 Jackie Sherrill 5th Joe Moore 1st West Coast Foge Fazio 3rd Multiple front Pitt Stadium National champion (NCF)Sugar Bowl champion Sugar Bowl W 24–20 vs. Georgia The 1981 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh as an independent during the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. The one-loss Panthers were selected as national champion by NCAA-designated major selector National Championship Foundationhttp://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2018/FBS.pdf 2018 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records National Collegiate Athletic Association August 2018 November 29, 2018 114 and also by Montgomery Full Season Championship.College Football Data Warehouse; Pittsburgh All National Championships, accessdate=2009-01-29 https://web.archive.org/web/20080704202839/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/bigeast/pittsburgh/all_national_champs.php July 4, 2008 The school does not claim a national championship for this season. Schedule 1981 AP Eastern September 5 1:30 p.m. w 8 Illinois Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA 26–6 46,022 https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-pitt-overcomes-j/158217698/ Wisconsin State Journal Pitt overcomes jitters, Illinois September 6, 1981 October 31, 2024 Newspapers.com September 19 1:30 p.m. w 7 Cincinnati Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA River City Rivalry 38–7 40,172 https://www.newspapers.com/article/scrantonian-tribune-marino-tosses-five-t/158215885/ The Scrantonian Marino tosses five TDs in Pitt victory September 20, 1981 October 31, 2024 Newspapers.com October 3 3:50 p.m. w y 4 South Carolina Williams–Brice Stadium Columbia, SC ABC 42–28 56,495 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-roanoke-times-pitt-romps-4228/139761846/ The Roanoke Times & World-News Pitt romps 42–28 October 4, 1981 January 28, 2024 Newspapers.com October 10 1:30 p.m. w y 4 West Virginia Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV Backyard Brawl 17–0 54,280 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-pitt-shelves-air-attack/139760650/ The Miami Herald Pitt shelves air attack, wins, 17–0 October 11, 1981 January 28, 2024 Newspapers.com October 17 1:30 p.m. w 3 Florida State 11 Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA 42–14 55,112 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-argus-seminoles-octoberfest-en/158215455/ The Times Argus Seminoles Octoberfest ends as Pitt hammers FSU, 42–14 October 18, 1981 October 31, 2024 Newspapers.com October 24 1:30 p.m. w y 2 Syracuse Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA rivalry USA 23–10 50,330 https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-news-pitt-trips-syracuse-2310/158210729/ Sunday News Pitt trips Syracuse, 23–10 October 25, 1981 October 31, 2024 Newspapers.com October 31 1:00 p.m. w y 2 Boston College Alumni Stadium Chestnut Hill, MA 29–24 25,500 No. 2-ranked Pitt escapes BC 29–24 St. Petersburg Times (AP story) November 1, 1981 11C https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17504725/no_2ranked_pitt_escapes_bc_2924/ Newspapers.com November 7 1:00 p.m. w y 1 Rutgers Giants Stadium East Rutherford, NJ 47–3 34,636 https://www.newspapers.com/article/asbury-park-press-pittsburgh-proves-too/158211916/ Asbury Park Press Pittsburgh proves too much for Rutgers November 8, 1981 October 31, 2024 Newspapers.com November 14 1:30 p.m. w 1 Army Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA 48–0 53,225 https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-gazette-no-1-pitt-routs-army/158210282/ Sunday Telegram No. 1 Pitt routs Army November 15, 1981 October 31, 2024 Newspapers.com November 21 1:30 p.m. w y 1 Temple Veterans Stadium Philadelphia, PA USA 35–0 32,570 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-post-crescent-pitt-cruises-by-temple/158213403/ The Post-Crescent Pitt cruises by Temple November 22, 1981 October 31, 2024 Newspapers.com November 28 12:25 p.m. l 1 Penn State 11 Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA rivalry ABC 14–48 60,260 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-and-democrat-penn-state-stuns/158217423/ The Times and Democrat Penn State stuns top-ranked Pitt November 29, 1981 October 31, 2024 Newspapers.com January 1, 1982 Friday 8:00 p.m. w y 10 Georgia 2 New Orleans, LA Louisiana Superdome Sugar Bowl ABC 24–20 77,224 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-pitt-marino-put-th/134423163/ The Pittsburgh Press Pitt, Marino put the bite on Bulldogs January 2, 1982 October 31, 2023 Newspapers.com 1981 Pitt Panthers Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football October 31, 2024 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/pittsburgh/1981-schedule.html Game summaries Illinois 1982 Illinois Fighting Illini football team Pittsburgh Panthers 1981 2;text-align:center; autocollapse Illinois Fighting Illini at No. 8 Pittsburgh Panthers – Game summary September 7 1:30 PM EDT Fighting Illini 0 6 0 0 No. 9 Panthers 14 0 10 2 Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA 46,022 Statistics ILL PITT First downs Total yards Rushes/yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsIllinois Passing Rushing Receiving Pittsburgh Passing Rushing Receiving Illinois Pittsburgh collapsed 1 Pittsburgh RushTD DiBartola 4 good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 0 7 1 Pittsburgh RecTD Collins Marino 19 good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 0 14 2 Illinois FG 46 Bass 3 14 2 Illinois FG 33 Bass 6 14 3 Pittsburgh RecTD Dawkins Marino 23 good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 6 21 3 Pittsburgh FG 43 Everett 6 24 4 Pittsburgh – – – SafetyOther Safety, Eason tackled in end zone by Maas 6 26 6 26 Cincinnati 1981 Cincinnati Bearcats football team River City Rivalry Pittsburgh Panthers 1981 2;text-align:center; autocollapse Cincinnati Bearcats at No. 7 Pittsburgh Panthers – Game summary September 19 1:30 PM EDT Bearcats 0 0 0 7 No. 7 Panthers 21 0 10 7 Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA 40,172 Statistics UC PITT First downs Total yards Rushes/yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsCincinnati Passing Rushing Receiving Pittsburgh Passing Rushing Receiving Cincinnati Pittsburgh collapsed 1 Pittsburgh RecTD Dawkins Marino 16 good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 0 7 1 Pittsburgh RecTD Dawkins Marino 19 good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 0 14 1 Pittsburgh RecTD Compton Marino 11 good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 0 21 3 Pittsburgh RecTD Dawkins Marino 21 good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 0 28 3 Pittsburgh FG 32 Everett 0 31 4 Pittsburgh RecTD Dawkins Marino 8 good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 0 38 4 Cincinnati — — — Other Logan recovered blocked punt in end zone, Fogler kick good 7 38 7 38 At South Carolina 1981 South Carolina Gamecocks football team Pittsburgh Panthers 1981 2;text-align:center; autocollapse No. 4 Pittsburgh Panthers at South Carolina Gamecocks – Game summary October 3 3:50 PM EDT No. 4 Panthers 14 14 14 0 Gamecocks 0 0 21 7 Williams–Brice Stadium • Columbia, SC 56,495 ABC Keith Jackson (play-by-play), Frank Broyles (color commentator) and Steve Davis (sideline reporter) Statistics PITT S CAR First downs Total yards Rushes/yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsPittsburgh Passing Rushing Receiving South Carolina Passing Rushing Receiving Pittsburgh South Carolina collapsed 1 Pittsburgh RecTD Brown Marino 28 good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 7 0 1 Pittsburgh RecTD Brown Marino 12 good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 14 0 2 Pittsburgh RecTD Dawkins Marino 53 good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 21 0 2 Pittsburgh RecTD Compton Marino 6 good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 28 0 3 Pittsburgh RecTD Dawkins Marino 30 good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 35 0 3 South Carolina RecTD Aubin Beckham 24 good Fleetwood run/pass good/failed/incomplete 35 7 3 Pittsburgh RecTD Brown Marino 8 good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 42 7 3 South Carolina RushTD Berry 58 good Fleetwood run/pass good/failed/incomplete 42 14 3 South Carolina RecTD Aubin Hillary 58 good Fleetwood run/pass good/failed/incomplete 42 21 4 South Carolina RecTD Smith Beckham 9 good Fleetwood run/pass good/failed/incomplete 42 28 42 28 At West Virginia 1981 West Virginia Mountaineers football team Backyard Brawl Pittsburgh Panthers 1981 2;text-align:center; autocollapse No. 4 Pittsburgh Panthers at West Virginia Mountaineers – Game summary October 10 1:30 PM EDT No. 4 Panthers 0 7 10 0 Mountaineers 0 0 0 0 Mountaineer Field • Morgantown, WV 54,280 Statistics PITT WVU First downs Total yards Rushes/yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsPittsburgh Passing Rushing Receiving West Virginia Passing Rushing Receiving Pittsburgh West Virginia collapsed 2 Pittsburgh RushTD Thomas 43 good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 7 0 3 Pittsburgh FG 39 Everett 10 0 3 Pittsburgh RushTD Thomas 2 good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 17 0 17 0 #11 Florida State 1981 Florida State Seminoles football team Pittsburgh Panthers 1981 2;text-align:center; autocollapse No. 11 Florida State Seminoles at No. 3 Pittsburgh Panthers – Game summary October 17 1:30 PM EDT No. 11 Seminoles 0 7 7 0 No. 3 Panthers 7 14 14 7 Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA 55,112 Statistics FSU PITT First downs Total yards Rushes/yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsFlorida State Passing Rushing Receiving Pittsburgh Passing Rushing Receiving Florida State Pittsburgh collapsed 1 Pittsburgh RecTD DiBartola Marino 22 good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 0 7 2 Pittsburgh — — — IntTD Sunseri 22 good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 0 14 2 Pittsburgh — — — Other Flynn 83-yard punt return for a touchdown, Everett kick good 0 21 2 Florida State RushTD Whiting 1 good Rendina run/pass good/failed/incomplete 7 21 3 Pittsburgh RecTD Dawkins Marino 86 good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 7 28 3 Pittsburgh RecTD Dawkins Marino 16 good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 7 35 3 Florida State RecTD Childers Williams 5 good Rendina run/pass good/failed/incomplete 14 35 4 Pittsburgh RushTD Thomas 6 good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 14 42 14 42 Syracuse 1981 Syracuse Orangemen football team Pittsburgh–Syracuse football rivalry Pittsburgh Panthers 1981 2;text-align:center; autocollapse Syracuse Orangemen at No. 2 Pittsburgh Panthers – Game summary October 24 1:30 PM EDT Orangemen 10 0 0 0 No. 2 Panthers 0 17 0 6 Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA 50,330 USA Statistics SYR PITT First downs Total yards Rushes/yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsSyracuse Passing Rushing Receiving Pittsburgh Passing Rushing Receiving Syracuse Pittsburgh collapsed 1 Syracuse FG 36 Anderson 3 0 1 Syracuse RushTD Morris 7 good Anderson run/pass good/failed/incomplete 10 0 2 Pittsburgh FG 32 Everett 10 3 2 Pittsburgh RecTD Brown Marino 13 good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 10 10 2 Pittsburgh RecTD Dawkins Marino 2 good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 10 17 4 Pittsburgh RecTD Dawkins Marino 7 no good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 10 23 10 23 At Boston College 1981 Boston College Eagles football team Pittsburgh Panthers 1981 2;text-align:center; autocollapse No. 2 Pittsburgh Panthers at Boston College Eagles – Game summary October 31 1:00 PM EST No. 2 Panthers 7 13 9 0 Eagles 3 7 7 7 Alumni Stadium • Chestnut Hill, MA 25,500 Statistics PITT BC First downs Total yards Rushes/yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsPittsburgh Passing Rushing Receiving Boston College Passing Rushing Receiving Pittsburgh Boston College collapsed 1 Boston College FG 21 Cooper 0 3 1 Pittsburgh RecTD Brown Marino 14 good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 7 3 2 Boston College RushTD Benjamin 8 good Cooper run/pass good/failed/incomplete 7 10 2 Pittsburgh RecTD Collins Marino 32 good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 14 10 2 Pittsburgh RushTD Thomas 11 no good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 20 10 3 Pittsburgh – – – SafetyOther Safety, center snap out of end zone 22 10 3 Pittsburgh RushTD Marino 1 good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 29 10 3 Boston College RecTD Rikard Flutie 30 good Cooper run/pass good/failed/incomplete 29 17 4 Boston College RecTD Rikard Flutie 17 good Cooper run/pass good/failed/incomplete 29 24 29 24 At Rutgers 1981 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team Pittsburgh Panthers 1981 2;text-align:center; autocollapse No. 1 Pittsburgh Panthers at Rutgers Scarlet Knights – Game summary November 7 1:00 PM EST No. 1 Panthers 0 14 14 19 Scarlet Knights 3 0 0 0 Giants Stadium • East Rutherford, NJ 34,636 Statistics PITT RUT First downs Total yards Rushes/yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsPittsburgh Passing Rushing Receiving Rutgers Passing Rushing Receiving Pittsburgh Rutgers collapsed 1 Rutgers FG 26 Falcinelli 0 3 2 Pittsburgh RecTD DiBartola Marino 6 good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 7 3 2 Pittsburgh RecTD Brown Marino 31 good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 14 3 3 Pittsburgh RushTD Thomas 5 good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 21 3 3 Pittsburgh RushTD Marino 1 good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 28 3 4 Pittsburgh RushTD DiBartola 2 good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 35 3 4 Pittsburgh RecTD Compton Marino 30 no good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 41 3 4 Pittsburgh RushTD McIntyre 8 no good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 47 3 47 3 Army 1981 Army Cadets football team Pittsburgh Panthers 1981 2;text-align:center; autocollapse Army Cadets at No. 1 Pittsburgh Panthers – Game summary November 14 1:30 PM EST Cadets 0 0 0 0 No. 1 Panthers 14 7 20 7 Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA 53,225 Statistics ARMY PITT First downs Total yards Rushes/yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsArmy Passing Rushing Receiving Pittsburgh Passing Rushing Receiving Army Pittsburgh collapsed 1 Pittsburgh RushTD Thomas 2 good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 0 7 1 Pittsburgh RushTD DiBartola 1 good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 0 14 2 Pittsburgh RecTD Dawkins Marino 13 good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 0 21 3 Pittsburgh RecTD Dawkins Marino 14 good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 0 28 3 Pittsburgh RecTD Dawkins Marino 6 no good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 0 34 3 Pittsburgh RecTD Dawkins Marino 10 good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 0 41 4 Pittsburgh RushTD Bailey 1 good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 0 48 0 48 At Temple 1981 Temple Owls football team Pittsburgh Panthers 1981 2;text-align:center; autocollapse No. 1 Pittsburgh Panthers at Temple Owls – Game summary November 21 1:30 PM EST No. 1 Panthers 21 0 7 7 Owls 0 0 0 0 Veterans Stadium • Philadelphia, PA 32,570 USA Statistics PITT TU First downs Total yards Rushes/yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsPittsburgh Passing Rushing Receiving Temple Passing Rushing Receiving Pittsburgh Temple collapsed 1 Pittsburgh RecTD Compton Marino 6 good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 7 0 1 Pittsburgh RecTD Compton Marino 55 good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 14 0 1 Pittsburgh RushTD Thomas 19 good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 21 0 3 Pittsburgh RecTD Dawkins Marino 12 good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 28 0 4 Pittsburgh RecTD Williams Marino 5 good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 35 0 35 0 #11 Penn State 1981 Penn State Nittany Lions football team Penn State–Pittsburgh football rivalry Pittsburgh Panthers 1981 2;text-align:center; autocollapse No. 11 Penn State Nittany Lions at No. 1 Pittsburgh Panthers – Game summary November 28 12:25 PM EST No. 11 Nittany Lions 0 14 17 17 No. 1 Panthers 14 0 0 0 Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA 60,260 ABC Bill Flemming (play-by-play) and Darrell Royal (color commentator) Statistics PSU PITT First downs Total yards Rushes/yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsPenn State Passing Rushing Receiving Pittsburgh Passing Rushing Receiving Penn State Pittsburgh collapsed 1 Pittsburgh RecTD Collins Marino 28 good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 0 7 1 Pittsburgh RecTD Collins Marino 9 good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 0 14 2 Penn State RushTD Meade 2 good Franco run/pass good/failed/incomplete 7 14 2 Penn State RushTD Blackledge 8 good Franco run/pass good/failed/incomplete 14 14 3 Penn State RecTD Jackson Blackledge 42 good Franco run/pass good/failed/incomplete 21 14 3 Penn State RecTD Jackson Blackledge 45 good Franco run/pass good/failed/incomplete 28 14 3 Penn State FG 39 Franco 31 14 4 Penn State FG 38 Franco 34 14 4 Penn State — — — FumbleTD Farrell 0 good Franco run/pass good/failed/incomplete 41 14 4 Penn State — — — IntTD Robinson 91 good Franco run/pass good/failed/incomplete 48 14 48 14 Vs. #2 Georgia (Sugar Bowl) 1981 Georgia Bulldogs football team 1982 Sugar Bowl Pittsburgh Panthers 1981 2;text-align:center; autocollapse 1982 Sugar Bowl: No. 10 Pittsburgh Panthers vs. No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs – Game summary January 1 8:00 PM EST No. 10 Panthers 0 3 7 14 No. 2 Bulldogs 0 7 6 7 Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA 77,224 Ken Faulkner (SWC) ABC Keith Jackson (play-by-play), Frank Broyles (color commentator) and Bill Flemming (sideline reporter) Statistics PITT UGA First downs Total yards Rushes/yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsPittsburgh Passing Rushing Receiving Georgia Passing Rushing Receiving Pittsburgh Georgia collapsed 2 Georgia RushTD Walker 10 good Butler run/pass good/failed/incomplete 0 7 2 Pittsburgh FG 41 Everett 3 7 3 Pittsburgh RecTD Dawkins Marino 30 good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 10 7 3 Georgia RushTD Walker 8 no good Butler run/pass good/failed/incomplete 10 13 4 Pittsburgh RecTD Brown Marino 6 good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 17 13 4 Georgia RecTD Kay Belue 6 good Butler run/pass good/failed/incomplete 17 20 4 Pittsburgh RecTD Brown Marino 33 good Everett run/pass good/failed/incomplete 24 20 24 20 Personnel Coaching staff 1981 Pittsburgh Panthers football staff Coaching staff Jackie Sherrill – Head coach Foge Fazio – Assistant head coach/defensive coordinator/linebackers Joe Moore – Offensive coordinator/offensive line Joe Daniels – Quarterbacks Bob Davie – Drop Backs Joe Naunchik – Receivers George Pugh – Tight ends Andy Urbanic – Running backs Ray Zingler – Rush Ends   Support staff Alex Kramer – Administrative assistant Kevin Dickey – Recruiting doordinator Anthony Folino – Part-Time Assistant–Defensive Backs Bob Matey – Part-Time Assistant–Defensive Line Jim Miceli – Part-Time Assistant–Defensive Line Michael Sherman – Part-Time Assistant–Offensive Line Steve Heintzelman – Volunteer coach   Strength and conditioning staff Buddy Morris – Weight training coordinator Roster 1981 Pittsburgh Panthers f 70 Sr Emil Boures G y 75 Jr Jimbo Covert T y 13 Jr Dan Marino QB y 77 Jr Ron Sams G y 5 So Tom Flynn Tom Flynn (American football) DB y 26 Jr Tim Lewis DB y 71 So Bill Maas DT y *Jackie Sherrill Awards and honors Dan Marino, fourth in Heisman Trophy voting Team players drafted into the NFL Player Position Round Pick NFL club Emil Boures Center7 182 Pittsburgh Steelers Sal Sunseri Linebacker10 267 Pittsburgh Steelers Sam Clancy Defensive end 11 284 Seattle Seahawks https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1982.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20071221202828/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1982.htm 2007-12-21 1982 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com Media Radio Pittsburgh Panthers Flagship station Play-by-play Color commentator Sideline reporter Studio host WTAE–AM 1250 Bill Hillgrove John Sauer References Pittsburgh Category:Pittsburgh Panthers football seasons Category:Sugar Bowl champion seasons Pittsburgh Panthers football