1981 West Virginia Mountaineers football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1981 West Virginia Mountaineers football Independent 18 17 9–3 Don Nehlen 2nd Gary Tranquill 2nd Dennis Brown 2nd Mountaineer Field Peach Bowl champion Peach Bowl W 26–6 vs. Florida The 1981 West Virginia Mountaineers football team represented West Virginia University as an independent during the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the Mountaineers' 89th overall season. The team was led by head coach Don Nehlen, in his second year, and played their home games at Mountaineer Field in Morgantown, West Virginia. They finished the season with record of 9–3 and defeated Florida in the Peach Bowl. Schedule 1981 AP Eastern September 12 w y Virginia Scott Stadium Charlottesville, VA 32–18 34,007 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-roanoke-times-cavs-grounded/139760089/ The Times & World-News Cavs grounded September 13, 1981 January 28, 2024 Newspapers.com September 19 w y Maryland Byrd Stadium College Park, MD rivalry 17–13 38,300 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-terps-struggle-ag/139760231/ The Charlotte Observer Terps struggle again, lose to West Virginia September 20, 1981 January 28, 2024 Newspapers.com September 26 w Colorado State Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV 49–3 48,716 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-recorder-richard-hollins-footb/76012692/ The Times Recorder West Virginia romps 49–3 September 27, 1981 January 28, 2024 Newspapers.com October 3 w y Boston College Alumni Stadium Chestnut Hill, MA 38–10 17,235 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-advance-west-virginia-rolls/139760435/ The News and Advance West Virginia rolls to 4–0, crushes Boston College October 4, 1981 January 28, 2024 Newspapers.comUndefeated West Virginia knocks off Boston College Tallahassee Democrat October 4, 1981 4F https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17505976/undefeated_west_virginia_knocks_off/ Newspapers.comWest Virginia 38, Boston College 10 St. Petersburg Times October 4, 1981 8C https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17508504/west_virginia_38_boston_college_10/ Newspapers.com October 10 l Pittsburgh 4 Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV rivalry 0–17 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 w Virginia Tech Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV rivalry 27–6 49,115 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90685233/virginia-tech-gets-lesson-in-luck-276/ The Pittsburgh Press Virginia Tech gets lesson in Luck, 27–6 October 18, 1981 December 16, 2021 Newspapers.com October 24 l y Penn State 1 Beaver Stadium University Park, PA rivalry 7–30 85,012 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-news-warner-substitute-leads/139760844/ Sunday News Journal Warner substitute leads Penn State past W. Va. October 25, 1981 January 28, 2024 Newspapers.com October 31 w East Carolina Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV 20–3 41,364 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72674710/w-virginia-gets-by-east-carolina/ The Pittsburgh Press W. Virginia gets by East Carolina, 20–3 November 1, 1981 March 4, 2021 Newspapers.com November 7 w Temple Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV 24–19 40,342 https://www.newspapers.com/article/courier-post-w-vas-luck-good-owls-b/139760942/ The Courier-Post W. Va.'s Luck good; Owls' bad November 8, 1981 January 28, 2024 Newspapers.com November 14 w Rutgers Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV 20–3 44,395 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-central-new-jersey-home-news-west-vi/139761065/ The Home News West Virginia rips sputtering Scarlet November 15, 1981 January 28, 2024 Newspapers.com November 21 l y Syracuse Carrier Dome Syracuse, NY rivalry ABC 24–27 33,117 https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-news-syracuse-46-upsets-w-va/139761249/ The Sunday News Syracuse, 4–6, upsets W. Va., 8–3 November 22, 1981 January 28, 2024 Newspapers.com December 31 w y Florida Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium Atlanta, GA Peach Bowl CBS 26–6 37,582 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-west-virginia-t/134526375/ The Atlanta Journal & Constitution West Virginia too much for Florida in Peach January 1, 1982 November 2, 2023 Newspapers.com Roster 1981 West Virginia Mountaineers f 1 Fr Gary Mullen Gary Mullen (American football) WR y 7 Jr Curt Cignetti QB y 10 Sr Oliver Luck QB y 20 Jr Curlin Beck RB 36 Fr Ron Wolfley FB y 42 Jr Mickey Walczak RB 48 Fr Willie Drewrey WR y 79 Sr Mike Durrette G y 41 Jr Jeff Deem LB 50 Jr Dennis Fowlkes LB y 90 Jr Darryl Talley LB y 3 Fr Paul Woodside K y Sr Murat Turcan K *Don Nehlen Gary Tranquill Offensive coordinator Dennis Brown Defensive coordinator References West Virginia Category:West Virginia Mountaineers football seasons Category:Peach Bowl champion seasons West Virginia Mountaineers football