1981 Tennessee Volunteers football team

American college football season February 2026 January 2019 1981 Tennessee Volunteers football Southeastern Conference SEC 8–4 3–3 Johnny Majors 5th Bill Pace 2nd Bobby Jackson 2nd James Berry Lemont Holt Jeffers Lee North Neyland Stadium Garden State Bowl champion Garden State Bowl W Won 28–21 vs. Wisconsin The 1981 Tennessee Volunteers football team (variously "Tennessee", "UT" or the "Vols") represented the University of Tennessee in the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. Playing as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the team was led by head coach Johnny Majors, in his fifth year, and played their home games at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee. They finished the season with a record of eight wins and four losses (8–4 overall, 3–3 in the SEC). The Volunteers offense scored 244 points while the defense allowed 265 points. Schedule 1981 AP September 5 l y Georgia 10 Sanford Stadium Athens, GA 0–44 79,600 Smyth Jimmy September 6, 1981 Georgia pounds Volunteers, 44–0 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107855744/georgia-pounds-volunteers-440/ August 18, 2022 Johnson City Press-Chronicle Newspapers.com September 12 l y y USC 5 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 7–43 62,147 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107855944/usc-puts-tennessee-to-rout-in-437-win/ The Los Angeles Times USC puts Tennessee to rout in 43–7 win September 13, 1981 August 18, 2022 Newspapers.com September 19 w y Colorado State Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN 42–0 93,972 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107856198/vols-romp-by-erring-rams-420/ The Knoxville News-Sentinel Vols romp by erring Rams, 42–0 September 20, 1981 August 18, 2022 Newspapers.com September 26 w Auburn Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN 10–7 92,612 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107856323/majors-proud-of-tennessee-107-victory/ The Selma Times-Journal Majors proud of Tennessee 10–7 victory September 27, 1981 August 18, 2022 Newspapers.com October 10 w y Georgia Tech Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN 10–7 94,478 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107856434/tennessee-rebounds-to-beat-jackets-107/ The Macon Telegraph & News Tennessee rebounds to beat Jackets 10–7 October 11, 1981 August 18, 2022 Newspapers.com October 17 l y Alabama 15 Legion Field Birmingham, AL Third Saturday in October 19–38 78,550 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71529717/tides-first-half-monsoon-wrecks-vols/ The Tennessean Tide's first half monsoon wrecks Vols October 18, 1981 August 18, 2022 Newspapers.com October 24 w y y Memphis State Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN 28–9 51,668 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107856643/big-orange-hex-more-powerful-than-mem/ The Leaf-Chronicle 'Big Orange Hex' more powerful than 'Memphis Jinx' October 25, 1981 August 18, 2022 Newspapers.com November 7 w y y Wichita State Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN 24–21 94,155 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71915484/tennessee-dodges-a-shocker/ The Tennessean Tennessee dodges a Shock(er) November 8, 1981 February 23, 2021 Newspapers.com November 14 w Ole Miss rivalry Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN 28–20 90,955 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107856796/vols-hold-back-rebels/ The Tampa Tribune-Times Vols hold back Rebels November 15, 1981 August 18, 2022 Newspapers.com November 21 l y Kentucky Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY rivalry 10–21 54,604 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107857008/wildcats-silence-vols-thunder/ The Paducah Sun Wildcats silence Vols' thunder November 22, 1981 August 18, 2022 Newspapers.com November 28 w Vanderbilt Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN 38–34 92,824 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107857143/vandy-refuses-chance-to-tie/ The Jackson Sun Vandy refuses chance to tie November 29, 1981 August 18, 2022 Newspapers.com December 13 w y y Wisconsin Giants Stadium East Rutherford, NJ Garden State Bowl Mizlou 28–21 53,220 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107857243/tennessees-speed-burns-wisconsin/ Clarion-Ledger Tennessee's speed burns Wisconsin December 14, 1981 August 18, 2022 Newspapers.com Roster 1981 Tennessee Volunteers f 2 So Lenny Taylor Lenny Taylor (American football) WR y 6 Fr Alan Cockrell QB y 24 So Clyde Duncan WR y 26 Jr Willie Gault WR y 28 Sr Anthony Hancock Anthony Hancock (American football) WR y 40 Jr Bill Bates DB y 92 So Reggie White DE y 93 Jr Mike Cofer DE y Mike Cofer (linebacker) 97 Fr Tony Simmons DE y Tony Simmons (defensive end) 4 Fr Fuad Reveiz K y *Johnny Majors Bill Pace – Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks/assistant head coach Doug Mathews – Running backs Bob Harrison – Wide receivers Phillip Fulmer – Offensive line Bobby Jackson – Defensive coordinator/linebackers Frank Emanuel – Defensive line John Julies – Defensive ends Dom Capers – Defensive backs https://utsports.com/sports/football/roster/1981 Game summaries At USC Tennessee at USC Volunteers 0 0 7 0 Trojans 6 20 10 7 September 12 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles 62,147 yes Q1 USC Allen 9-yard run (kick failed) USC 6–0 Q2 USC White 50-yard pass from Mazur (run failed) USC 12–0 Q2 USC Allen 12-yard run (Livingston kick) USC 19–0 Q2 USC Allen 4-yard run (Livingston kick) USC 26–0 Q3 USC Allen 55-yard run (Livingston kick) USC 33–0 Q3 USC Livingston 47-yard field goal USC 36–0 Q3 TEN Morris 1-yard pass from Cockrell (Reveiz kick) USC 36–7 Q4 USC Boyer 3-yard pass from Salisbury (Jordan kick) USC 43–7 yes 1980 USC Trojans football team Team players drafted into the NFL Tennessee Volunteers Player Position Round Pick NFL club Anthony Hancock Wide Receiver 111 Kansas City Chiefs Brian Ingram Linebacker 4 111 New England Patriots LeMont Holt Jeffers Linebacker 6153 Washington Redskins Terry Daniels 10265 Washington Redskins References:https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1982/draft.htm?redir 1982 NFL Draft Pro-Football-Reference.com March 12, 2012 References Tennessee Category:Tennessee Volunteers football seasons Tennessee Volunteers football Category:Long stubs with short prose