1981 Virginia Union Panthers football team

American college football season March 2026 August 2023 1981 Virginia Union Panthers football Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association CIAA Northern Division 11–1 7–0 Willard Bailey 11th Hovey Field Black college national championCIAA champion CIAA Championship Game W 45–7 vs. 1981 North Carolina Central Eagles North Carolina Central NCAA Division II First Round L 27–40 vs. 1981 Shippensburg Red Raiders Shippensburg State The 1981 Virginia Union Panthers football team represented Virginia Union University as a member of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) during the 1981 NCAA Division II football season. Led by 11th-year head coach Willard Bailey, the Panthers compiled an overall record of 11–1 and a mark of 7–0 in conference play, and finished as CIAA champions after they defeated 1981 North Carolina Central Eagles North Carolina Central in the first CIAA Championship Game. Virginia Union finished their season with a loss against 1981 Shippensburg Red Raiders Shippensburg State in the Division II playoffs. At the conclusion of the season, the Panthers were also recognized as black college national champion. Schedule 1981 NCAA Division II NCAA Division II Football Committee September 12 w 1981 North Carolina Central Eagles North Carolina Central Hovey Field Richmond, VA 27–7 5,500 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122458460/dillons-feats-stop-central/ Dillon's feats stop Central Durham Morning Herald September 13, 1981 April 7, 2023 Newspapers.com September 19 w y 1981 Hampton Pirates Hampton Armstrong Stadium Hampton, VA 34–14 5,100 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122458719/wyche-unashamed-after-union-spanks-hampt/ Wyche unashamed after Union spanks Hampton Institute 34–14 Daily Press September 20, 1981 April 7, 2023 Newspapers.com September 26 w 5 1981 Winston-Salem State Rams Winston-Salem State Hovey Field Richmond, VA 36–7 3,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122458911/union-blitzes-rams/ Union blitzes Rams Richmond Times-Dispatch September 27, 1981 April 7, 2023 Newspapers.com October 3 w y 4 1981 Saint Paul's Tigers Saint Paul's (VA) Brunswick H.S. Stadium Lawrenceville, VA 55–6 700 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122459160/unions-rips-saint-pauls-556/ Union rips Saint Paul's 55–6 Richmond Times-Dispatch October 4, 1981 April 7, 2023 Newspapers.com October 10 w y y 4 1981 Clark Panthers Clark (GA) Lakewood Stadium Atlanta, GA 42–0 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122459436/va-union-mops-up-stadium-with-clark-col/ Va. Union mops up stadium with Clark College 42–0 The Atlanta Constitution October 11, 1981 April 7, 2023 Newspapers.com October 17 w 3 1981 Bowie State Bulldogs Bowie State Hovey Field Richmond, VA 25–0 1,300 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122459673/union-held-by-problems-to-250-win/ Union held by problems to 25–0 win Richmond Times-Dispatch October 18, 1981 April 7, 2023 Newspapers.com October 24 w 3 1981 Norfolk State Spartans Norfolk State Hovey Field Richmond, VA 43–13 6,300 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122459832/classy-va-union-raps-norfolk-state/ Classy Va. Union raps Norfolk State Daily Press October 25, 1981 April 7, 2023 Newspapers.com October 31 w y 3 1981 Virginia State Trojans Virginia State City Stadium Richmond, VA Gold Bowl Classic 14–12 12,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122460055/panthers-given-a-scare-but-reach-ciaa-fi/ Panthers given a scare but reach CIAA final Richmond Times-Dispatch November 1, 1981 April 7, 2023 Newspapers.com November 7 w y 3 1981 Morgan State Bears Morgan State Hovey Field Richmond, VA 38–0 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122460224/union-tramples-morgan-by-380/ Union tramples Morgan by 38–0 Richmond Times-Dispatch November 8, 1981 April 7, 2023 Newspapers.com November 14 w 3 1981 Elizabeth City State Vikings Elizabeth City State 5 Hovey Field Richmond, VA 16–7 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122460390/virginia-union-nips-ecsu-for-10th-win/ Virginia Union nips ECSU for 10th win The News and Observer November 15, 1981 April 7, 2023 Newspapers.com November 21 w y 3 North Carolina Central American Legion Memorial Stadium Charlotte, NC CIAA Championship Game 45–7 12,500 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122460572/union-dissolves-nc-central/ Union dissolves N.C. Central The Charlotte Observer November 22, 1981 April 7, 2023 Newspapers.com November 28 l y 2 1981 Shippensburg Red Raiders Shippensburg State 8 Hovey Field Richmond, VA NCAA Division II First Round 27–40 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122460773/shippensburg-rolls-past-virginia-union-i/ Shippensburg rolls past Virginia Union into semifinals The Morning News November 29, 1981 April 7, 2023 Newspapers.com References Virginia Union Category:Virginia Union Panthers football seasons Category:Black college football national champions Category:Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association football champion seasons Virginia Union Panthers football