1981 Purdue Boilermakers football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1981 Purdue Boilermakers football Big Ten Conference Big Ten 5–6 3–6 Jim Young 5th Doug Redmann 2nd Leon Burtnett 5th Steve Bryant Steve Bryant Ray Gunner Bobby Williams Ross–Ade Stadium The 1981 Purdue Boilermakers football team represented Purdue University during the 1981 Big Ten Conference football season. Led by Jim Young in his fifth and final season as head coach, the Boilermakers compiled an overall record of 5–6 with a mark of 3–6 in conference play, tying for eighth place in the Big Ten. Purdue played home games at Ross–Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana. Several Purdue players ranked among the Big Ten leaders, including the following: Wide receiver Steve Bryant led the Big Ten with 60 receptions and 11 receiving touchdowns and ranked second with 971 receiving yards and fifth with 66 points scored. Quarterback Scott Campbell ranked second in the conference with 185 pass completions, a 57.6% pass completion percentage, 2,686 passing yards, a 138.3 passing efficiency rating, and 2,809 total yards.1981 Big Ten Conference Year Summary Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football November 19, 2016 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/conferences/big-ten/1981.html Running back Jimmy Smith ranked fourth in the conference with 152 rushing attempts and ninth with 540 rushing yards. Schedule 1981 AP September 12 w y Stanford 19 Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN 27–19 ABC 69,958 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kokomo-tribune-smaths-3-tds-lead-pu/158338204/ The Kokomo Tribune Smith's 3 TDs lead Purdue win September 13, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com September 19 l y Minnesota Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN 13–16 41,530 https://www.newspapers.com/article/chronicle-tribune-gophers-defense-tighte/158373560/ Chronicle Tribune Gophers defense tightens to stop Boilers September 20, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com September 26 w y Notre Dame 13 Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN rivalry 15–14 70,007 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kokomo-tribune-purdue-upsets-irish/158212181/ The Kokomo Tribune Purdue upsets Irish September 27, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com October 3 l y Wisconsin Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 14–20 68,603 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-macon-telegraph-wisconsin-storms-pas/158373640/ The Macon Telegraph & News Wisconsin storms past Purdue October 4, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com October 10 w y Illinois Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN rivalry 44–20 69,846 https://www.newspapers.com/article/herald-and-review-defensive-element-of-d/158373736/ Herald and Review Defensive element of disguise fools Illinois October 11, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com October 17 w y Northwestern Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL 35–0 20,777 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-rock-island-argus-turnovers-keep-wil/158365925/ The Rock Island Argus Turnovers keep Wildcats headed down losing road October 18, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com October 24 w Michigan State Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN 27–26 69,877 https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-wind-saves-purdue-from-m/158373830/ Chicago Tribune Wind saves Purdue from Michigan State October 25, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com October 31 l Ohio State Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN 33–45 69,927 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-akron-beacon-journal-buckeyes-take-b/158374017/ The Akron Beacon Journal Buckeyes take Big Ten lead November 1, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com November 7 l y Iowa Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA 7–33 60,114 https://www.newspapers.com/article/dayton-daily-news-purdue-foiled-337-b/158374141/ Dayton Daily News Purdue foiled, 33–7, by stingy Hawkeye D November 8, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com November 14 l Michigan 11 Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN 10–28 69,736 U-M foils Boilermakers: Win sets up Rose War with OSU Detroit Free Press Joe Lapointe November 15, 1981 1E, 7E https://www.newspapers.com/clip/42204871/um_foils_boilermakers/ Newspapers.comMichigan stalls Boilermakers, 28–10 The Michigan Daily Greg DeGulis November 15, 1981 1, 10 https://digital.bentley.umich.edu/midaily/mdp.39015071754662/775 Bentley Historical Library November 21 l y Indiana Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN Old Oaken Bucket 17–20 48,466 https://www.newspapers.com/article/anderson-herald-classic-finish-returns-b/158367092/ Anderson Herald Classic finish returns Bucket to Indiana November 22, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com 1981 Purdue Boilermakers Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football November 3, 2024 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/purdue/1981-schedule.html Game summaries Notre Dame Notre Dame 0 7 0 7 Purdue 0 0 7 8 September 26 Ross–Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, Indiana 70,007 yes 2 ND Smith 1 yard run (Oliver kick) Notre Dame 7-0 3 PUR Jones 1 yard run (Anderson kick) Tie 7-7 4 2:57 ND Carter 30 yard run (Oliver kick) Notre Dame 14-7 4 :19 PUR Bryant 7 yard pass from Campbell (Bryant pass from Campbell) Purdue 15-14 yes Palm Beach Post. 1981 Sept 27. Ohio State Purdue Boilermakers 2; text-align:center collapsed Ohio State Buckeyes (5–2) at Purdue Boilermakers (5–2) October 31, 1981 12:30 p.m. Ohio St 0 17 7 21 Purdue 7 7 6 13 Ross–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana 69,927 Partly sunny, 66 F C Jerry Hendrickson ABC left Ohio State Buckeyes Ohio St Purdue Boilermakers Purdue Art Schlichter 19/33, 336 Yds, 3 TD, INT Tim Spencer 22 Rush, 95 Yds, TD Gary Williams 7 Rec, 126 Yds Scott Campbell 31/52, 516 Yds, 3 TD, 2 INT Jimmy Smith 11 Rush, 33 Yds Steve Bryant 10 Rec, 195 Yds, 2 TD OSU PU collapsed 1 3:11 Purdue 10 71 3:40 RecTD Cliff Benson Scott Campbell 11 good Tim Clark run/pass good/failed/incomplete 0 7 2 11:24 Ohio St 6 32 2:46 FG 53 Bob Atha 3 7 2 8:45 Ohio St 2 16 0:42 RushTD Art Schlichter 14 good Bob Atha run/pass good/failed/incomplete 10 7 2 6:58 Ohio St 1 47 0:07 RecTD Cedric Anderson Art Schlichter 47 good Bob Atha run/pass good/failed/incomplete 17 7 2 4:38 Purdue 5 70 2:20 RecTD Steve Bryant Scott Campbell 32 good Tim Clark run/pass good/failed/incomplete 17 14 3 12:24 Purdue 7 80 2:36 FG 26 Tim Clark 17 17 3 10:45 Ohio St 9 83 1:39 RushTD Jim Gayle 2 good Bob Atha run/pass good/failed/incomplete 24 17 3 2:04 Purdue 6 59 1:26 FG 38 Tim Clark 24 20 4 14:45 Ohio St 9 75 2:19 RushTD Tim Spencer 2 good Bob Atha run/pass good/failed/incomplete 31 20 4 14:32 Ohio St 1 23 0:05 RecTD Cedric Anderson Art Schlichter 23 good Bob Atha run/pass good/failed/incomplete 38 20 4 9:10 Purdue 15 71 5:22 RushTD Wally Jones 1 pass failed 38 26 4 7:12 Purdue 2 8 0:09 RecTD Steve Bryant Scott Campbell 4 good Tim Clark run/pass good/failed/incomplete 38 33 4 2:19 Ohio St 5 62 1:44 RecTD John Frank Art Schlichter 29 good Bob Atha run/pass good/failed/incomplete 45 33 45 33 Indiana Statistics Jeff Feulner 18 rushes, 108 yards Roster 1981 Purdue Boilermakers y Tom Barr TE n Cliff Benson TE y Steve Bryant WR y Steve Bryant (American football) Darryl Calhoun RB n Scott Campbell QB y Scott Campbell (American football) Jim Everett QB y Jeff Feulner RB n Claybon Fields OL n Jim Fritzsche OL y Mike Fuetterer WR n Larry Gates QB n Ray Gunner OL n Tom Jelesky OL y Wally Jones RB n Eric Jordan RB n Bruce King FB y Bruce King (American football) Joe Linville WR n Jim Owen RB n Everett Pickens WR n Robert Pruitt RB n Dave Retherford WR n Paul Royer OL n Jimmy Smith RB y Jimmy Smith (running back) Mark Brown LB y Mark Brown (linebacker, born 1961) David Frye LB y David Frye (American football) Andy Gladstone LB n Matt Hernandez DL y Bob Lashley DB n Marcus McKinnie DB n Casey Moore DL n Chris Scott DL y Chris Scott (defensive end) Tim Seneff DB n Brock Spack LB y Derrick Taylor DB n Bobby Williams DB y Rick Anderson K Jim Bosche P n Tim Clark K Scott Craig KR n Matt Kinzer P y Jim Young Leon Burtnett (defensive coordinator) Mike Hankwitz Randy Hart Bob Spoo 1981 Purdue Boilermakers Roster https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/purdue/1981-roster.html January 22, 2025 References Purdue Category:Purdue Boilermakers football seasons Purdue Boilermakers football