1981 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1981 Minnesota Golden Gophers football Big Ten Conference Big Ten 6–5 4–5 Joe Salem 3rd Mike Hohensee Ken Dallafior Memorial Stadium The 1981 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team represented the University of Minnesota in the 1981 Big Ten Conference football season. In their third year under head coach Joe Salem, the Golden Gophers compiled a 6–5 record and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 274 to 264.1981 Minnesota Golden Gophers Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football November 1, 2017 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/minnesota/1981-schedule.html It was the final season in Memorial Stadium.Keiser Jeff 2007 Media Guide 161 2007 http://www.gophersports.com//pdf6/80499.pdf?SPSID=39281&SPID=3280&DB_OEM_ID=8400 June 2017 InternetArchiveBot yes Quarterback Mike Hohensee received the team's Most Valuable Player award, while flanker Chester Cooper was named offensive MVP, and linebacker Jim Fahnhorst was named the defensive MVP. Fahnhorst and offensive tackle Ken Dallafior were named All-Big Ten first team. Cooper, offensive lineman Bill Humphries, defensive end Karl Mecklenburg, and defensive lineman Fred Orgas were named All-Big Ten second team. Defensive lineman Brent Harms and Fred Orgas, free safety Mike Robb, and safety Rick Witthus were named Academic All-Big Ten.Keiser Jeff 2007 Media Guide 179–182 2007 http://www.gophersports.com//pdf6/80499.pdf?SPSID=39281&SPID=3280&DB_OEM_ID=8400 June 2017 InternetArchiveBot yes Several Minnesota players ranked among the Big Ten leaders, including the following: Mike Hohensee led the conference with 20 passing touchdowns and ranked fourth with 2,412 passing 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 Wide receiver Chester Cooper led the conference with 1,012 receiving yards and ranked second with 58 receptions. Running back Frank Jacobs ranked sixth in the conference with 638 rushing yards and fifth with eight rushing touchdowns. Placekicker Jim Gallery ranked second in the conference with 13 field goals made, fourth with a 59.8 field goal percentage, and seventh with 62 points scored. Total attendance for the season was 301,248, which averaged to 43,035. The season high for attendance was against Michigan. Keiser Jeff 2007 Media Guide 160 2007 http://www.gophersports.com//pdf3/80498.pdf?SPSID=39281&SPID=3280&DB_OEM_ID=8400 July 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes Schedule 1981 AP September 12 w y Ohio Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN 19–17 40,086 https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-gophers-tip-ohio/158362909/ Wisconsin State Journal Gophers tip Ohio September 13, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com September 19 w Purdue Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN WLFI-TV2020 Football Media Guide, https://gophersports.com/documents/2020/10/14/2020_Football_Media_Guide_WEB.pdf 16–13 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 Oregon State Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN 42–12 30,890 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-rock-island-argus-gophers-qb-tosses/158334522/ The Rock Island Argus Gophers' QB tosses five TD passes September 27, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com October 3 l y Illinois Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 29–38 63,814 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-vincennes-sun-commercial-illinois-du/158375185/ The Vincennes Sun-Commercial Illinois dumps Gophers October 4, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com October 10 w y Northwestern Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN 35–23 45,949 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-minnesota-trips-nort/158365847/ The Courier-Journal Minnesota trips Northwestern October 11, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com October 17 l y Indiana Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN 16–17 46,460 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kokomo-tribune-iu-squeezes-by-gopher/158366701/ The Kokomo Tribune IU squeezes by Gophers, 17–16 October 18, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com October 24 w y Iowa 6 Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA rivalry 12–10 60,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-iowa-minnesota-1981-gamer-s/27541777/ Star Tribune Gophers upset No. 6 Iowa 12–10 October 25, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com October 31 l Michigan 15 Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN Little Brown Jug ON-TV 13–34 52,875 U-M buries Gophers Detroit Free Press Joe Lapointe November 1, 1981 1H, 9H https://www.newspapers.com/clip/42223319/um_buries_gophers/ Newspapers.com November 7 1:00 pm w Ohio State 18 Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN ESPNhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0DBotikMIY 1981 #18 Ohio State @ Minnesota No Huddle YouTube April 12, 2020 35–31 42,793 https://www.newspapers.com/article/springfield-news-sun-minnestas-passing/158375364/ Springfield News-Sun Minnesota's passing devastates Bucks November 8, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com November 14 l y Michigan State Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 36–43 56,571 https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-news-michigan-state-dumps-minneso/158374748/ Sunday News Michigan State dumps Minnesota November 15, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com November 21 l Wisconsin Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN rivalry 21–26 47,125 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-la-crosse-tribune-wrights-heroics-s/158375598/ The La Crosse Tribune Wright's heroics save Badgers November 22, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com Game summaries Oregon State 1981 Oregon State Beavers football team Oregon St 3 0 2 7 Minnesota 6 20 9 7 September 26 Memorial Stadium • Minneapolis, Minnesota yes 1 MINN Carroll 1 yard pass from Hohensee (kick failed) Minnesota 6-0 1 ORST Mangold 52 yard field goal Minnesota 6-3 2 MINN Curtis 8 yard pass from Hohensee (Gallery kick) Minnesota 13-3 2 MINN Curtis 14 yard pass from Hohensee (Gallery kick) Minnesota 20-3 2 MINN Cooper 38 yard pass from Hohensee (kick failed) Minnesota 26-3 3 MINN Gallery 28 yard field goal Minnesota 29-3 3 ORST Safety, ball snapped out of end zone Minnesota 29-5 3 MINN Weckbecker 27 yard pass from Hohensee (kick failed) Minnesota 35-5 4 MINN Henry 1 yard run (Gallery kick) Minnesota 42-5 4 ORST Terrell 6 yard run (Mangold kick) Minnesota 42-12 yes Palm Beach Post. 1981 Sept 27. Ohio State 1981 Ohio State Buckeyes football team Minnesota Golden Gophers 2; text-align:center collapsed Ohio State Buckeyes at Minnesota Golden Gophers November 7 1:00 p.m. Ohio St 14 7 7 3 Minnesota 0 7 14 14 Memorial Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota 42,793 Clear, 64 F C Glenn Fortin Box Score First quarter OSU – John Frank 7-yard pass from Art Schlichter (Bob Atha kick), 5:33. Ohio St 7–0. Drive: 8 plays, 76 yards. OSU – Tim Spencer 73-yard run (Bob Atha kick), 0:00. Ohio St 14–0. Drive: 2 plays, 80 yards, 0:10. Second quarter MINN – Todd Hallstrom 1-yard pass from Mike Hohensee (Jim Gallery kick), 9:53. Ohio St 14–7. Drive: 11 plays, 80 yards, 5:07. OSU – Tim Spencer 2-yard run (Bob Atha kick), 7:39. Ohio St 21–7. Drive: 6 plays, 74 yards, 2:14. Third quarter MINN – Jay Carroll 27-yard pass from Mike Hohensee (Jim Gallery kick), 11:25. Ohio St 21–14. Drive: 12 plays, 64 yards, 2:35. MINN – Frank Jacobs 17-yard pass from Mike Hohensee (Jim Gallery kick), 8:34. Tie 21–21. Drive: 4 plays, 36 yards, 1:20. OSU – Art Schlichter 1-yard run (Bob Atha kick), 0:30. Ohio St 28–21. Drive: 9 plays, 57 yards, 3:39. Fourth quarter OSU – Bob Atha 31-yard field goal, 8:18. Ohio St 31–21. Drive: 4 plays, 27 yards, 1:13. MINN – Jay Carroll 18-yard pass from Mike Hohensee (Jim Gallery kick), 6:56. Ohio St 31–28. Drive: 5 plays, 68 yards, 1:23. MINN – Jay Carroll 28-yard pass from Mike Hohensee (Jim Gallery kick), 2:38. Minnesota 35–31. Drive: 5 plays, 40 yards, 1:03 Top passers OSU – Art Schlichter – 13/33, 169 yards, TD, INT MINN – Mike Hohensee – 37/67, 444 yards, 5 TD, INT Top rushers OSU – Tim Spencer – 16 rushes, 135 yards, 2 TD MINN – Tony Hunter – 6 rushes, 19 yards Top receivers OSU – Gary Williams – 4 receptions, 72 yards MINN – Chester Cooper – 12 receptions, 182 yards Wisconsin Minnesota Golden Gophers 2; text-align:center collapsed Wisconsin Badgers (6–4) at Minnesota Golden Gophers (6–4) November 21, 1981 Wisconsin Minnesota Memorial Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota 47,125 https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/11/22/The-only-thing-quarterback-Jess-Cole-and-his-Wisconsin/1067375253200/ Wisconsin 26, Minnesota 21 November 22, 1981 UPI Archives December 18, 2022 The loss overshadowed a record-setting day for Mike Hohensee and Chester Cooper. Hohensee set the single season school records for completions and passing yardage while Chester Cooper broke the single season school record for receiving yardage.https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/11/22/The-only-thing-quarterback-Jess-Cole-and-his-Wisconsin/1067375253200/ Wisconsin 26, Minnesota 21 November 22, 1981 UPI Archives December 18, 2022 left Wisconsin Badgers Wisconsin y Minnesota Golden Gophers Minnesota n Jess Cole 6/17, 84 Yds Mike Hohensee 17/34, 254 Yds, TD Chester Cooper 6 Rec, 123 Yds, TD WISC MINN collapsed 4 Minnesota RecTD Chester Cooper Mike Hohensee 4 good Jim Gallery run/pass good/failed/incomplete 20 21 4 1:05 Wisconsin RecTD Michael Jones Randy Wright 7 26 21 26 21 Personnel 1981 Minnesota Golden Gophers y 83 So Jay Carroll TE 43 Sr Chester Cooper WR 78 Sr Ken Dallafior T y Todd Hallstrom OL 9 Jr Mike Hohensee QB y Tony Hunter RB 40 Frank Jacobs RB 53 Jr Randy Rasmussen Randy Rasmussen (American football, born 1960) C y 10 So Tim Salem QB 19 Sr Ron Weckbacher WR 71 Sr Kurt Bankson DT 74 Jr Karl Mecklenburg DT y 21 So Jim Gallery K y https://web.archive.org/web/20161226150145/http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/m-footbl-mtt-81-82.html *Joe Salem References Minnesota Category:Minnesota Golden Gophers football seasons Minnesota Golden Gophers football