1981 Illinois Fighting Illini football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Record7–4 (6–3 Big Ten)
Head coach
MVPTony Eason, Kelvin Atkins, Ron Ferrari, Dan Gregus, Mike Bass
CaptainGreg Boeke, Ron Ferrari, Jack Squirek
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
1981 Big Ten Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 15 Ohio State + 6 –2 –09 –3 –0
No. 18 Iowa + 6 –2 –08 –4 –0
No. 12 Michigan 6 –3 –09 –3 –0
Illinois 6 –3 –07 –4 –0
Wisconsin 6 –3 –07 –5 –0
Minnesota 4 –5 –06 –5 –0
Michigan State 4 –5 –05 –6 –0
Purdue 3 –6 –05 –6 –0
Indiana 3 –6 –03 –8 –0
Northwestern 0 –9 –00 –11 –0
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1981 Illinois Fighting Illini football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois during the 1981 Big Ten Conference football season. In their second year under head coach Mike White, the Illini compiled a 7–4 record and finished in three-way tie for third place in the Big Ten Conference.[1]

The team's offensive leaders were quarterback Tony Eason with 3,360 passing yards, running back Calvin Thomas with 390 rushing yards, and wide receiver Oliver Williams with 760 receiving yards.[2] Several Illinois players ranked among the Big Ten leaders, including the following:

  • Tony Eason led the conference with 248 pass completions, a 61.1 pass completion percentage, 3,360 passing yards, a 140.0 passing efficiency rating, 20 passing touchdowns, 14 interceptions, and 3,331 total yards.[3]
  • Oliver Williams ranked third in the conference with six receiving touchdowns and 20.0 yards per reception and ranked fifth in the conference with 760 receiving yards.[3]
  • Kirby Wilson ranked second in the conference with 546 kickoff return yards.[3]
  • Mike Bass ranked third in the conference with 33 extra points made, fifth with 10 field goals and a 58.8% field goal percentage, and sixth with 63 points scored.[3]

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendance
September 5at No. 8 Pittsburgh*
L 6–2646,022
September 12at Michigan State
W 27–1754,945
September 19Syracuse*
W 17–1457,579
October 3Minnesota
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL
W 38–2963,814
October 10at Purdue
L 20–4469,846
October 17at Ohio State
L 27–3487,158
October 24Wisconsin
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL
W 23–2167,413
October 31No. 16 Iowa
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL
W 24–766,877
November 7at No. 12 Michigan
L 21–70105,570
November 14Indiana
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL
W 35–1456,143
November 21at Northwestern
W 49–1223,116
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Roster

1981 Illinois Fighting Illini football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense 65 Finis, Marty OG 6-2 240 Jr. Palatine, Ill./Fremd 72 Flynn, Dennis OT 6-4 252 Sr. 13 Lopez, John WR 6-2 185 Sr. Elk Grove, Ill./St. Viator 4 Martin, Mike WR 5-10 175 Jr. Washington, D.C./Eastern 86 McAvoy, Tim TE 6-3 232 Sr. 11 Trudeau, Jack QB 6-4.5 195 Fr 44 West, Kevin FB 6-2 210 Jr. Anaheim, Calif./Fullerton JC 17 Williams, Oliver WR 6-3 190 Jr.
Pos.#NameClass
RB 33 Mitchell Brookins Jr
QB 3 Tony Eason Jr
C 55 Adam Lingner Jr
FB 42 Calvin Thomas Sr
QB John Wells Jr
 Defense 31 Burgard, Pete OLB 6-4 225 Sr. Ypsilanti, Mich./Ypsilanti 51 Buron, Tom DT 6-4 225 So. St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles 53 Butkus, Mark DT 6-4 235 So. Lansing, Ill./Thornton Fractional 96 Thorp, Don DT 6-4 230 So. Arlington Hts./Buffalo Grove 24 Toney, Mike DB 6-2 210 Jr 94 Tuck, Mark DL 6-5 245 Jr. Charlotte, N.C./Triton JC Varrige, Tom DB 5-9 180 Jr. Park Ridge, Ill./Park Ridge 7 Vengoni, John OLB 6-0 215 Sr.
Pos.#NameClass
DB 37 Charles Armstead Jr
OLB 84 Kelvin Atkins Sr
LB 61 Ed Brady So
OLB 57 Darryl Byrd Jr
LB 29 Ron Ferrari Sr
LB 34 Jack Squirek Sr
 Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Roster

Season summary

Northwestern

Tony Eason threw three touchdown passes to set the Big Ten single season record. The two teams overall combined to throw 109 passes, breaking the conference mark set earlier in the year by Minnesota and Ohio State.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "1981 Illinois Fighting Illini Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  2. ↑ "1981 Illinois Fighting Illini Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "1981 Big Ten Conference Year Summary". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  4. ↑ Eugene Register-Guard. 1981 Nov 22. Retrieved 2018-Dec-12.


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