The 1981 San Jose State Spartans football team represented San Jose State University during the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season as a member of the Pacific Coast Athletic Association.[note 1] Led by third-year head coach Jack Elway, they played home games at Spartan Stadium in San Jose, California.
1981 San Jose State Spartans football | |
---|---|
![]() | |
PCAA champion | |
California Bowl, L 25–27 vs. Toledo | |
Conference | Pacific Coast Athletic Association |
Record | 9–3 (5–0 PCAA) |
Head coach |
|
Offensive coordinator | Dennis Erickson (3rd season) |
Offensive scheme | Spread |
Home stadium | Spartan Stadium |
Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
San Jose State $ | 5 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 9 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Utah State | 4 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 5 | – | 5 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fresno State | 2 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pacific (CA) | 2 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cal State Fullerton | 1 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 8 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Long Beach State | 1 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 8 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The Spartans were champions of the PCAA, with a record of nine wins and three losses (9–3, 5–0 PCAA), and qualified for the initial California Bowl against the Mid-American Conference (MAC) champion Toledo Rockets.[1] This was the second bowl appearance for the Spartans since moving up to Division I-A; they were in the Pasadena Bowl a decade earlier. The California Bowl was played at Bulldog Stadium in Fresno, and Toledo won 27–25 with a late field goal.[2][3][4]
In early December, offensive coordinator Dennis Erickson was hired as the head coach at Idaho in the Big Sky Conference, but coached the Spartans in the bowl game.[5]
The Spartan offense was led by quarterback Steve Clarkson, running back Gerald Willhite, and wide receiver Tim Kearse.[1]
Schedule
editDate | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
September 5 | UNLV* | L 6–16 | 17,112 | [6] | ||
September 12 | Santa Clara* |
| W 41–7 | |||
September 19 | at Stanford* | W 28–6 | 67,888 | |||
September 26 | at California* | ABC | W 27–24 | |||
October 3 | at Fresno State | ABC | W 65–33 | 25,617 | [7][8] | |
October 17 | Cal State Fullerton |
| ESPN | W 45–23 | 21,238 | [9] |
October 24 | at Utah State | W 27–24 | 16,071 | [10] | ||
November 7 | at No. 10 Arizona State* | L 24–31 | ||||
November 14 | Pacific (CA) |
| W 40–25 | |||
November 21 | at Long Beach State | W 25–22 | 6,723 | [11] | ||
November 28 | North Texas State* |
| W 28–16 | 13,091 | [12] | |
December 19 | Toledo* |
| Mizlou | L 25–27 | 15,565 | |
|
Team players in the NFL
editThe following were selected in the 1982 NFL draft.[15]
Player | Position | Round | Overall | NFL team |
Gerald Willhite | Running back | 1 | 21 | Denver Broncos |
Stacey Bailey | Wide receiver | 3 | 63 | Atlanta Falcons |
The following finished their college career in 1981, were not drafted, but played in the NFL.[16]
Player | Position | First NFL team |
Kenny Daniel | Defensive back | 1984 New York Giants |
Tracy Franz | Guard | 1987 San Francisco 49ers |
Notes
edit- ^ The Big West Conference was known as the Pacific Coast Athletic Association from its founding in 1969 through 1987.
References
edit- ^ a b Woolford, Dave (December 19, 1981). "Rockets in fighting mood". Toledo Blade. (Ohio). p. 18.
- ^ Woolford, Dave (December 20, 1981). "UT shocks San Jose State on FG". Toledo Blade. (Ohio). p. C1.
- ^ "Toledo field goal nips Sparts". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). UPI. December 20, 1981. p. 6D.
- ^ "Toledo rocks San Jose". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. December 20, 1981. p. C3.
- ^ Missildine, Harry (December 12, 1981). "Erickson's 'bowling' date comes before Vandals". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Spokane, Washington. p. 12.
- ^ "2016 UNLV Rebel Football Light the Fuse". Archived from the original on September 2, 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2007.
- ^ "Fresno State 2016 Media Guide" (PDF). Retrieved December 8, 2016.
- ^ "Southland". The Los Angeles Times. October 4, 1981. p. III-18. Retrieved April 1, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Pete Donovan (October 18, 1981). "Spartans Run It Up, Titans Run Out of Gas". The Los Angeles Times (Orange County ed.). p. III-3. Retrieved February 10, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Utah State Football Guide 2016" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 15, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2007.
- ^ "San Jose St., 24-22". Santa Cruz Sentinel. Santa Cruz, California. November 22, 1981. p. 65. Retrieved February 10, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Spartans' Willhite stars in win over N. Texas". The San Francisco Examiner. November 29, 1981. Retrieved October 28, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "San Jose State 1981 Schedule". Retrieved December 16, 2016.
- ^ "San Jose State 2016 Football Media Guide". Retrieved December 16, 2016.
- ^ "1982 NFL Draft". Archived from the original on December 21, 2007. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
- ^ "San Jose St. Players/Alumni". Retrieved December 16, 2016.