1981 Pittsburgh Panthers football team

1981 Pittsburgh Panthers football
Sugar Bowl Champions
Sugar Bowl, Win, 24–20, Georgia Bulldogs
Conference	Independent
Ranking
Coaches	#2
AP	#4
1981 record	11–1
Head coach	Jackie Sherrill (5th year)
Offensive coordinator	Joe Moore (1st year)
Offensive scheme	Multiple Pro
Defensive coordinator	Foge Fazio (3rd year)
Base defense	Multiple Front
Home stadium	Pitt Stadium (Capacity: 56,500)

1981 Division I-A independents football records
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
#3 Penn State		–		–				10	–	2	–	0
#4 Pittsburgh		–		–				11	–	1	–	0
#8 Miami		–		–				9	–	2	–	0
Southern Miss		–		–				9	–	2	–	1
#17 West Virginia		–		–				9	–	3	–	0
Colgate		–		–				7	–	3	–	0
Virginia Tech		–		–				7	–	4	–	0
Navy		–		–				7	–	4	–	1
Cincinnati		–		–				6	–	5	–	0
Florida State		–		–				6	–	5	–	0
Holy Cross		–		–				6	–	5	–	0
Tulane		–		–				6	–	5	–	0
UNLV		–		–				6	–	6	–	0
South Carolina		–		–				6	–	6	–	0
Temple		–		–				5	–	5	–	0
Boston College		–		–				5	–	6	–	0
East Carolina		–		–				5	–	6	–	0
Northeast Louisiana		–		–				5	–	6	–	0
Louisville		–		–				5	–	6	–	0
Notre Dame		–		–				5	–	6	–	0
Rutgers		–		–				5	–	6	–	0
William & Mary		–		–				5	–	6	–	0
Syracuse		–		–				4	–	6	–	1
Richmond		–		–				4	–	7	–	0
Army		–		–				3	–	7	–	1
North Texas		–		–				2	–	9	–	0
Georgia Tech		–		–				1	–	10	–	0
Memphis		–		–				1	–	10	–	0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1981 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh in the 1981 college football season. Despite having one loss, the Panthers were selected as National Champions by the National Championship Foundation and Montgomery Full Season Championship, although a national championship is not claimed by the school for this year nor are they popularly recognized that season's national champions.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
Sat. Sep. 5	1:30 p.m.	Illinois	#8	Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA		W 26–6	46,022
Sat. Sep. 19	1:30 p.m.	Cincinnati	#7	Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA		W 38–7	40,172
Sat. Oct. 3	7:30 p.m.	at South Carolina	#4	Williams-Brice Stadium • Columbia, SC	ABC	W 42–28	56,495
Sat. Oct. 10	1:00 p.m.	at West Virginia	#4	Mountaineer Field • Morgantown, WV (Backyard Brawl)		W 17–0	54,280
Sat. Oct. 17	1:30 p.m.	#11 Florida State	#3	Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA		W 42–14	55,112
Sat. Oct. 24	12:00 p.m.	Syracuse	#2	Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA (Rivalry)	USA	W 23–10	50,330
Sat. Oct. 31	1:00 p.m.	at Boston College	#2	Alumni Stadium • Chestnut Hill, MA		W 29–24	25,500
Sat. Nov. 7	1:00 p.m.	at Rutgers	#1	Giants Stadium • East Rutherford, NJ		W 47–3	34,636
Sat. Nov. 14	1:30 p.m.	Army	#1	Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA		W 48–0	53,225
Sat. Nov. 21	1:30 p.m.	at Temple	#1	Veterans Stadium • Philadelphia, PA	USA	W 35–0	32,570
Sat. Nov. 28	12:00 p.m.	#11 Penn State	#1	Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA (Rivalry)	ABC	L 14–48	60,260
Fri. Jan. 1	8:00 p.m.	vs. #2 Georgia	#10	Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA (Sugar Bowl)	ABC	W 24–20	77,224
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Coaching staff

1981 Pittsburgh Panthers football staff
	Coaching Staff Jackie Sherrill – Head Coach Foge Fazio – Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Joe Moore – Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line Joe Daniels – Quarterbacks Bob Davie – Drop Backs Joe Naunchik – Receivers George Pugh – Tight Ends Andy Urbanic – Running Backs Ray Zingler – Rush Ends			Support Staff Alex Kramer – Administrative Assistant Kevin Dickey – Recruiting Coordinator Anthony Folino – Part-Time Assistant–Defensive Backs Bob Matey – Part-Time Assistant–Defensive Line Jim Miceli – Part-Time Assistant–Defensive Line Michael Sherman – Part-Time Assistant–Offensive Line Steve Heintzelman – Volunteer Coach			Strength and Conditioning Staff Buddy Morris – Weight Training Coordinator

Team players drafted into the NFL

Player	Position	Round	Pick	NFL Club
Emil Boures	Center	7	182	Pittsburgh Steelers
Sal Sunseri	Linebacker	10	267	Pittsburgh Steelers
Sam Clancy	Defensive End	11	284	Seattle Seahawks

Awards and honors

• Dan Marino, Fourth in Heisman Trophy voting