1981 Michigan State Spartans football team

The 1981 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University in the 1981 Big Ten Conference football season. In their second season under head coach Muddy Waters, the Spartans compiled a 5–6 overall record (4–5 against Big Ten opponents) and finished in a tie for sixth place in the Big Ten Conference.[1][2]

1981 Michigan State Spartans football
Conference	Big Ten Conference
1981 record	5–6 (4–5 Big Ten)
Head coach	Muddy Waters (2nd season)
Offensive coordinator	Joe Pendry (2nd season)
Captain	George Cooper, John Leister
Home stadium	Spartan Stadium (Capacity: 76,000)

1981 Big Ten Conference football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 15 Ohio State +	6	–	2	–	0			9	–	3	–	0
No. 18 Iowa +	6	–	2	–	0			8	–	4	–	0
No. 12 Michigan	6	–	3	–	0			9	–	3	–	0
Illinois	6	–	3	–	0			7	–	4	–	0
Wisconsin	6	–	3	–	0			7	–	5	–	0
Minnesota	4	–	5	–	0			6	–	5	–	0
Michigan State	4	–	5	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Purdue	3	–	6	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Indiana	3	–	6	–	0			3	–	8	–	0
Northwestern	0	–	9	–	0			0	–	11	–	0
+ – Conference co-champions Rankings from AP Poll

Four Spartans were recognized by the Associated Press (AP) and/or the United Press International (UPI) as first-team players on the 1981 All-Big Ten Conference football team: center Tom Piette (AP-2; UPI-1); linebacker Carl Banks (AP-2; UPI-1); defensive back James Burroughs (AP-2; UPI-1); and placekicker Morten Andersen (AP-1; UPI-1).[3][4] Several Michigan State players ranked among the Big Ten leaders, including the following:

• Placekicker Morten Andersen led the conference with 15 field goals made and a 75.0 field goal percentage.[5]
• Quarterback Bryan Clark ranked third in the conference with a 128.9 passing efficiency rating, fourth with a 53.4% pass completion percentage and seventh with 1,521 passing yards.[5]
• Running back Aaron Roberts ranked seventh in the conference with 4.9 yards per carry and 10th with 461 rushing yards.[5]
• Ted Jones ranked sixth in the conference with 44 receptions and ninth with 624 receiving yards.[5]
• Daryl Turner ranked eighth in the conference with 653 receiving yards.[5]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result
September 12	Illinois	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI	L 17–27
September 19	at No. 8 Ohio State	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH	L 13–27
September 26	Bowling Green*	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI	W 10–7
October 3	at Notre Dame*	Notre Dame Stadium South Bend, IN (Megaphone Trophy)	L 7–20
October 10	No. 6 Michigan	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI (Paul Bunyan Trophy)	L 20–38
October 17	No. 14 Wisconsin	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI	W 33–14
October 24	at Purdue	Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN	L 26–27
October 31	Indiana	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI (Old Brass Spittoon)	W 26–3
November 7	at Northwestern	Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL	W 61–14
November 14	Minnesota	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI	W 43–36
November 21	at No. 19 Iowa	Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA	L 7–36
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

References

1. "Michigan State Yearly Results (1980-1984)". College Football Data Warehouse. David DeLassus. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
2. "2015 Michigan State Football Media Guide" (PDF). Michigan State University. p. 147. Retrieved July 4, 2016.
3. Joe Mooshil (December 1, 1981). "Eason Edges Schlichter on All-Big Ten". The Argus-Press, Owosso, Michigan (AP story). p. 14.
4. Randy Minkoff (November 25, 1981). "Name All Big Ten". The Bryan Times (UPI story). p. 19.
5. "1981 Big Ten Conference Year Summary". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 19, 2016.