The 1981 Drake Bulldogs football team represented the Drake University as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) during the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by fifth-year head coach Chuck Shelton, Drake compiled an overall record of 10–1 with a mark of 5–1 in conference play, sharing the MVC title with Tulsa.
| 1981 Drake Bulldogs football | |
|---|---|
MVC co-champion | |
| Conference | Missouri Valley Conference |
| Record | 10–1 (5–1 MVC) |
| Head coach |
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| Offensive coordinator | John Hancock (2nd season) |
| Defensive coordinator | Maury Waugh (1st season) |
| Home stadium | Drake Stadium |
| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Drake + | 5 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 10 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tulsa + | 5 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Southern Illinois | 5 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| West Texas State | 3 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wichita State | 3 | – | 3 | – | 1 | 4 | – | 6 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indiana State | 2 | – | 4 | – | 1 | 5 | – | 5 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| New Mexico State | 1 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 8 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Illinois State | 0 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Schedule
edit| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 5 | 1:30 p.m. | Northern Iowa | W 39–30 | [1] | ||
| September 12 | 1:30 p.m. | Indiana State |
| W 17–14 | 12,230 | [2] |
| September 19 | 1:30 p.m. | Western Illinois |
| W 21–6 | 10,185 | [3] |
| September 26 | 1:30 p.m. | at Kansas State* | W 18–17 | 31,220 | [4] | |
| October 3 | 1:30 p.m. | Long Beach State* |
| W 18–7 | 16,730 | [5] |
| October 10 | 1:30 p.m. | at Wichita State | W 24–23 | 24,914 | [6] | |
| October 24 | 1:30 p.m. | West Texas State |
| W 21–13 | 13,849 | [7] |
| October 31 | 7:30 p.m. | at Tulsa | L 6–59 | 19,741 | [8] | |
| November 7 | 1:30 p.m. | at Southern Illinois | W 22–17 | 17,000 | [9] | |
| November 14 | 1:30 p.m. | at Illinois State | W 13–10 | 7,514 | [10] | |
| November 21 | 1:00 p.m. | Nebraska–Omaha* |
| W 53–0 | 8,476 | [11] |
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References
edit- ^ Missouri Valley Conference 75 1981 Football/Anniversary Issue. Missouri Valley Conference. p. Page 7.
- ^ "Mike-Mayer kick lifts Drake, 17–14". The Des Moines Register. September 13, 1981. Retrieved August 17, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Grett, Wayne (September 20, 1981). "Unbeaten Drake pins Leathernecks, 21–6". Des Moines Register. p. 1D. Retrieved November 13, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "K-State loses in heartbreaker". The Grand Island Independent. September 27, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "The rain helps end a reign as Long Beach loses, 18–7". The Los Angeles Times. October 4, 1981. p. III-3. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Another big finish lifts unbeaten Drake, 24–23". The Des Moines Register. October 11, 1981. Retrieved February 23, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Unbeaten Bulldogs do it again, 21–13". The Des Moines Register. October 25, 1981. Retrieved May 2, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Hurricane pelts Bulldogs gridders". The Daily Nonpareil. November 1, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Quarterback's goof ends S. Illinois rally". Chicago Tribune. November 8, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Drake downs Illinois State". The Rock Island Argus. November 15, 1981. Retrieved August 17, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Mav miscues aid Drake in romp". Omaha World-Herald. November 22, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.