1981 LSU Tigers football team

The 1981 LSU Tigers football team represented Louisiana State University (LSU) as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by second-year head coach Jerry Stovall, the Tigers compiled an overall record of 3–7–1, with a mark of 1–4–1 in conference play, and finished eighth in the SEC.^[1]

1981 LSU Tigers football
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Record	3–7–1 (1–4–1 SEC)
Head coach	Jerry Stovall (2nd season)
Offensive coordinator	George Belu (3rd season)
Defensive coordinator	Greg Williams (3rd season)
Home stadium	Tiger Stadium
Seasons ← 1980 1982 →

1981 Southeastern Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 6 Georgia +	6	–	0	–	0			10	–	2	–	0
No. 7 Alabama +	6	–	0	–	0			9	–	2	–	1
Mississippi State	4	–	2	–	0			8	–	4	–	0
Tennessee	3	–	3	–	0			8	–	4	–	0
Florida	3	–	3	–	0			7	–	5	–	0
Auburn	2	–	4	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Kentucky	2	–	4	–	0			3	–	8	–	0
Ole Miss	1	–	4	–	1			4	–	6	–	1
LSU	1	–	4	–	1			3	–	7	–	1
Vanderbilt	1	–	5	–	0			4	–	7	–	0
+ – Conference co-champions Rankings from AP Poll

Their 3–7–1 record was their worst since going 3–7 in Paul Dietzel's second season of 1956. This mark for futility has been surpassed twice, 2–9 in 1992 and 3–8 in 1999.

LSU opened its season before Labor Day for the first time in school history, moving its game vs. Alabama from November 7 to September 5 at the request of ABC, which televised the game nationally in prime time. It was Crimson Tide coach Bear Bryant's last visit to Tiger Stadium.

The Tigers' second game, a 27–9 loss at Notre Dame, was Gerry Faust's inaugural outing as Fighting Irish coach. LSU returned to South Bend four years later and defeated Notre Dame 10–7 in what turned out to be Faust's last game at Notre Dame Stadium.

LSU's 48–7 loss to in-state rival Tulane was its second largest margin of defeat in the series, eclipsed only by a 46–0 shutout at home in 1948.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
September 5	No. 4 Alabama	Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA (rivalry)	ABC	L 7–24	78,066	[2]
September 12	at No. 4 Notre Dame*	Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN	Mizlou	L 9–27	59,075	[3]
September 19	Oregon State*	Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA		W 27–24	74,962	[4]
September 26	Rice*	Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA		W 28–14	71,869	[5]
October 3	Florida	Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA (rivalry)		L 10–24	73,665	[6]
October 10	at Auburn	Jordan-Hare Stadium Auburn, AL (rivalry)		L 7–19	61,000	[7]
October 17	Kentucky	Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA		W 24–10	69,169	[8]
October 24	No. 20 Florida State*	Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA		L 14–38	74,816	[9]
October 31	at Ole Miss	Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Jackson, MS (rivalry)		T 27–27	46,324	[10]
November 14	Mississippi State	Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA (rivalry)		L 9–17	71,303	[11]
November 28	at Tulane*	Louisiana Superdome New Orleans, LA (Battle for the Rag)		L 7–48	71,546	[12]
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

^[13]

Roster

1981 LSU Tigers football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class QB 7 Alan Risher Jr WR 32 Orlando McDaniel Sr	Defense Pos. # Name Class CB 11 James Britt Sr LB 28 Sean Moore Jr CB 35 Eugene Daniel So LB 51 Albert Richardson So	Special teams Pos. # Name Class	Head coach Jerry Stovall Coordinators/assistant coaches George Belu – Offensive coordinator/offensive line Bob Gatling – Quarterbacks Darrel Moody – Running backs Stephen Regan – Wide receivers Greg Williams – Defensive coordinator/defensive backs Pete Jenkins – Defensive line Bishop Harris – Outside linebackers Bobby Morrison – Inside linebackers Buddy Nix – Inside linebackers Sam Nader – Recruiting coordinator Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster

References

1. "1981 LSU Fighting Tigers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
2. "Alabama gets an easy one". The Anniston Star. September 6, 1981. Retrieved November 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Inspired Irish pound LSU, 27–9". The Kokomo Tribune. September 13, 1981. Retrieved November 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "Lowly Beavers give LSU scare". Daily World. September 20, 1981. Retrieved November 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Tiger roll past Rice". Victoria Advocate. September 27, 1981. Retrieved November 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Florida gives its all in tough 24–10 victory over LSU". The Clarion-Ledger. October 4, 1981. Retrieved November 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Sweetest victory yet for Dye". The Dothan Eagle. October 11, 1981. Retrieved November 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Kickoff return zaps Wildcats in 24–10 loss". The Park City Daily News. October 18, 1981. Retrieved November 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Milton's Allen sets rushing mark in FSU rout". The Pensacola News-Journal. October 25, 1981. Retrieved November 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Fumbling Rebels lose to Vandy". Alexandria Daily Town Talk. October 25, 1981. Retrieved November 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Mississippi St. tops Tigers behind Bond". The Daily Advertiser. November 15, 1981. Retrieved November 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Stovall, crew go down with ship". Daily World. November 29, 1981. Retrieved October 19, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
13. "1981 Season". tigerdroppings.com. Retrieved September 30, 2022.