| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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]
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 | ABC | L 7–24 | 78,066 | [2] | |
| September 12 | at No. 4 Notre Dame* | Mizlou | L 9–27 | 59,075 | [3] | |
| September 19 | Oregon State* |
| W 27–24 | 74,962 | [4] | |
| September 26 | Rice* |
| W 28–14 | 71,869 | [5] | |
| October 3 | Florida |
| L 10–24 | 73,665 | [6] | |
| October 10 | at Auburn | L 7–19 | 61,000 | [7] | ||
| October 17 | Kentucky |
| W 24–10 | 69,169 | [8] | |
| October 24 | No. 20 Florida State* |
| L 14–38 | 74,816 | [9] | |
| October 31 | at Ole Miss | T 27–27 | 46,324 | [10] | ||
| November 14 | Mississippi State |
| L 9–17 | 71,303 | [11] | |
| November 28 | at Tulane* | L 7–48 | 71,546 | [12] | ||
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Roster
| 1981 LSU Tigers football team roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Offense
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Defense
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Special teams
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References
- ^ "1981 LSU Fighting Tigers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
- ^ "Alabama gets an easy one". The Anniston Star. September 6, 1981. Retrieved November 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Inspired Irish pound LSU, 27–9". The Kokomo Tribune. September 13, 1981. Retrieved November 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Lowly Beavers give LSU scare". Daily World. September 20, 1981. Retrieved November 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Tiger roll past Rice". Victoria Advocate. September 27, 1981. Retrieved November 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Florida gives its all in tough 24–10 victory over LSU". The Clarion-Ledger. October 4, 1981. Retrieved November 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Sweetest victory yet for Dye". The Dothan Eagle. October 11, 1981. Retrieved November 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Kickoff return zaps Wildcats in 24–10 loss". The Park City Daily News. October 18, 1981. Retrieved November 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Milton's Allen sets rushing mark in FSU rout". The Pensacola News-Journal. October 25, 1981. Retrieved November 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Fumbling Rebels lose to Vandy". Alexandria Daily Town Talk. October 25, 1981. Retrieved November 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Mississippi St. tops Tigers behind Bond". The Daily Advertiser. November 15, 1981. Retrieved November 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Stovall, crew go down with ship". Daily World. November 29, 1981. Retrieved October 19, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "1981 Season". tigerdroppings.com. Retrieved September 30, 2022.