American college football season
The 1981 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team represented Rutgers University in the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season . In their ninth season under head coach Frank R. Burns , the Scarlet Knights compiled a 5–6 record while competing as an independent and were outscored by their opponents 208 to 139.[ 1] [ 2] The team's statistical leaders included Ralph Leek with 926 passing yards, Albert Ray with 679 rushing yards, and Andrew Baker with 356 receiving yards.[ 3]
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 5 at Syracuse W 29–2738,715
September 12 Colgate W 13–518,655 [ 4]
September 18 Virginia Rutgers Stadium Piscataway, NJ W 3–022,816 [ 5]
September 26 at Cincinnati L 0–10
October 3 Cornell Rutgers Stadium Piscataway, NJ W 31–1710,125 [ 6]
October 10 at Army W 17–0
October 17 Temple Rutgers Stadium Piscataway, NJ L 12–24
October 24 at No. 11 Alabama L 7–3160,210 [ 7]
November 7 No. 1 Pittsburgh L 3–4734,636
November 14 at West Virginia L 3–2044,395 [ 8]
November 21 at Boston College L 21–2716,500 [ 9]
1981 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team roster
Players
Coaches
Offense
Defense
Special teams
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
Injured
Redshirt
^ "1981 Rutgers Scarlet Knights Schedule and Results" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 12, 2016 .
^ "Rutgers Yearly Results (1980-1984)" . College Football Data Warehouse . David DeLassus. Archived from the original on March 27, 2016. Retrieved June 12, 2016 .
^ "1981 Rutgers Scarlet Knights Stats" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 12, 2016 .
^ "Rutgers Needs 2 FGs, 1 Bomb to Edge Colgate" . The Sunday Press . Binghamton, N.Y. September 13, 1981. p. 5B – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Kickers give undefeated Rutgers needed lift" . The Sunday Record . September 19, 1981. Retrieved January 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ Newman, Chuck (October 4, 1981). "Defense Gets Rutgers Attack Rolling for Win" . The Philadelphia Inquirer . Philadelphia, Pa. pp. 9-F, 10-F – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Bama varies attack, and buries Rutgers" . The Anniston Star . October 25, 1981. Retrieved February 19, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "West Virginia rips sputtering Scarlet" . The Home News . November 15, 1981. Retrieved January 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Boston Coll. 27, Rutgers 21" . The Hartford Courant . November 22, 1981. p. C13 – via Newspapers.com .
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