1981 Ball State Cardinals football team

1981 Ball State Cardinals football
ConferenceMid-American Conference
Record4–7 (2–6 MAC)
Head coach
Home stadiumBall State Stadium
Seasons
← 1980
1982 →
1981 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Toledo $ 8 – 1 – 0 9 – 3 – 0
Miami (OH) 6 – 1 – 1 8 – 2 – 1
Central Michigan 7 – 2 – 0 7 – 4 – 0
Bowling Green 5 – 3 – 1 5 – 5 – 1
Western Michigan 5 – 4 – 0 6 – 5 – 0
Ohio 5 – 4 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Kent State 3 – 6 – 0 4 – 7 – 0
Ball State 2 – 6 – 0 4 – 7 – 0
Northern Illinois 2 – 7 – 0 3 – 8 – 0
Eastern Michigan 0 – 9 – 0 0 – 11 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion

The 1981 Ball State Cardinals football team was an American football team that represented Ball State University in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. In its fourth season under head coach Dwight Wallace, the team compiled a 4–7 record (2–6 against MAC opponents) and finished in eighth place out of ten teams in the conference.[1][2] The team played its home games at Ball State Stadium in Muncie, Indiana.

The team's statistical leaders included Doug Freed with 1,517 passing yards, Terry Lymon with 633 rushing yards, Stevie Nelson with 635 receiving yards, and Mike Schafer with 49 points scored.[3]

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 12McNeese State*
W 24–2114,337[4]
September 19at Toledo
L 0–4019,204[5]
September 26at Ohio
L 27–30[6]
October 3Northern Illinois
  • Ball State Stadium
  • Muncie, IN (rivalry)
W 23–016,879[7]
October 10at Indiana State*
L 7–31[8]
October 17Kent State
  • Ball State Stadium
  • Muncie, IN
L 7–17[9]
October 24at Western Michigan
L 3–1414,027[10]
October 31Eastern Michigan
  • Ball State Stadium
  • Muncie, IN
W 35–135,122[11]
November 7Bowling Green
  • Ball State Stadium
  • Muncie, IN
L 10–14[12]
November 14Central Michigan
  • Ball State Stadium
  • Muncie, IN
L 7–28[13]
November 21at Illinois State*
W 14–104,832[14]
  • *Non-conference game

References

  1. ^ "2007 Ball State Football Media Guide". Ball State University. 2007. p. 98. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  2. ^ "1981 Ball State Cardinals Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sport Reference LLC. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  3. ^ "1981 Ball State Cardinals Statistics". SR/College Football. Sport Reference LLC. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  4. ^ "BSU tops McNeese St. behind Freed, 24–21". The Indianapolis Star. September 13, 1981. Retrieved March 3, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Toledo humbles Ball State, 40–0, in MAC opener". The Muncie Star. September 20, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Bobcats edge Ball State". Palladium-Item. September 27, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Ball State blanks MAC for No. Illinois, 23–0". The Indianapolis Star. October 4, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Sycamores rip Ball State, 31–7". Palladium-Item. October 11, 1981. Retrieved August 17, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Boise is busy in BSU defeat". Chronicle Tribune. October 18, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Broncos rally to stay in race". The Muskegon Chronicle. October 25, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Cardinals thump Eastern Michigan". The Muncie Star. November 1, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Sputtering Cardinals fall again as Bowling Green gets 14–10 win". Anderson Herald. November 8, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Mitchell lifts Chippewas". Detroit Free Press. November 15, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Ball State defense stiffens to secure a winning finale". The Muncie Star. November 22, 1981. Retrieved August 17, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.