1981 San Diego State Aztecs football team
American college football season
The 1981 San Diego State Aztecs football team represented San Diego State University during the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season as a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC).
The team was led by head coach Doug Scovil , in his first year, and played home games at Jack Murphy Stadium [note 1] in San Diego, California . They finished with a record of six wins and five losses (6–5, 3–5 WAC).
The Aztecs were chosen to participate in the annual Mirage Bowl in 1981. This counted as a regular season game, and was played at the end of the season in Tokyo, Japan . They played the Air Force Academy on Nov. 29.
Schedule
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 12 at Colorado State W 30–1425,287 [1]
September 26 at Oklahoma State * W 23–1645,000 [2]
October 3 at New Mexico W 17–1518,265 [3]
October 10 No. 12 Iowa State * W 52–3145,750 [4]
October 17 BYU Jack Murphy Stadium San Diego, CA L 7–2741,727 [5]
October 24 Hawaii Jack Murphy Stadium San Diego, CA L 10–2833,167 [6]
October 31 at Utah L 14–1728,513 [7]
November 7 Wyoming Jack Murphy Stadium San Diego, CA L 13–2430,361 [8]
November 14 at UNLV * W 38–2023,090 [9]
November 21 UTEP Jack Murphy Stadium San Diego, CA W 59–1420,824 [10]
November 29 Air Force L 16–2160,000 [11]
*Non-conference game HomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
[12] [13]
Team players in the NFL
The following were selected in the 1982 NFL Draft .[14]
The following finished their college career in 1981, were not drafted, but played in the NFL.[15]
Team awards
Award
Player
Most Valuable Player (John Simcox Memorial Trophy)
Matt Kofler
Outstanding Offensive & Defensive Linemen (Byron H. Chase Memorial Trophy)
Matt Long, Off Mike Vance, Def
Team captains Dr. R. Hardy / C.E. Peterson Memorial Trophy
Matt Kofler, Off Vernon Dean, Def
Most Inspirational Player
Jerome Franey
[13]
Notes
References
^ Hank Wesch (September 20, 1981). "Aztec Aerial Circus Blitzes Rams 30-14" . The San Diego Union . San Diego, California. p. H-1. Retrieved January 26, 2017 .
^ Steve Dolan (September 27, 1981). "San Diego State is 23-16 Winner" . The Los Angeles Times (San Diego County ed.). Los Angeles, California. p. III-1. Retrieved January 17, 2017 – via Newspapers.com .
^ Frank Maestas (October 4, 1981). "San Diego State Holds on To Beat New Mexico By 2" . Albuquerque Journal . Albuquerque, New Mexico. p. D-1. Retrieved January 17, 2017 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Iowa State 2015 Football Media Guide" (PDF) . Retrieved December 9, 2016 .
^ "BYU 1982 Football Media Guide" (PDF) . Archived from the original (PDF) on July 15, 2015. Retrieved December 8, 2016 .
^ "Hawaii 2015 Football Media Guide" (PDF) . Retrieved December 8, 2016 .
^ "Utah 1982 Football Media Guide" . Retrieved December 8, 2016 .
^ Steve Dolan (November 8, 1981). "San Diego State Loses Fourth in Row, 24-13" . The Los Angeles Times (San Diego County ed.). Los Angeles, California. p. III-1. Retrieved January 17, 2017 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Nevada Las Vegas 2015 Football Media Guide" (PDF) . Archived from the original (PDF) on September 7, 2015. Retrieved December 9, 2016 .
^ "Texas El Paso 2015 Football Media Guide" (PDF) . Archived from the original (PDF) on March 14, 2016. Retrieved December 7, 2016 .
^ "San Diego State Upset by Air Force" . The Los Angeles Times . Los Angeles, California. November 30, 1981. p. III-18. Retrieved January 17, 2017 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "San Diego State 1981 Schedule" . Retrieved December 7, 2016 .
^ a b "San Diego State 2016 Football Media Guide" . Archived from the original on October 18, 2016. Retrieved December 7, 2016 .
^ "1982 NFL Draft" . Archived from the original on December 21, 2007. Retrieved December 7, 2016 .
^ "San Diego St. Players/Alumni" . Retrieved December 8, 2016 .
Venues
College Field / Aztec Field (1921, 1923–1925, 1927–1928, 1934–1935)
Navy "Sports" Field (1922, 1926, 1929–1931, 1933–1934)
Balboa Stadium (1921–1925, 1927–1929, 1932, 1934–1935, 1940–1941, 1945–1947, alternate in several other seasons)
Aztec Bowl (1936–1942, 1947–1966)
San Diego Stadium (1967–2019)
Dignity Health Sports Park (2020–2021)
Snapdragon Stadium (2022–present)
Bowls & rivalries Seasons National championship seasons in bold