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1981 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team

American college football season

American college football season

FieldValue
year1981
teamMinnesota Golden Gophers
sportfootball
conferenceBig Ten Conference
short_confBig Ten
record6–5
conf_record4–5
head_coachJoe Salem
hc_year3rd
mvpMike Hohensee
captainKen Dallafior
stadiumMemorial Stadium

The 1981 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team represented the University of Minnesota in the 1981 Big Ten Conference football season. In their third year under head coach Joe Salem, the Golden Gophers compiled a 6–5 record and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 274 to 264. It was the final season in Memorial Stadium.

Quarterback Mike Hohensee received the team's Most Valuable Player award, while flanker Chester Cooper was named offensive MVP, and linebacker Jim Fahnhorst was named the defensive MVP. Fahnhorst and offensive tackle Ken Dallafior were named All-Big Ten first team. Cooper, offensive lineman Bill Humphries, defensive end Karl Mecklenburg, and defensive lineman Fred Orgas were named All-Big Ten second team. Defensive lineman Brent Harms and Fred Orgas, free safety Mike Robb, and safety Rick Witthus were named Academic All-Big Ten.

Several Minnesota players ranked among the Big Ten leaders, including the following:

  • Mike Hohensee led the conference with 20 passing touchdowns and ranked fourth with 2,412 passing yards.
  • Wide receiver Chester Cooper led the conference with 1,012 receiving yards and ranked second with 58 receptions.
  • Running back Frank Jacobs ranked sixth in the conference with 638 rushing yards and fifth with eight rushing touchdowns.
  • Placekicker Jim Gallery ranked second in the conference with 13 field goals made, fourth with a 59.8 field goal percentage, and seventh with 62 points scored.

Total attendance for the season was 301,248, which averaged to 43,035. The season high for attendance was against Michigan.

Schedule

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Game summaries

Oregon State

Ohio State

First quarter

  • OSU – John Frank 7-yard pass from Art Schlichter (Bob Atha kick), 5:33. ''Ohio St 7–0. '''Drive: 8 plays, 76 yards.'''''
  • OSU – Tim Spencer 73-yard run (Bob Atha kick), 0:00. ''Ohio St 14–0. '''Drive: 2 plays, 80 yards, 0:10.''''' Second quarter
  • MINN – Todd Hallstrom 1-yard pass from Mike Hohensee (Jim Gallery kick), 9:53. ''Ohio St 14–7. '''Drive: 11 plays, 80 yards, 5:07.'''''
  • OSU – Tim Spencer 2-yard run (Bob Atha kick), 7:39. ''Ohio St 21–7. '''Drive: 6 plays, 74 yards, 2:14.''''' Third quarter
  • MINN – Jay Carroll 27-yard pass from Mike Hohensee (Jim Gallery kick), 11:25. ''Ohio St 21–14. '''Drive: 12 plays, 64 yards, 2:35.'''''
  • MINN – Frank Jacobs 17-yard pass from Mike Hohensee (Jim Gallery kick), 8:34. ''Tie 21–21. '''Drive: 4 plays, 36 yards, 1:20.'''''
  • OSU – Art Schlichter 1-yard run (Bob Atha kick), 0:30. ''Ohio St 28–21. '''Drive: 9 plays, 57 yards, 3:39.''''' Fourth quarter
  • OSU – Bob Atha 31-yard field goal, 8:18. ''Ohio St 31–21. '''Drive: 4 plays, 27 yards, 1:13.'''''
  • MINN – Jay Carroll 18-yard pass from Mike Hohensee (Jim Gallery kick), 6:56. ''Ohio St 31–28. '''Drive: 5 plays, 68 yards, 1:23.'''''
  • MINN – Jay Carroll 28-yard pass from Mike Hohensee (Jim Gallery kick), 2:38. ''Minnesota 35–31. '''Drive: 5 plays, 40 yards, 1:03''''' ;Top passers
  • OSU – Art Schlichter – 13/33, 169 yards, TD, INT
  • MINN – Mike Hohensee – 37/67, 444 yards, 5 TD, INT ;Top rushers
  • OSU – Tim Spencer – 16 rushes, 135 yards, 2 TD
  • MINN – Tony Hunter – 6 rushes, 19 yards ;Top receivers
  • OSU – Gary Williams – 4 receptions, 72 yards
  • MINN – Chester Cooper – 12 receptions, 182 yards

Wisconsin

The loss overshadowed a record-setting day for Mike Hohensee and Chester Cooper. Hohensee set the single season school records for completions and passing yardage while Chester Cooper broke the single season school record for receiving yardage.

Personnel

References

References

  1. "1981 Minnesota Golden Gophers Schedule and Results". Sports Reference LLC.
  2. Keiser, Jeff. (June 2017). ["2007 Media Guide"](http://www.gophersports.com//pdf6/80499.pdf?SPSID=39281&SPID=3280&DB_OEM_ID=8400 }}{{dead link).
  3. Keiser, Jeff. (June 2017). ["2007 Media Guide"](http://www.gophersports.com//pdf6/80499.pdf?SPSID=39281&SPID=3280&DB_OEM_ID=8400 }}{{dead link).
  4. "1981 Big Ten Conference Year Summary". Sports Reference LLC.
  5. Keiser, Jeff. (July 2018). ["2007 Media Guide"](http://www.gophersports.com//pdf3/80498.pdf?SPSID=39281&SPID=3280&DB_OEM_ID=8400 }}{{Dead link).
  6. (September 13, 1981). "Gophers tip Ohio". Wisconsin State Journal.
  7. 2020 Football Media Guide, https://gophersports.com/documents/2020/10/14/2020_Football_Media_Guide_WEB.pdf
  8. (September 20, 1981). "Gophers defense tightens to stop Boilers". Chronicle Tribune.
  9. (September 27, 1981). "Gophers' QB tosses five TD passes". The Rock Island Argus.
  10. (October 4, 1981). "Illinois dumps Gophers". The Vincennes Sun-Commercial.
  11. (October 11, 1981). "Minnesota trips Northwestern". The Courier-Journal.
  12. (October 18, 1981). "IU squeezes by Gophers, 17–16". The Kokomo Tribune.
  13. (October 25, 1981). "Gophers upset No. 6 Iowa 12–10". Star Tribune.
  14. Joe Lapointe. (November 1, 1981). "U-M buries Gophers". Detroit Free Press.
  15. (April 12, 2020). "1981 #18 Ohio State @ Minnesota No Huddle".
  16. (November 8, 1981). "Minnesota's passing devastates Bucks". Springfield News-Sun.
  17. (November 15, 1981). "Michigan State dumps Minnesota". Sunday News.
  18. (November 22, 1981). "Wright's heroics save Badgers". The La Crosse Tribune.
  19. Palm Beach Post. 1981 Sept 27.
  20. . (November 22, 1981). ["Wisconsin 26, Minnesota 21"](https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/11/22/The-only-thing-quarterback-Jess-Cole-and-his-Wisconsin/1067375253200/).
  21. . (November 22, 1981). ["Wisconsin 26, Minnesota 21"](https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/11/22/The-only-thing-quarterback-Jess-Cole-and-his-Wisconsin/1067375253200/).
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