1981 Michigan State Spartans football team explained

Year:	1981
Team:	Michigan State Spartans
Sport:	football
Conference:	Big Ten Conference
Short Conf:	Big Ten
Record:	5–6
Conf Record:	4–5
Head Coach:	Muddy Waters
Hc Year:	2nd
Off Coach:	Joe Pendry
Oc Year:	2nd
Mvp:	Bryan Clark
Captain:	George Cooper, John Leister
Stadium:	Spartan Stadium

The 1981 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University in the 1981 Big Ten Conference football season. In their second season under head coach Muddy Waters, the Spartans compiled a 5–6 overall record (4–5 against Big Ten opponents) and finished in a tie for sixth place in the Big Ten Conference.^{[1] [2]}

Four Spartans were recognized by the Associated Press (AP) and/or the United Press International (UPI) as first-team players on the 1981 All-Big Ten Conference football team: center Tom Piette (AP-2; UPI-1); linebacker Carl Banks (AP-2; UPI-1); defensive back Jim Burroughs (AP-2; UPI-1); and placekicker Morten Andersen (AP-1; UPI-1).^{[3] [4]} Several Michigan State players ranked among the Big Ten leaders, including the following:

• Placekicker Morten Andersen led the conference with 15 field goals made and a 75.0 field goal percentage.
• Quarterback Bryan Clark ranked third in the conference with a 128.9 passing efficiency rating, fourth with a 53.4% pass completion percentage and seventh with 1,521 passing yards.^[5]
• Running back Aaron Roberts ranked seventh in the conference with 4.9 yards per carry and 10th with 461 rushing yards.^[5]
• Ted Jones ranked sixth in the conference with 44 receptions and ninth with 624 receiving yards.^[5]
• Daryl Turner ranked eighth in the conference with 653 receiving yards.^[5]

Notes and References

1. News: Michigan State Yearly Results (1980-1984). David DeLassus. College Football Data Warehouse. July 18, 2015. July 16, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150716011028/http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/m/michigan_state/1980-1984_yearly_results.php. dead.
2. Web site: 2015 Michigan State Football Media Guide. Michigan State University. 147. July 4, 2016. March 17, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160317023433/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/msu/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2015-16/misc_non_event/msu-media-guide-135-186-histor.pdf. dead.
3. News: Eason Edges Schlichter on All-Big Ten. The Argus-Press, Owosso, Michigan (AP story). Joe Mooshil. December 1, 1981. 14.
4. News: Randy Minkoff. Name All Big Ten. The Bryan Times (UPI story). November 25, 1981. 19.
5. Web site: 1981 Big Ten Conference Year Summary. Sports Reference LLC. SR/College Football. November 19, 2016.