| Team: | Montreal Alouettes |
| Year: | 1981 |
| Record: | 3–13 |
| Division Place: | 3rd, East |
| Coach: | Joe Scannella Jim Eddy (Interim) |
| Stadium: | Olympic Stadium |
| Playoffs: | Lost East Semi-Final |
| Uniform: | Image:CFL MTL Jersey 1980.png |
| Shortnavlink: | Alouettes seasons |
The 1981 Montreal Alouettes finished the season in third place in the East Division with a 3–13 record. They appeared in the East Semi-Final, where they lost to the Ottawa Rough Riders 20-16. After the season the Alouettes folded after owner Nelson Skalbania lost $2 million, and the CFL revoked the franchise from him with the team now heavily in debt.
The Alouettes were purchased by Nelson Skalbania.[1] Skalbania proceeded by signing several American stars. His biggest acquisition was Los Angeles Rams quarterback Vince Ferragamo (who appeared in Super Bowl XIV) to a $300,000 contract.[2] The other signings included wide receiver James Scott, kick return specialist Billy "White Shoes" Johnson, running back David Overstreet and defensive end Keith Gary.[2]
| Game | Date | Opponent | Results | Venue | Attendance | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Score | Record | ||||||
| A | Sun, June 7 | vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats | L 21–27 | 0–1 | Olympic Stadium | 21,742 | |
| B | Tue, June 11 | at Ottawa Rough Riders | L 17–18 | 0–2 | Lansdowne Park | 16,139 | |
| C | Sun, June 21 | vs. Ottawa Rough Riders | W 21–17 | 1–2 | Olympic Stadium | 21,249 | |
| D | Sat, July 27 | at Hamilton Tiger-Cats | W 38–24 | 2–2 | Ivor Wynne Stadium | 16,604 |
Despite the high-profile talent, the Alouettes finished the season with only 3 wins, but because of how weak the East Division was that year, the team did earn a playoff berth (the crossover rule, which allows a fourth place team with a better record than a third place team in the other division to qualify, had not yet been implemented).[3] Skalbania lost two million dollars and the CFL revoked his ownership.[2]
| Week | Game | Date | Opponent | Results | Venue | Attendance | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Score | Record | |||||||
| 1 | 1 | Sat, July 4 | at BC Lions | L 8–48 | 0–1 | Empire Stadium | 26,627 | |
| 2 | 2 | Fri, July 10 | vs. Toronto Argonauts | W 23–22 | 1–1 | Olympic Stadium | 35,281 | |
| 3 | 3 | Fri, July 17 | at Ottawa Rough Riders | L 31–33 | 1–2 | Lansdowne Park | 24,872 | |
| 4 | 4 | Sun, July 26 | vs. Edmonton Eskimos | L 17–33 | 1–3 | Olympic Stadium | 45,835 | |
| 5 | 5 | Sun, Aug 2 | vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders | L 23–43 | 1–4 | Olympic Stadium | 33,205 | |
| 6 | 6 | Sat, Aug 8 | at Winnipeg Blue Bombers | L 2–58 | 1–5 | Winnipeg Stadium | 32,936 | |
| 7 | Bye | |||||||
| 8 | 7 | Sun, Aug 23 | vs. BC Lions | L 14–29 | 1–6 | Olympic Stadium | 28,932 | |
| 9 | 8 | Sat, Aug 29 | at Hamilton Tiger-Cats | L 11–16 | 1–7 | Ivor Wynne Stadium | 27,180 | |
| 10 | 9 | Sun, Sept 6 | at Saskatchewan Roughriders | L 26–35 | 1–8 | Taylor Field | 28,526 | |
| 11 | 10 | Sat, Sept 12 | vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats | L 10–26 | 1–9 | Olympic Stadium | 27,270 | |
| 12 | Bye | |||||||
| 13 | 11 | Sat, Sept 26 | at Edmonton Eskimos | L 11–62 | 1–10 | Commonwealth Stadium | 48,470 | |
| 14 | 12 | Sun, Oct 4 | vs. Calgary Stampeders | W 22–16 | 2–10 | Olympic Stadium | 22,222 | |
| 15 | 13 | Sat, Oct 10 | at Calgary Stampeders | L 3–29 | 2–11 | McMahon Stadium | 28,896 | |
| 16 | 14 | Sat, Oct 17 | at Toronto Argonauts | L 14–20 | 2–12 | Exhibition Stadium | 31,038 | |
| 17 | 15 | Sat, Oct 24 | vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers | L 13–33 | 2–13 | Olympic Stadium | 20,487 | |
| 18 | 16 | Sun, Nov 1 | vs. Ottawa Rough Riders | W 39–15 | 3–13 | Olympic Stadium | 20,867 | |