1981 SMU Mustangs football team explained

Year:1981
Team:SMU Mustangs
Sport:football
Conference:Southwest Conference
Short Conf:SWC
Aprank:5
Record:10–1
Conf Record:7–1
Head Coach:Ron Meyer
Hc Year:6th
Off Scheme:Option
Def Coach:Steve Sidwell
Dc Year:6th
Def Scheme:3–4
Stadium:Texas Stadium
Champion:Co-national champion (NCF)
SWC champion

The 1981 SMU Mustangs football team represented Southern Methodist University (SMU) as a member of the Southwest Conference (SWC) during the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by Ron Meyer in his sixth and final season as head coach, the Mustangs compiled an overall record 10–1 with a mark of 7–1 in conference play, winning the SWC title.

The Mustangs had been put on probation by the NCAA for recruiting violations and were banned from participating in any bowl game in 1981. Since SMU's performance would have given them an automatic berth in the Cotton Bowl Classic, the team decided to treat its final regular season game at Arkansas as their bowl game and nicknamed it the "Polyester Bowl". SMU defeated the Razorbacks 32–18.

SMU finished at No. 5 in the final AP Poll. Because its rules prevent schools under probation from being considered, the Mustangs were not ranked in the Coaches Poll at all during the season. At season's end, the Mustangs were recognized as one of five co-national champions by the National Championship Foundation (NCF).[1]

The team's offense scored 365 points while the defense allowed 137 points.

Rankings

See also: 1981 NCAA Division I-A football rankings.

Game summaries

Arkansas

Team players drafted into the NFL

Player Position Round Pick NFL club
Tackle 5 116Chicago Bears
Defensive tackle7190Philadelphia Eagles
Kicker10264Green Bay Packers
[2]

Notes and References

  1. Book: 2020 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records . The National Collegiate Athletic Association . July 2020 . Indianapolis . January 12, 2021 . November 1, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201101032438/http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2020/FBS.pdf . live .
  2. Web site: 1982 NFL Draft Listing . Pro-Football-Reference.com . 2015-12-24 . 2007-12-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071221202828/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1982.htm . dead .