| Year: | 1981 |
| Team: | San Diego State Aztecs |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Western Athletic Conference |
| Short Conf: | WAC |
| Record: | 6–5 |
| Conf Record: | 3–5 |
| Head Coach: | Doug Scovil |
| Hc Year: | 1st |
| Stadium: | Jack Murphy Stadium |
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[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.
The following were selected in the 1982 NFL draft.[4]
| Player | Position | Round | Overall | NFL team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quarterback | 2 | 48 | Buffalo Bills | |
| Defensive back | 2 | 49 | Washington Redskins | |
The following finished their college career in 1981, were not drafted, but played in the NFL.[5]
| Player | Position | First NFL team | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Darryl Hall | Defensive back | 1987 Los Angeles Rams | |
| Rob Harrison | Defensive back | 1987 Los Angeles Raiders |
| 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 |