1981 Georgia Bulldogs football team

The 1981 Georgia Bulldogs football team represented the Georgia Bulldogs of the University of Georgia during the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season.

1981 Georgia Bulldogs football
SEC co-champion
Sugar Bowl, L 20–24 vs. Pittsburgh
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 5
APNo. 6
1981 record10–2 (6–0 SEC)
Head coach
Home stadiumSanford Stadium (82,122)
1981 Southeastern Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L T  W L T
No. 6 Georgia + 6 –0 –0  10 –2 –0
No. 7 Alabama + 6 –0 –0  9 –2 –1
Mississippi State 4 –2 –0  8 –4 –0
Tennessee 3 –3 –0  8 –4 –0
Florida 3 –3 –0  7 –5 –0
Auburn 2 –4 –0  5 –6 –0
Kentucky 2 –4 –0  3 –8 –0
LSU 1 –4 –1  3 –7 –1
Ole Miss 1 –5 –1  4 –6 –1
Vanderbilt 1 –5 –0  4 –7 –0
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

Schedule
DateOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 5TennesseeNo. 10
W 44–079,600
September 12California*No. 6
  • Sanford Stadium
  • Athens, GA
W 27–1379,400
September 19at Clemson*No. 4
L 3–1362,466
September 26South Carolina*No. 17
  • Sanford Stadium
  • Athens, GA (rivalry)
W 24–082,100
October 10at Ole MissNo. 11
W 37–741,125
October 17at VanderbiltNo. 9
ABCW 53–2139,657
October 24KentuckyNo. 7
  • Sanford Stadium
  • Athens, GA
W 21–080,780
October 31Temple*No. 5
  • Sanford Stadium
  • Athens, GA
W 49–380,117
November 7vs. FloridaNo. 4
ABCW 26–2168,648
November 14AuburnNo. 4
W 24–1382,165
December 5at Georgia Tech*No. 2
ABCW 44–758,623
January 1, 1982vs. No. 8 Pittsburgh*No. 2
ABCL 20–2477,224
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game

Roster
1981 Georgia Bulldogs football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
QB Buck Belue Sr
WR 24 Lindsay Scott Sr
  Ronnie Stewart
RB 34 Herschel Walker So
  Scott Williams
 Defense
Pos.#NameClass
  Freddie Gilbert
  Jimmy Payne
 Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
K Kevin Butler Fr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
    Legend
    • (C) Team captain
    • (S) Suspended
    • (I) Ineligible
    • Injured
    • Redshirt

    Season summary

    Tennessee

    The momentum of 1980 continued into September 1981 for the Georgia Bulldogs as Herschel Walker and company took control early in the season by scoring early and often in wins against Tennessee (44–0) and the Cal Golden Bears (27–13). Against the Volunteers, Walker rushed for 161 yards on 30 carries.[n 1]

    California

    Walker pounded California by rushing 35 times for 167 yards on September 12.[1]

    Clemson

    After hitting a dip in the season, losing 13–3 to eventual national champion Clemson, Georgia regained its focus and won out to get to 10–1 by the regular season's end. Even though Walker was able to push, shove, and get through Clemson's defense by rushing 28 times for 111 yards, it wasn't enough to overcome 9 turnovers by the Bulldogs in the loss to the Tigers.[2]

    South Carolina

    Georgia and Walker rebounded by blanking South Carolina, 24–0, on September 26 as the sophomore running back ran for 176 yards on 36 carries. Georgia, however, only led 3–0 at the half. Walker opened things up for the Bulldogs in the third quarter by scoring on touchdown runs of 3 and 8 yards to put the Gamecocks away.[3]

    Ole Miss

    Walker's Bulldogs reeled off solid wins—all in October—over Ole Miss (37-7), Vanderbilt (53-21), Kentucky (21-0), and Temple (49-3). He rushed for a season-high 265 yards on 41 attempts and a touchdown against Mississippi on October 10.

    Vanderbilt

    A week later, Walker rushed 39 times for 188 yards and 2 touchdowns versus Vanderbilt.

    Temple

    Against Temple, he scored a career-high 4 touchdowns while rushing 23 times for 112 yards against the Owls.

    Florida
    See also: 1981 Florida Gators football team
    Florida Gators vs. Georgia Bulldogs
    1 2 34Total
    Florida 0 14 0721
    Georgia 0 7 71226

    at Gator Bowl • Jacksonville, Florida

    • Date: November 7
    • Game attendance: 68,648
    • [4]

    On November 7, seventh-ranked Georgia got behind, 14–0, down in Jacksonville, to the Florida Gators, but came back to win in a repeat score of last season's game, 26–21. Walker rushed a career-high 47 times for 192 yards while scoring four touchdowns.[5]

    Auburn
    1 234Total
    Auburn 0 706 13
    • Georgia 3 1470 24
    • Date: November 14
    • Location: Sanford Stadium • Athens, Georgia

    The Bulldogs finished out the regular season at home against nearby rivals: the Auburn Tigers (November 14) and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (December 5). The 24–13 win over coach Pat Dye's Tigers clinched a 2nd SEC Championship in a row for Georgia.[6] In the third quarter, Walker's 2-yard touchdown run gave the Bulldogs a commanding 24–7 lead. Walker pounded out 165 yards on 37 rushes during the contest. Georgia led Auburn 17-7 at the half as senior quarterback Buck Belue complimented Walker's power ground game by throwing for two touchdowns.[7]

    Georgia Tech

    Against Georgia Tech, seniors Belue and Scott set the tone on the game's first play by hooking up on an 80-yard pass as Scott raced into the end zone to spark a 34–0 halftime lead. Walker got into the act by scoring three touchdowns in the first half. He added a 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter as Georgia cruised past the Yellow Jackets, 44–7. Walker finished with 36 rushes for 225 yards and 4 touchdowns in the rivalry matchup.[8]

    Postseason

    Pittsburgh

    Riding an 8-game winning streak, Georgia (10–1) was ranked No. 2 in the country when they faced Pittsburgh (also 10–1, ranked No. 10) in the 1982 Sugar Bowl. Walker made his presence felt early as he bolted 8 yards for a touchdown in the 2nd quarter giving Georgia a 7–0 lead. After a 30-yard, Dan Marino touchdown pass lifted Pitt to a 10-7 lead in third quarter, Walker answered. Walker scored from 10 yards out to give Georgia a 14–10 lead going into the 4th quarter. With Georgia clinging to a 20–17 lead late in the game, Marino found Pittsburgh's receiver John Brown for a 33-yard touchdown pass with 0:35 left in the game. Walker's Bulldogs came up short in the loss, 20–24. He finished with 25 rushes for 84 yards and led UGA in receptions with 3 catches for 53 yards.[9][10]

    Notes
    1. A long, 47-yard touchdown run was wiped out by a clipping penalty.

    References
    1. Outlar, Jessie (September 6, 1981). "The Beat Goes On...Georgia 44, Tennessee 0". The Atlanta Journal-The Atlanta Constitution. Atlanta, Georgia. pp. 1C, 10C. Retrieved September 16, 2013.
    2. "Clemson Steals 13-3 Upset Win Over Georgia". Gainesville Sun. Gainesville, Florida. September 20, 1981. p. 6D. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
    3. "Georgia thumps Gamecocks". Star-News. Wilmington, N.C. September 27, 1981. p. 4D. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
    4. Ocala Star-Banner. 1981 Nov 08. Retrieved 2019-Feb-02.
    5. Nissenson, Herschel (November 7, 1981). "College Football Roundup--Allen, McMahon, Northwestern Set Records". Schenectady Gazette. Schenectady, N.Y. p. 38. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
    6. Eugene Register-Guard. 1981 Nov 15.
    7. "Dooley says 'Dogs deserve Sugar bid". The Tuscaloosa News. Tuscaloosa, Ala. November 15, 1981. pp. 2B, 3B. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
    8. Shearer, Ed (December 6, 1981). "Walker wrecks Tech, 44-7". Gadsden Times. Gadsden, Ala. p. 17. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
    9. "Pittsburgh Nips Georgia In Sugar Bowl, 24-20". The News and Courier. Charleston, South Carolina. January 2, 1982. p. 1-C. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
    10. "Pitt Dashes Bulldogs Hopes 24-20, In 1982 Sugar Bowl". Georgia Bulldog Football – 1984. Sports Information Office – Georgia Athletic Dept. – The University of Georgia: 100. 1984. Archived from the original on January 18, 2013. Retrieved September 16, 2013.
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