1981 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team

{{Infobox college sports team season

| year = 1981

| team = Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

| sport = football

| image = Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets logo.svg

| image_size = 125

| conference = Independent

| record = 1–10

| head_coach = Bill Curry

| hc_year = 2nd

| off_coach = Rip Scherer

| oc_year = 1st

| off_scheme =

| def_coach = Ken Blair

| dc_year = 2nd

| def_scheme =

| captain = Dave Lutz

| captain2 = Lance Skelton

| captain3 = Mark Bradley

| captain4 = Ken Carney

| stadium = Grant Field

}}

The 1981 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team represented the Georgia Institute of Technology during the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Yellow Jackets were led by second-year head coach Bill Curry, and played their home games at Grant Field in Atlanta. Georgia Tech produced abysmal results for the second consecutive year under Curry, finishing with a record of 1–10, their worst season in terms of winning percentage in school history (it would later be matched by another 1–10 season in 1994). Their sole win was a season-opening upset victory over the second-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide in Birmingham.

Schedule

{{CFB schedule

| rankyear = 1981

| poll = AP

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 12

| w/l = w

| away = y

| opponent = Alabama

| opprank = 2

| site_stadium = Legion Field

| site_cityst = Birmingham, AL

| gamename = rivalry

| tv = ESPN

| score = 24–21

| attend = 78,865

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71520795/tech-24-alabama-21-it-really-did/|work=The Atlanta Constitution|title=Tech 24, Alabama 21 - it really did happen|date=September 13, 1981|accessdate=February 19, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 19

| w/l = l

| away = y

| opponent = Florida

| site_stadium = Florida Field

| site_cityst = Gainesville, FL

| score = 6–27

| attend = 63,876

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-gators-pull-tec/134522790/|work=The Atlanta Journal & Constitution|title=Gators pull Tech out of the clouds in 27–6 beating|date=September 20, 1981|accessdate=November 2, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 26

| w/l = l

| opponent = Memphis State

| site_stadium = Grant Field

| site_cityst = Atlanta, GA

| score = 15–28

| attend = 32,463

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-memphis-st-qb-terrorize/151990212/|work=Greensboro News and Record|title=Memphis St. QB terrorizes Tech|date=September 27, 1981|accessdate=July 25, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 3

| w/l = l

| opponent = North Carolina

| opprank = 6

| site_stadium = Grant Field

| site_cityst = Atlanta, GA

| score = 7–28

| attend = 39,263

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/winston-salem-journal-heels-take-tough-o/139764537/|work=Winston-Salem Journal|title=Heels take tough one from Tech|date=October 4, 1981|accessdate=January 28, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 10

| w/l = l

| away = y

| opponent = Tennessee

| site_stadium = Neyland Stadium

| site_cityst = Knoxville, TN

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 7–10

| attend = 94,478

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107856434/tennessee-rebounds-to-beat-jackets-107/|work=The Macon Telegraph & News|title=Tennessee rebounds to beat Jackets 10–7|date=October 11, 1981|accessdate=August 18, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 17

| w/l = l

| opponent = Auburn

| site_stadium = Grant Field

| site_cityst = Atlanta, GA

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 7–31

| attend = 50,263–50,326

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-macon-news-auburn-rips-jackets-317/134522021/|work=The Macon Telegraph & News|title=Auburn rips Jackets 31–7|date=October 18, 1981|accessdate=November 2, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 24

| w/l = l

| away = y

| opponent = Tulane

| site_stadium = Louisiana Superdome

| site_cityst = New Orleans, LA

| score = 10–27

| attend = 37,431

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87410800/tulane-trounces-tech-2710/|work=The Atlanta Constitution|title=Tulane trounces Tech 27–10|date=October 25, 1981|accessdate=October 19, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 31

| w/l = l

| homecoming = y

| opponent = Duke

| site_stadium = Grant Field

| site_cityst = Atlanta, GA

| score = 24–38

| attend = 30,232

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-rallying-duke-wrec/139767162/|work=The News and Observer|title=Rallying Duke wrecks Tech|date=November 1, 1981|accessdate=January 28, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 7

| w/l = l

| away = y

| opponent = Notre Dame

| site_stadium = Notre Dame Stadium

| site_cityst = Notre Dame, IN

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 3–35

| attend = 59,075

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-vincennes-sun-commercial-notre-dame/151990299/|work=The Vincennes Sun-Commercial|title=Notre Dame unveils 'Small Wonder'|date=November 8, 1981|accessdate=July 25, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 14

| w/l = l

| opponent = Navy

| site_stadium = Grant Field

| site_cityst = Atlanta, GA

| score = 14–20

| attend = 20,129

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-jackets-blow-no/151990387/|work=The Atlanta Constitution|title=Jackets blow No. 9, tumble to Navy 20–14|date=November 15, 1981|accessdate=July 25, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = December 5

| w/l = l

| opponent = Georgia

| opprank = 2

| site_stadium = Grant Field

| site_cityst = Atlanta, GA

| tv = ABC

| gamename = Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate

| score = 7–44

| attend = 58,623

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-palm-beach-post-after-tech-rout-wal/134423019/|work=The Palm Beach Post|title=After Tech rout, Walker praises Georgia's line|date=December 6, 1981|accessdate=October 31, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/georgia-tech/1981-schedule.html |title=1981 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Schedule and Results |work=Sports Reference LLC |access-date=June 15, 2017}}[http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/geot/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2011-12/prospectus/prospectus.pdf 2011 Georgia Tech Media Guide] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304094655/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/geot/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2011-12/prospectus/prospectus.pdf |date=March 4, 2016 }}. p. 173

Roster

{{American football roster/Header

| year = 1981

| team = Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

| teamcolors = f

| offensive_players =

{{American football roster/Player|num=2|class=Sr|first=Mike|last=Kelley|dab=Mike Kelley (quarterback)|pos=QB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=12|class=Jr|first=Jim Bob|last=Taylor|pos=QB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Robert|last=Lavette|pos=RB|link=n}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Ronny|last=Cone|pos=RB|link=n}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Kenny|last=Thompson|pos=WR|link=n}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Jeff|last=Keisler|pos=WR|link=n}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=9|class=So|first=Ken|last=Whisenhunt|pos=TE|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=64|class=Sr|first=Ben|last=Utt|pos=G|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=78|class=Jr|first=Dave|last=Lutz|pos=T|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Ellis|last=Gardner|pos=OL|link=n}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Ken|last=Howell|pos=OL|link=n}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Mark|last=Schultz|pos=OL|link=n}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Dean|last=Waters|pos=OL|link=n}}

| defensive_players=

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Mark|last=Bradley|pos=DL|link=n}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Donnie|last=Chisholm|pos=DL|link=n}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Marvin|last=Dyett|pos=DL|link=n}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=56|class=|first=Robert|last=Jaracz|pos=LB|link=n}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Rob|last=Horton|pos=LB|link=n}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Lance|last=Skelton|pos=LB|link=n}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Duane|last=Wood|pos=LB|link=n}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=22|class=So|first=Jack|last=Westbrook|pos=CB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Sammy|last=Brown|pos=DB|link=n}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Paul|last=Menegazzi|pos=DB|link=n}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Mark|last=Sheffield|pos=DB|link=n}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Ted|last=Thurson|pos=DB|link=n}}

| special_teams_players=

}}

{{American football roster/Footer

| head_coach = *Bill Curry

| asst_coach =

Rip Scherer – Offensive coordinator
Jeff McLean – Running backs
Terry Tuley – Wide receivers
Brad Roper – Tight ends
Mac McWhorter – Offensive line
Mark Hunter – Offensive line
Ken Blair – Defensive coordinator
John Guy – Defensive line
Barry Wilson – Inside linebackers
Mike Dean – Defensive backs

| accessdate=

}}

References

Georgia Tech

Category:Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football seasons

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football