1981 Maryland Terrapins football team

{{Infobox college sports team season

| year = 1981

| team = Maryland Terrapins

| sport = football

| image =

| image_size =

| conference = Atlantic Coast Conference

| short_conf = ACC

| record = 4–6–1

| conf_record = 4–2

| head_coach = Jerry Claiborne

| hc_year = 10th

| captain =

| stadium = Byrd Stadium

}}

The 1981 Maryland Terrapins football team represented the University of Maryland in the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their 10th and final season under head coach Jerry Claiborne, the Terrapins compiled a 4–6–1 record, finished in third place in the Atlantic Coast Conference, and outscored their opponents 232 to 194.{{cite web|title=1981 Maryland Terrapins Schedule and Results|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|access-date=June 15, 2016|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/maryland/1981-schedule.html}}{{cite web|title=Maryland Yearly Results (1980-1984)|publisher=David DeLassus|work=College Football Data Warehouse|access-date=June 15, 2016|url=http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/m/maryland/1980-1984_yearly_results.php|archive-date=August 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810130228/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/m/maryland/1980-1984_yearly_results.php|url-status=dead}} The team's statistical leaders included Boomer Esiason with 1,635 passing yards, Charlie Wysocki with 715 rushing yards, and Russell Davis with 498 receiving yards.{{cite web|title=1981 Maryland Terrapins Stats|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|access-date=June 15, 2016|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/maryland/1981.html}}

Schedule

{{CFB schedule

| rankyear = 1981

| poll = AP

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 12

| time =

| w/l = l

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| opponent = Vanderbilt

| site_stadium = Vanderbilt Stadium

| site_cityst = Nashville, TN

| score = 17–23

| attend = 38,624

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-vanderbilt-surprises/134476341/|work=The Baltimore Sun|title=Vanderbilt surprises, Terrapins bow, 23–17|date=September 13, 1981|accessdate=November 1, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 19

| time =

| w/l = l

| nonconf = y

| opponent = West Virginia

| site_stadium = Byrd Stadium

| site_cityst = College Park, MD

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 13–17

| attend = 38,300

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-terps-struggle-ag/139760231/|work=The Charlotte Observer|title=Terps struggle again, lose to West Virginia|date=September 20, 1981|accessdate=January 28, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 26

| w/l = w

| away = y

| opponent = NC State

| site_stadium = Carter–Finley Stadium

| site_cityst = Raleigh, NC

| score = 34–9

| attend = 47,500

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-press-maryland-clobbers-nc-state/139765804/|work=Fort Myers News-Press|title=Maryland clobbers N.C. State|date=September 27, 1981|accessdate=January 28, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 3

| w/l = t

| nonconf = y

| opponent = Syracuse

| site_stadium = Byrd Stadium

| site_cityst = College Park, MD

| score = 17–17

| attend = 32,000

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-journal-syracuse-rallies-to-tie/139765946/|work=Sunday News Journal|title=Syracuse rallies to tie Maryland|date=October 4, 1981|accessdate=January 28, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 10

| w/l = l

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| opponent = Florida

| site_stadium = Florida Field

| site_cityst = Gainesville, FL

| score = 10–15

| attend = 56,319

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-terrapins-woes-grow-w/134523006/|work=The Baltimore Sun|title=Terrapins' woes grow with 15–10 loss to Fla.|date=October 11, 1981|accessdate=November 2, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 17

| w/l = w

| away = y

| opponent = Wake Forest

| site_stadium = Groves Stadium

| site_cityst = Winston-Salem, NC

| score = 45–33

| attend = 24,500

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-roanoke-times-terps-survive-deacs-b/139766086/|work=The Roanoke Times & World-News|title=Terps survive Deacs' barrage|date=October 18, 1981|accessdate=January 28, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 24

| w/l = w

| opponent = Duke

| site_stadium = Byrd Stadium

| site_cityst = College Park, MD

| score = 24–21

| attend = 31,800

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-maryland-slips-by/139766232/|work=The Charlotte Observer|title=Maryland slips by Blue Devils for 24–21 win|date=October 25, 1981|accessdate=January 28, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 31

| w/l = l

| opponent = North Carolina

| opprank = 9

| site_stadium = Byrd Stadium

| site_cityst = College Park, MD

| score = 10–17

| attend = 32,100

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-times-tar-heel-bench-scuttles/139764947/|work=The Daily Times|title=Tar Heel bench scuttles Maryland by 17–10|date=November 1, 1981|accessdate=January 28, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 7

| w/l = l

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| opponent = Tulane

| site_stadium = Louisiana Superdome

| site_cityst = New Orleans, LA

| score = 7–14

| attend = 32,474

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87411175/green-wave-topples-maryland-terps-147/|work=The Daily Advertiser|title=Green Wave topples Maryland Terps, 14–7|date=November 8, 1981|accessdate=October 19, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 14

| time = 1:00 p.m.

| w/l = l

| away = y

| opponent = Clemson

| opprank = 2

| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Clemson, SC

| tv = USA

| score = 7–21

| attend = 63,199

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-press-jordan-helps-no-2-clemson-h/139763884/|work=Daily Press|title=Jordan helps No. 2 Clemson humble Terps|date=November 15, 1981|accessdate=January 28, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 21

| w/l = w

| opponent = Virginia

| site_stadium = Byrd Stadium

| site_cityst = College Park, MD

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 48–7

| attend = 21,300

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-sun-wysocki-esiason-lead-ter/139766392/|work=Durham Morning Herald|title=Wysocki, Esiason lead Terps' massacre of Cavs|date=November 22, 1981|accessdate=January 28, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

Roster

{{American football roster/Header

| year = 1981

| team = Maryland Terrapins

| teamcolors = f

| offensive_players =

{{American football roster/Player|num=7|class=So|first=Boomer|last=Esiason|pos=QB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=82|class=Jr|first=John|last=Tice|pos=TE|link=y}}

| defensive_players=

{{American football roster/Player|num=79|class=So|first=Pete|last=Koch|pos=DT|link=y}}

| special_teams_players=

{{American football roster/Player|num=41|class=Fr|first=Larry|last=Abraham|pos=FB|}}

}}

{{American football roster/Footer

| head_coach = *Jerry Claiborne

| asst_coach =

| accessdate=

}}

References

Maryland

Category:Maryland Terrapins football seasons

Maryland Terrapins football