1981 The Citadel Bulldogs football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1981
| team = The Citadel Bulldogs
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Southern Conference
| short_conf = SoCon
| record = 7–3–1
| conf_record = 3–2–1
| head_coach = Art Baker
| hc_year = 4th
| off_coach =
| oc_year =
| off_scheme =
| def_coach =
| dc_year =
| def_scheme =
| captain =
| stadium = Johnson Hagood Stadium{{cite web|title=How Johnson Hagood Stadium Came To Be |url=http://www.citadelsports.com/information/insideAthletics/facilities/hagoodArticle |publisher=citadelsports.com |accessdate=September 10, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818173314/http://www.citadelsports.com/information/insideAthletics/facilities/hagoodArticle |archivedate=August 18, 2012 }}
}}
{{1981 Southern Conference football standings}}
The 1981 The Citadel Bulldogs football team represented The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina in the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. Art Baker served as head coach for the fourth season. The Bulldogs played as members of the Southern Conference and played home games at Johnson Hagood Stadium.{{cite book|url=http://catalog.e-digitaleditions.com/title/10811|page=152|title=2011 Citadel Football Media Guide|publisher=The Citadel|accessdate=January 26, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thecitadelfootballassociation.com/CFA%20Through%20The%20Years/Milestones-CFAThroughTheYears.htm|title=Milestones|publisher=The Citadel Football Association|accessdate=January 26, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160123034226/http://thecitadelfootballassociation.com/CFA%20Through%20The%20Years/Milestones-CFAThroughTheYears.htm|archive-date=2016-01-23|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_iaa/southern/citadel/1980-1984_yearly_results.php|publisher=College Football Data Warehouse|title=Citadel Game by Game Results|accessdate=January 26, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151226041423/http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_iaa/southern/citadel/1980-1984_yearly_results.php|archive-date=2015-12-26|url-status=dead}}
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 12
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| opponent = Navy
| site_stadium = Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Annapolis, MD
| score = 7–17
| attend = 18,135
| source ={{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107794318/middies-sink-citadel/|work=The Baltimore Sun|title=Middies sink Citadel|date=September 13, 1981|accessdate=August 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 19
| w/l = w
| opponent = Western Carolina
| site_stadium = Johnson Hagood Stadium
| site_cityst = Charleston, SC
| score = 12–3
| attend = 18,950
| source ={{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107794464/the-citadel-manson-hold-off-stubborn-wc/|work=The Times and Democrat|title=The Citadel, Manson hold off Stubborn WCU, 12–3|date=September 20, 1981|accessdate=August 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 26
| w/l = w
| opponent = Appalachian State
| site_stadium = Johnson Hagood Stadium
| site_cityst = Charleston, SC
| score = 34–20
| attend = 17,250
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89943743/citadel-runs-past-appalachian-3420/|work=The State|title=Citadel runs past Appalachian 34–20|date=September 27, 1981|accessdate=December 2, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 3
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = East Tennessee State
| site_stadium = Memorial Center
| site_cityst = Johnson City, TN
| score = 13–17
| attend = 8,773
| source ={{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107791618/east-tenn-nips-citadel/|work=The Times and Democrat|title=East Tenn. nips Citadel|date=October 4, 1981|accessdate=August 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 10
| w/l = l
| neutral = y
| opponent = VMI
| site_stadium = Foreman Field
| site_cityst = Norfolk, VA
| gamename = Oyster Bowl, Military Classic of the South
| score = 0–14
| attend = 20,000
| source = {{cite news |title=VMI uses defense to stymie Citadel|date=October 11, 1981|newspaper=Daily Press|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94158277/vmi-uses-defense-to-stymie-citadel/|accessdate=February 3, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 17
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Davidson
| site_stadium = Johnson Hagood Stadium
| site_cityst = Charleston, SC
| score = 23–3
| attend = 12,890
| source ={{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107794577/davidsons-early-lead-overcome-by-citade/|work=The Charlotte Observer|title=Davidson's early lead overcome by Citadel|date=October 18, 1981|accessdate=August 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 24
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=1981|team=Newberry Indians|title=Newberry}}
| site_stadium = Johnson Hagood Stadium
| site_cityst = Charleston, SC
| score = 55–14
| attend = 14,450
| source ={{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107794714/outmanned-indians-bombed-by-citadel/|work=The State|title=Outmanned Indians bombed by Citadel|date=October 25, 1981|accessdate=August 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 31
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=1981|team=Presbyterian Blue Hose|title=Presbyterian}}
| site_stadium = Johnson Hagood Stadium
| site_cityst = Charleston, SC
| score = 21–3
| attend = 10,850
| source ={{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107794903/citadel-outdistances-presbyterian-213/|work=Anderson Independent-Mail|title=Citadel outdistances Presbyterian, 21–3|date=November 1, 1981|accessdate=August 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 7
| w/l = t
| away = y
| opponent = Chattanooga
| site_stadium = Chamberlain Field
| site_cityst = Chattanooga, TN
| score = 28–28
| attend = 10,132
| source ={{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107793367/citadel-ties-utc/|work=The Sun-News|title=Citadel ties UT–C|date=November 8, 1981|accessdate=August 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 14
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=1981|team=Wofford Terriers|title=Wofford}}
| site_stadium = Johnson Hagood Stadium
| site_cityst = Charleston, SC
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 24–14
| attend = 11,185
| source ={{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107795059/citadel-looking-ahead-but-wins/|work=The Greenville News|title=Citadel looking ahead, but wins|date=November 15, 1981|accessdate=August 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 21
| w/l = w
| homecoming = y
| opponent = Furman
| site_stadium = Johnson Hagood Stadium
| site_cityst = Charleston, SC
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 35–18
| attend = 20,150
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89813223/miller-alston-help-bulldogs-topple-pala/|work=The Times and Democrat|title=Miller, Alston help Bulldogs topple Paladins, 35–18|date=November 22, 1981|accessdate=November 30, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}}}
}}
NFL Draft selections
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
! Year ! Round ! Pick ! Overall ! Name ! Team ! Position |
| 1981
| 9 | 5 | 226 | RB |