1981 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team

Schedule

Roster

Coaching staff

Game summaries

Rankings

Awards

NFL and pro players

References

Depth chart

Iowa

Florida State

Penn State

Auburn

Colorado

Kansas State

Missouri

Kansas

Oklahoma State

Iowa State

Oklahoma

Clemson

1981 Nebraska Cornhuskers football
1981 Nebraska Cornhuskers football
Big Eight champion
Orange Bowl, L 15–22 vs. Clemson
Conference	Big Eight Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 9
AP	No. 11
Record	9–3 (7–0 Big Eight)
Head coach	Tom Osborne (9th season);
Offensive scheme	I formation
Defensive coordinator	Charlie McBride (1st season)
Base defense	5–2
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium
	Seasons ← 1980 1982 →

1981 Big Eight Conference football standings
v t e	Conf					Overall
Team	W		L		T	W		L		T
No. 11 Nebraska $	7	–	0	–	0	9	–	3	–	0
No. 20 Oklahoma	4	–	2	–	1	7	–	4	–	1
Kansas	4	–	3	–	0	7	–	5	–	0
Oklahoma State	4	–	3	–	0	7	–	5	–	0
No. 19 Missouri	3	–	4	–	0	8	–	4	–	0
Iowa State	2	–	4	–	1	5	–	5	–	1
Colorado	2	–	5	–	0	3	–	8	–	0
Kansas State	1	–	6	–	0	2	–	9	–	0

$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

The 1981 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Tom Osborne and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
September 12	1:05 pm	at Iowa*	No. 7	Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA (rivalry)		L 7–10	60,160	^[1]
September 19	1:30 pm	No. 19 Florida State*	No. 17	Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE		W 34–14	76,289	^[2]
September 26	1:30 pm	No. 3 Penn State*	No. 15	Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE		L 24–30	76,308	^[3]
October 3	1:30 pm	Auburn*		Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE		W 17–3	76,423	^[4]
October 10	1:30 pm	Colorado		Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE (rivalry)		W 59-0	76,169	^[5]
October 17	1:30 pm	at Kansas State	No. 19	KSU Stadium Manhattan, KS (rivalry)		W 49–3	45,915	^[6]
October 24	11:50 am	at No. 19 Missouri	No. 15	Faurot Field Columbia, MO (rivalry)	ABC	W 6–0	72,001	^[7]
October 31	1:30 pm	Kansas	No. 12	Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE (rivalry)		W 31–15	76,208	^[8]
November 7	11:30 am	at Oklahoma State	No. 11	Lewis Field Stillwater, OK	ABC	W 54–7	48,500	^[9]
November 14	1:30 pm	Iowa State	No. 7	Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE		W 31–7	76,258	^[10]
November 21	1:30 pm	at Oklahoma	No. 5	Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK (rivalry)	ESPN	W 37–14	74,807	^[11]
January 1, 1982	7:00 pm	vs. No. 1 Clemson*	No. 4	Miami Orange Bowl Miami, FL (Orange Bowl)	NBC	L 15–22	72,748	^[12]
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

^[13]

^[14]^[15]

Defense

FS
Jeff Krejci
Tim Holbrook
Dan Fischer

INSDIE	INSDIE
Bret Evans	Steve Damkroger
Steve McWhirter	Mike Knox
Todd Spratte	⋅

MONSTER
Sammy Sims
Kris Van-Norman
Tim Holbrook

CB
Rodney Lewis
Brian Iodence
Eddie Hollins

DE	DT	NT	DT	DE
Tony Felici	Henry Waechter	Jeff Merrell	Toby Williams	Jimmy Williams
Dave Ridder	Doug Herrman	Curt Hineline	Tom Gdowski	Bill Weber
Wade Praeuner	Dave Stromath	Scott Lindstrom	Mike Keeler	Eric Buchanan.

CB
Ric Lindquist
Allen Lyday
Jim Murphy

Offense

WR
Todd Brown
Scott Woodard
Tom Vergith

LT	LG	C	RG	RT
Randy Theiss	Mike Mandelko	Dave Rimington	Tom Carlstrom	Dan Hurley
Jeff Kwapick	Dean Steinkuhler	Brad Johnson	Kurt Glather	Scott Raridon
John Sherlock	Matt Brandl	Mike McElroy	Scott McLaughlin	Mark Behning

TE
Jamie Williams
Mitch Krenk
Dan Hill

WR
Anthony Steels
Irving Fryar
Tom Curry

QB
Turner Gill
Mark Mauer
Nate Mason Bruce Mathison

RB
Mike Rozier Roger Craig
Tim Brungardt
⋅

FB
Phil Bates
Doug Wilkeing
Mark Moravec

Special teams
PK Kevin Seibel
P Grant Campbell

Name	Title	First year in this position	Years at Nebraska	Alma mater
Tom Osborne	Head Coach Offensive coordinator	1973	1964–1997	Hastings College
Charlie McBride	Defensive line	1981	1977–1999	Colorado
Cletus Fischer	Offensive line		1960–1985	Nebraska
John Melton	Linebackers	1973	1962–1988	Wyoming
Mike Corgan	Running backs	1962	1962–1982	Notre Dame
Boyd Epley	Head Strength Coach	1969	1969–2003	Nebraska
George Darlington	Defensive ends		1973–2002	Rutgers
Milt Tenopir	Offensive line	1974	1974–2002	Sterling
Gene Huey	Receivers	1977	1977–1986	Wyoming
Frank Solich	Head Freshman Coach	1979	1979–2003	Nebraska
Jack Pierce			1979–1991
Jerry Pettibone	Recruiting Coordinator	1980	1980–1981	Oregon State
Bob Thornton	Secondary	1981	1981–1985	Nebraska

#7 Nebraska at Iowa [box score]

	1	2	3	4	Total
#7 Nebraska	0	0	0	7	7
• Iowa	7	3	0	0	10

Date: 1981-09-12
Location: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa
Game attendance: 60,160

Unranked Iowa jumped out to 10-0 lead by halftime on their way to paying back the 0-57 defeat handed to them by the Cornhuskers last year, and Nebraska was unable to answer in kind. Three 4th quarter Nebraska forays into Hawkeye territory produced no points, and an Iowa interception with 39 seconds remaining closed the book on the upset. Iowa went on to play in the Rose Bowl.

#19 Florida State at #17 Nebraska [box score]

	1	2	3	4	Total
#19 Florida State	0	7	0	7	14
• #17 Nebraska	10	0	14	10	34

Date: 1981-09-19
Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska
Game attendance: 76,289

Nebraska held a close 10-7 lead at halftime, but the momentum quickly turned in favor of the Cornhuskers when WB Irving Fryar scored on an 82-yard punt return, followed up six game clock seconds later when DE Tony Felici's off-the-bench opportunity allowed him to recover a Florida State fumble on the kickoff and return it 13 yards for another touchdown. Nebraska sealed the deal on a 94-yard touchdown run by IB Roger Craig, tying the standing Nebraska record. Felici's defensive performance earned him the starting position.

#3 Penn State at #15 Nebraska [box score]

	1	2	3	4	Total
• #3 Penn State	3	14	3	10	30
#15 Nebraska	0	10	14	0	24

Date: 1981-09-26
Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska
Game attendance: 76,308

No major records fell on this day, as each team fought to overcome the other and the scoring lead was exchanged five times. Penn State running back and future NFL star Curt Warner rolled up 238 yards, nearly matching the entire Nebraska team ground production. Penn State pulled ahead on an early 4th-quarter touchdown and added a field goal with 4:54 remaining to extend their lead to 6 points, and the Cornhuskers were unable to muster a response before time expired. Nebraska fell out of the rankings for the first time since a one-week absence early in the 1977 season.

Auburn at Nebraska [box score]

	1	2	3	4	Total
Auburn	3	0	0	0	3
• Nebraska	0	0	10	7	17

Date: 1981-10-03
Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska
Game attendance: 76,423

Auburn put up a 1st-quarter field goal to take the lead, and the score remained 3-0 at halftime. Through the course of the game, however, Auburn coughed up 10 fumbles, losing half of them, and never scored again. Nebraska quarterback Turner Gill took over after halftime, and with help from the turnovers, Nebraska overcome the weight of their worst season start since 1960 and put up 17 points in the second half to even up their season record at 2-2.

Colorado at Nebraska [box score]

	1	2	3	4	Total
Colorado	0	0	0	0	0
• Nebraska	14	24	21	0	59

Date: 1981-10-10
Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska
Game attendance: 76,169

This game marked the first start for Nebraska QB Turner Gill and IB Mike Rozier, and the Cornhuskers finally came to life. Gill tied an existing Nebraska record by passing for four touchdowns, as Nebraska piled up 719 offensive yards and set a new NCAA record with 42 first downs while racking up all 59 points before the start of the 4th quarter, while the Blackshirts posted their first shutout of the season.

#19 Nebraska at Kansas State [box score]

	1	2	3	4	Total
• #19 Nebraska	14	14	0	21	49
Kansas State	0	0	3	0	3

Date: 1981-10-17
Location: KSU Stadium, Manhattan, Kansas
Game attendance: 76,169

Entering the game, the Huskers were ranked #19 in the AP poll, beginning an NCAA-record streak of 348 consecutive appearances in the AP rankings. For the third straight game, the Nebraska defense prevented a touchdown, as the Cornhuskers rolled up 674 offensive yards and handled Kansas State with ease, showing that the return of Nebraska to the rankings at #19 was appropriate. Despite recovering three of eight Nebraska fumbles and the opportunity to capitalize accordingly, the Wildcats still managed only 8 first downs, and they barely avoided the shutout with a single 3rd-quarter field goal.

#15 Nebraska at #19 Missouri [box score]

	1	2	3	4	Total
• #15 Nebraska	0	0	0	6	6
#19 Missouri	0	0	0	0	0

Date: 1981-10-24
Location: Faurot Field, Columbia, Missouri
Game attendance: 72,001

This slugfest of two nearly evenly ranked teams contained plenty of action if not points, as the stalemate dragged on until time nearly ran out. Finally, with just 23 seconds left in the 4th quarter, Nebraska FB Phil Bates punched a three-yard run into the end zone. Like all the other scoring attempts preceding the eventual touchdown, even the PAT failed, and Nebraska departed Columbia with the 6–0 win.

Kansas at #12 Nebraska [box score]

	1	2	3	4	Total
Kansas	3	6	3	3	15
• #12 Nebraska	0	3	14	14	31

Date: 1981-10-31
Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska
Game attendance: 76,208

The Blackshirts extended their touchdown-prevention streak to five games, yet Nebraska was still behind 9-3 at halftime due to the prolific field goal production from Kansas PK Bruce Kallmeyer. Adjustments made during the break had an immediate effect, however, and despite Kallmeyer putting two more kicks between the uprights, the Cornhusker offense ran off four touchdowns with the help of IB Mike Rozier's career-best 179 yards to pull away.

#11 Nebraska at Oklahoma State [box score]

	1	2	3	4	Total
• #11 Nebraska	17	0	28	9	54
Oklahoma State	0	0	7	0	7

Date: 1981-11-07
Location: Lewis Field, Stillwater, Oklahoma
Game attendance: 48,500

The high-flying Oklahoma State defense, ranked #1 in the nation when the Cornhuskers rolled into town, were obliterated by Nebraska's 546 yards of offense. Nebraska QB Turner Gill led his squad to scores on their first three possessions, and handed over the controls shortly after halftime, but the Cornhuskers continued to score with ease. The Nebraska defense allowed just one score, a 3rd-quarter touchdown, which ended their touchdown-free streak at 22 quarters.

Iowa State at #7 Nebraska [box score]

	1	2	3	4	Total
Iowa State	0	7	0	0	7
• #7 Nebraska	0	7	0	24	31

Date: 1981-11-14
Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska
Game attendance: 76,258

The Cornhuskers struggled to put Iowa State behind them, catching up with them to enter halftime tied at 7, and it wasn't until the 4th quarter that the worn-down Cyclones allowed a 63-yard punt return touchdown by WB Irving Fryar as they gave up 24 unanswered points to decide the outcome. However, Nebraska QB Turner Gill suffered a leg injury that eventually became serious enough to cause nerve damage, putting him out for the rest of the season and also casting a shadow over his athletic future.

#5 Nebraska at Oklahoma [box score]

	1	2	3	4	Total
• #5 Nebraska	10	14	10	3	37
Oklahoma	7	0	7	0	14

Date: 1981-11-21
Location: Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma
Game attendance: 74,807

Oklahoma started out strong but failed to produce points to match their ability to march down the field, hampered by losing 3 of 5 fumbles over the course of the game. Despite the early concern, the Sooners went to the locker room at the half trailing 24-7 after a successful campaign by backup Nebraska QB Mark Mauer, and Oklahoma was never able to recover. Nebraska finished with an unbeaten conference slate and headed to Miami as conference champions.

#4 Nebraska vs #1 Clemson [box score]

	1	2	3	4	Total
#4 Nebraska	7	0	0	8	15
• #1 Clemson	6	6	10	0	22

Date: 1982-01-01
Location: Miami Orange Bowl, Miami
Game attendance: 72,748

Nebraska failed to capitalize on the opportunity for a national championship, coming in as #4 to attempt a takedown of the #1 Tigers as both the #2 and #3 teams dropped their own bowl games, but in a hard fought game that showed a near match of squads statistically, Clemson simply outplayed the Cornhuskers and took advantage of Nebraska mistakes to hold on to their 7-point lead for the final nine minutes to keep their claim on the #1 ranking, departing Miami with the 1981 national title.

Ranking movements
**Legend:** ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked
	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	Final
AP	6	7	17	15	—	—	19	15	12	11	7	5	5	4	11
Coaches															9

^[16]

Award	Name(s)
Outland Trophy	Dave Rimington
All-America 1st team	Dave Rimington, Jimmy Williams
All-America honorable mention	Dan Hurley, Jeff Krejci, Mike Rozier, Jamie Williams, Turner Gill
Big Eight Player of the Year	Dave Rimington
Big Eight Defensive Player of the Year	Jimmy Williams
Big Eight Offensive Newcomer of the Year	Mike Rozier
All-Big Eight 1st team	Roger Craig, Tony Felici, Turner Gill, Dan Hurley, Jeff Krejci, Ric Lindquist, Dave Rimington, Mike Rozier, Sammy Sims, Jamie Williams, Jimmy Williams
All-Big Eight 2nd team	Steve Damkroger, Roger Craig, Grant Campbell, Phil Bates, Mike Mandelko, Randy Theiss, Henry Waechter
All-Big Eight honorable mention	Phil Bates, Tom Carlstrom, Jeff Merrell

The following Nebraska players who participated in the 1981 season later moved on to the next level and joined a professional or semi-pro team as draftees or free agents.^[17]

Name	Team
Mark Behning	Pittsburgh Steelers
Todd Brown	Montreal Concordes
Bret Clark	Tampa Bay Bandits
Roger Craig	San Francisco 49ers
Irving Fryar	New England Patriots
Turner Gill	Montreal Concordes
Dan Hurley	Boston Breakers
Brad Johnson	Boston Breakers
Mike Knox	Denver Broncos
Mitch Krenk	Chicago Bears
Rodney Lewis	New Orleans Saints
Allen Lyday	Houston Oilers
Bruce Mathison	San Diego Chargers
Jeff Merrell	Boston Breakers
Greg Orton	Detroit Lions
Dave Rimington	Cincinnati Bengals
Mike Rozier	Pittsburgh Maulers
Kevin Seibel	Chicago Blitz
Ricky Simmons	Washington Federals
Jeff Smith	Kansas City Chiefs
Anthony Steels	Boston Breakers
Dean Steinkuhler	Houston Oilers
Mark Traynowicz	Buffalo Bills
Henry Waechter	Chicago Bears
Jamie Williams	St. Louis Cardinals
Jimmy Williams	Detroit Lions
Toby Williams	New England Patriots

Abbott, Todd (So.) DE
Alberico, Tim (So.) SE
Bachman, Ron (So.) DT
Barnes, Ed #57 (So.) LB
Bates, Phil #43 (Sr.) FB
Bauer, Steve #94 (So.) MON
Behning, Mark (So.) OT
Bess, Donnie #44 (Jr.) LB
Bourn, Don (So.) TE
Brandl, Matt #58 (Sr.) OG
Brown, Steve #95 (So.) DE
Brown, Todd #29 (Jr.) SE
Brungardt, Tim #32 (So.) IB
Buchanan, Eric (So.) DE
Campbell, Grant #24 (Jr.) P
Carlstrom, Tom #78 (Sr.) OG
Chandler, Rick #39 (So.) LB
Clark, Bret #10 (So.) S
Corbeil, Jim #92 (So.) LB
Craig, Roger #21 (Jr.) IB
Curry, Tom #1 (So.) WB
Damkroger, Steve #35 (Jr.) LB
Daum, Mark (So.) LB
DeBus, Robert (So.) LB
Dhein, Doug (So.) OT
Engebritson, Monte #83 (So.) TE
Evans, Brent #48 (Jr.) LB
Felici, Tony #46 (Jr.) DE
Fischer, Dan #26 (Jr.) S
Fryar, Irving #27 (So.) WB
Gdowski, Tom #93 (Jr.) DT
Gill, Turner #12 (So.) QB
Glathar, Kurt #69 (Jr.) OG
Graeber, Ken (So.) MG
Greene, Ricky (So.) IB
Grimminger, Harry (So.) OG
Haase, David #4 (So.) S
Hagerman, Mark #9 (Jr.) PK
Hansman, Bob #98 (So.) LB
Harris, Neil #11 (So.) CB
Haywood, Calvin (So.) MON
Heath, John #52 (So.) LB
Herrmann, Doug #63 (So.) DT
Hill, Dan #84 (Jr.) TE
Hill, Pete #41 (Fr.) FB
Hinds, Tom (Jr.) OG

Hineline, Curt #59 (Sr.) MG
Hoback, Rob (Jr.) LB
Holbrook, Tim #23 (Jr.) MON
Huebert, Randy #31 (Sr.) WB
Hurley, Dan #73 (Sr.) OT
Iodence, Brian #14 (Sr.) CB
Jeffries, Jim (So.) MON
Johnson, Brad #55 (Jr.) C
Kammerer, Kyle (So.) OG
Keeler, Mike #61 (So.) DT
Kimball, Scott (So.) SE
Knox, Mike #44 (Fr.) LB
Kramer, Brian (So.) OG
Krejci, Jeff #2 (Sr.) S
Krenk, Mitch #89 (Jr.) TE
Kwapick, Jeff #70 (Jr.) OT
Larsen, Pat #3 (Jr.) CB
Lewis, Rodney #5 (Sr.) CB
Lindquist, Ric #15 (Sr.) CB
Lindstrom, Scott #56 (Jr.) MG
Lonowski, Jack #67 (Sr.) DT
Lyday, Allen #18 (Jr.) CB
Mandelko, Mike #68 (Jr.) OG
Mann, Ricky #16 (So.) S
Mason, Nate #8 (Jr.) QB
Mathison, Bruce #19 (Jr.) QB
Mauer, Mark #17 (Sr.) QB
McCashland, Mike (So.) MON
McCowan, Randy #37 (Jr.) IB
McElroy, Mike #54 (Sr.) C
McLaughlin, Scott (So.) C
McWhirter, Steve #45 (Jr.) LB
Merrell, Jeff #74 (Jr.) MG
Moravec, Mark #40 (Jr.) FB
Muehling, Brad #53 (So.) C
Murphy, Jim (So.) DB
Neil, Eddie #13 (Jr.) PK
Nelson, Randy (So.) OT
Orton, Greg (So.) OG
Patterson, Bill (So.) IB
Petersen, Tim (So.) CB
Praeuner, Wade #85 (So.) DE
Raridon, Scott #72 (So.) OT
Reinhardt, John (So.) MG
Ridder, Dave #86 (So.) DE
Rimington, Dave #50 (Jr.) C

Ripa, Dan (So.) FB
Rogan, Dennis #42 (So.) IB
Rozier, Mike #30 (So.) IB
Santin, John #36 (Jr.) LB
Schaffer, Scott (So.) WB
Schmuecker, Dan #77 (So.) OT
Schoening, Lynn #91 (Jr.) PK
Sculley, Mike #51 (Sr.) MG
Seibel, Kevin #49 (Jr.) PK
Schark, Doug (So.) TE
Sherlock, John #66 (So.) OT
Simmons, Ricky #7 (Jr.) WB
Sims, Sammy #6 (Sr.) MON
Smail, Bob #47 (Sr.) MG
Smith, Jeff #28 (So.) IB
Smith, Paul #25 (Jr.) FB
Sorenson, John (So.) SE
Spratte, Todd #81 (So.) DE
Steels, Anthony #33 (Sr.) WB
Steinkuhler, Dean #71 (So.) OG
Stephens, Greg #82 (Jr.) TE
Stromath, Dave #99 (Sr.) DT
Stuckey, Rob (So.) DT
Sundberg, Craig (So.) QB
Theiss, Randy #65 (Jr.) OT
Thomas, Anthony (So.) OG
Thompson, Jim (So.) WB
Tramner, Mike #64 (So.) MG
Traynowicz, Mark (So.) OT
Valla, Ronald (So.) PK
Van Lent, Bill #90 (Jr.) DT
Van Norman, Kris #38 (Jr.) MON
Vergith, Tom #22 (Jr.) SE
Waechter, Henry #75 (Sr.) DT
Waechter, Kevin #76 (Jr.) DT
Walton, Jerry (So.) S
Weber, Bill #87 (So.) DE
Weed, Dan (So.) C
Wees, Dennis #62 (Jr.) MG
Wilkening, Doug #34 (So.) FB
Williams, Jamie #80 (Jr.) TE
Williams, Jimmy #96 (Sr.) DE
Williams, Toby #97 (Jr.) DT
Woodard, Scott #88 (Sr.) SE
Zierke, Mike (So.) DT

^ "Hawkeyes embarrass Nebraska". Columbia Daily Tribune. September 13, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Craig propels Cornhuskers, 34–14". The Sioux City Journal. September 20, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Penn State tailback runs over Nebraska". The Kansas City Star. September 27, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Nebraska scores touchdowns fast to top Auburn". The Tampa Tribune-Times. October 4, 1981. Retrieved November 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Cornhuskers crush Colorado 59–0". The Daily Sentinel. October 11, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Nebraska rocks Wildcats, 49–3". The Sioux City Journal. October 18, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Huskers nip Mizzou". The Salina Journal. October 25, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Jayhawks close 'til 4th period". The Wichita Eagle & Beacon. November 1, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Gill leads Husker win". The Daily Nonpareil. November 8, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Final-quarter juice brings Oranges". The Grand Island Independent. November 15, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Huskers ax OU". Tulsa World. November 22, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Clemson spoils NU dream of 1970 repeat". Omaha World-Herald. January 2, 1982. Retrieved January 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "1981 Nebraska Cornhuskers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
^ Nebraska 1981 Roster
^ Nebraska 1981 Commitments
^ 1981 Husker Honors
^ All Time NFL Huskers

[1] "Hawkeyes embarrass Nebraska". Columbia Daily Tribune. September 13, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.

[2] "Craig propels Cornhuskers, 34–14". The Sioux City Journal. September 20, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.

[3] "Penn State tailback runs over Nebraska". The Kansas City Star. September 27, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.

[4] "Nebraska scores touchdowns fast to top Auburn". The Tampa Tribune-Times. October 4, 1981. Retrieved November 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.

[5] "Cornhuskers crush Colorado 59–0". The Daily Sentinel. October 11, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.

[6] "Nebraska rocks Wildcats, 49–3". The Sioux City Journal. October 18, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.

[7] "Huskers nip Mizzou". The Salina Journal. October 25, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.

[8] "Jayhawks close 'til 4th period". The Wichita Eagle & Beacon. November 1, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.

[9] "Gill leads Husker win". The Daily Nonpareil. November 8, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.

[10] "Final-quarter juice brings Oranges". The Grand Island Independent. November 15, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.

[11] "Huskers ax OU". Tulsa World. November 22, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.

[12] "Clemson spoils NU dream of 1970 repeat". Omaha World-Herald. January 2, 1982. Retrieved January 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.

[13] "1981 Nebraska Cornhuskers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 3, 2024.

[14] Nebraska 1981 Roster

[15] Nebraska 1981 Commitments

[16] 1981 Husker Honors

[17] All Time NFL Huskers

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

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[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

v t e Nebraska Cornhuskers football
Venues	Lincoln Park (1891–1893) Antelope Field (1894–1908) Nebraska Field (1909–1922) Memorial Stadium (1923–present)
Bowls and rivalries	Bowl games Colorado (Buffalo Head) Iowa (Heroes Trophy) Kansas Kansas State Miami (FL) Minnesota ($5 Bits of Broken Chair) Missouri (Victory Bell) Oklahoma Wisconsin (Freedom Trophy)
Culture and lore	History Herbie Husker Lil' Red "Dear Old Nebraska U" "Hail Varsity" Cornhusker Marching Band Blackshirts Origin of "Cornhuskers" nickname 1939 Kansas State game Game of the Century (1971 Oklahoma game) Fumblerooski 1982 Penn State game Flea Kicker Black 41 Flash Reverse Pass 2009 Big 12 Championship Game Yes Man
People	Head coaches All-Americans Athletic directors College Football Hall of Famers NFL draftees Pro Football Hall of Famers Statistical leaders
Seasons	1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
National championship seasons in bold

v t e Big Eight Conference football champions
MVIAA	Iowa & Nebraska (1907) Kansas (1908) Missouri (1909) Nebraska (1910) Iowa State & Nebraska (1911) Iowa State & Nebraska (1912) Missouri & Nebraska (1913) Nebraska (1914) Nebraska (1915) Nebraska (1916) Nebraska (1917) Missouri (1919) Oklahoma (1920) Nebraska (1921) Drake & Nebraska (1922) Kansas & Nebraska (1923) Missouri (1924) Missouri (1925) Oklahoma A&M (1926) Missouri (1927)
Big Six	Nebraska (1928) Nebraska (1929) Kansas (1930) Nebraska (1931) Nebraska (1932) Nebraska (1933) Kansas State (1934) Nebraska (1935) Nebraska (1936) Nebraska (1937) Oklahoma (1938) Missouri (1939) Nebraska (1940) Missouri (1941) Missouri (1942) Oklahoma (1943) Oklahoma (1944) Missouri (1945) Kansas & Oklahoma (1946) Kansas & Oklahoma (1947)
Big Seven	Oklahoma (1948) Oklahoma (1949) Oklahoma (1950) Oklahoma (1951) Oklahoma (1952) Oklahoma (1953) Oklahoma (1954) Oklahoma (1955) Oklahoma (1956) Oklahoma (1957) Oklahoma (1958) Oklahoma (1959)
Big Eight	Missouri (1960) Colorado (1961) Oklahoma (1962) Nebraska (1963) Nebraska (1964) Nebraska (1965) Nebraska (1966) Oklahoma (1967) Kansas & Oklahoma (1968) Missouri & Nebraska (1969) Nebraska (1970) Nebraska (1971) Nebraska (1972) Oklahoma (1973) Oklahoma (1974) Nebraska & Oklahoma (1975) Colorado, Oklahoma, & Oklahoma State (1976) Oklahoma (1977) Nebraska & Oklahoma (1978) Oklahoma (1979) Oklahoma (1980) Nebraska (1981) Nebraska (1982) Nebraska (1983) Nebraska & Oklahoma (1984) Oklahoma (1985) Oklahoma (1986) Oklahoma (1987) Nebraska (1988) Colorado (1989) Colorado (1990) Colorado & Nebraska (1991) Nebraska (1992) Nebraska (1993) Nebraska (1994) Nebraska (1995)
National championships in bold