1981 San Jose State Spartans football team

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1981 San Jose State Spartans football
PCAA champion
California Bowl, L 25–27 vs. Toledo
ConferencePacific Coast Athletic Association
Record9–3 (5–0 PCAA)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorDennis Erickson (3rd season)
Offensive schemeSpread
Home stadiumSpartan Stadium
Seasons
← 1980
1982 →
1981 Pacific Coast Athletic Association football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
San Jose State $ 5 – 0 – 0 9 – 3 – 0
Utah State 4 – 1 – 1 5 – 5 – 1
Fresno State 2 – 3 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Pacific (CA) 2 – 3 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Cal State Fullerton 1 – 4 – 0 3 – 8 – 0
Long Beach State 1 – 4 – 0 2 – 8 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion

The 1981 San Jose State Spartans football team represented San Jose State University during the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season as a member of the Pacific Coast Athletic Association.[note 1] Led by third-year head coach Jack Elway, they played home games at Spartan Stadium in San Jose, California.

The Spartans were champions of the PCAA, with a record of nine wins and three losses (9–3, 5–0 PCAA), and qualified for the initial California Bowl against the Mid-American Conference (MAC) champion Toledo Rockets.[1] This was the second bowl appearance for the Spartans since moving up to Division I-A; they were in the Pasadena Bowl a decade earlier. The California Bowl was played at Bulldog Stadium in Fresno, and Toledo won 27–25 with a late field goal.[2][3][4]

In early December, offensive coordinator Dennis Erickson was hired as the head coach at Idaho in the Big Sky Conference, but coached the Spartans in the bowl game.[5]

The Spartan offense was led by quarterback Steve Clarkson, running back Gerald Willhite, and wide receiver Tim Kearse.[1]

Schedule[edit]

DateOpponentSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 5UNLV*
L 6–1617,112[6]
September 12Santa Clara*
  • Spartan Stadium
  • San Jose, CA
W 41–7
September 19at Stanford*
W 28–667,888
September 26at California*
ABCW 27–24
October 3at Fresno State
ABCW 65–3325,617[7][8]
October 17Cal State Fullertondagger
  • Spartan Stadium
  • San Jose, CA
ESPNW 45–2321,238[9]
October 24at Utah State
W 27–2416,071[10]
November 7at No. 10 Arizona State*
L 24–31
November 14Pacific (CA)
  • Spartan Stadium
  • San Jose, CA
W 40–25
November 21at Long Beach State
W 25–226,723[11]
November 28North Texas State*
  • Spartan Stadium
  • San Jose, CA
W 28–1613,091[12]
December 19Toledo*
MizlouL 25–2715,565
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
Source:[13][14]

Team players in the NFL[edit]

The following were selected in the 1982 NFL Draft.[15]

Player Position Round Overall NFL team
Gerald Willhite Running back 1 21 Denver Broncos
Stacey Bailey Wide receiver 3 63 Atlanta Falcons

The following finished their college career in 1981, were not drafted, but played in the NFL.[16]

Player Position First NFL team
Kenny Daniel Defensive back 1984 New York Giants
Tracy Franz Guard 1987 San Francisco 49ers

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ The Big West Conference was known as the Pacific Coast Athletic Association from its founding in 1969 through 1987.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Woolford, Dave (December 19, 1981). "Rockets in fighting mood". Toledo Blade. (Ohio). p. 18.
  2. ^ Woolford, Dave (December 20, 1981). "UT shocks San Jose State on FG". Toledo Blade. (Ohio). p. C1.
  3. ^ "Toledo field goal nips Sparts". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). UPI. December 20, 1981. p. 6D.
  4. ^ "Toledo rocks San Jose". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. December 20, 1981. p. C3.
  5. ^ Missildine, Harry (December 12, 1981). "Erickson's 'bowling' date comes before Vandals". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Spokane, Washington. p. 12.
  6. ^ "2016 UNLV Rebel Football Light the Fuse". Archived from the original on September 2, 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2007.
  7. ^ "Fresno State 2016 Media Guide" (PDF). Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  8. ^ "Southland". The Los Angeles Times. October 4, 1981. p. III-18. Retrieved April 1, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  9. ^ Pete Donovan (October 18, 1981). "Spartans Run It Up, Titans Run Out of Gas". The Los Angeles Times (Orange County ed.). p. III-3. Retrieved February 10, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  10. ^ "Utah State Football Guide 2016" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 15, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2007.
  11. ^ "San Jose St., 24-22". Santa Cruz Sentinel. Santa Cruz, California. November 22, 1981. p. 65. Retrieved February 10, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  12. ^ "Spartans' Willhite stars in win over N. Texas". The San Francisco Examiner. November 29, 1981. Retrieved October 28, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "San Jose State 1981 Schedule". Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  14. ^ "San Jose State 2016 Football Media Guide". Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  15. ^ "1982 NFL Draft". Archived from the original on December 21, 2007. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
  16. ^ "San Jose St. Players/Alumni". Retrieved December 16, 2016.


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