1981 Eastern Illinois Panthers football team

American college football season

1981 Eastern Illinois Panthers football
Mid-Con co-champion
ConferenceAssociation of Mid-Continent Universities
Record6–5 (2–1 Mid-Con)
Head coach
  • Darrell Mudra (4th season)
Home stadiumO'Brien Stadium
Seasons
← 1980
1982 →
1981 Association of Mid-Continent Universities football standings
  • v
  • t
  • e
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Northern Iowa + 2 1 0 7 4 0
Eastern Illinois + 2 1 0 6 5 0
Western Illinois + 2 1 0 5 6 0
Southwest Missouri State 0 3 0 3 5 2
  • + – Conference co-champions

The 1981 Eastern Illinois Panthers football team represented Eastern Illinois University as a member of the Association of Mid-Continent Universities during the 1981 NCAA Division I-AA football season, and completed the 80th season of Panther football. The Panthers were led by fourth-year head coach Darrell Mudra and played their home games at O'Brien Stadium in Charleston, Illinois. Eastern Illinois finished the season with an overall record of 6–5 and shared the conference title with Northern Iowa and Western Illinois.[1][2][3]

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 5at South Dakota*
  • DakotaDome
  • Vermillion, SD
W 19–17
September 12Southwest Missouri State
  • O'Brien Stadium
  • Charleston, IL
W 24–13
September 19at Northeast Missouri State*
  • Stokes Stadium
  • Kirksville, MO
L 14–21
September 26Central State (OH)*
  • O'Brien Stadium
  • Charleston, IL
W 58–0
October 10at Illinois State*
  • Hancock Stadium
  • Normal, IL (rivalry)
L 3–257,808[4]
October 17Western Illinois
  • O'Brien Stadium
  • Charleston, IL
W 20–85,000[5]
October 24at Youngstown State*
  • Rayen Stadium
  • Youngstown, OO
L 16–48
October 31at Northern Iowa
  • UNI-Dome
  • Cedar Falls, IA
L 17–38[6]
November 7Ferris State*
  • O'Brien Stadium
  • Charleston, IL
W 42–14
November 14Indiana State*
  • O'Brien Stadium
  • Charleston, IL
L 14–27[7]
November 21Delaware State*
  • O'Brien Stadium
  • Charleston, IL
W 24–16[8]
  • *Non-conference game

[9]

References

  1. ^ "EIU linemen inexperienced". Journal Gazette. August 15, 1981 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  2. ^ "Eastern faces task of rebuilding both lines". Journal Gazette. August 15, 1981 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ "EIU coach disappointed". Journal Gazette. November 27, 1981 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  4. ^ "Redbirds shock EIU crew". The Sunday Dispatch. October 11, 1981. Retrieved August 17, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Eastern Illinois .............. 20 Western Illinois ............... 8". Springfield Leader and Press. October 18, 1981 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  6. ^ "Eastern Illinois loses". The Southern Illinoisan. Associated Press. November 1, 1981. p. 14. Retrieved November 13, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Panthers lose 27-14". Journal Gazette. November 16, 1981 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  8. ^ "Rowe shines as DelState drops finale". Sunday News Journal. November 22, 1981. Retrieved August 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "EIU Football Online Guide, 2019" (PDF). Eastern Illinois athletics. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
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Eastern Illinois Panthers football
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National championship seasons in bold