American college football season
The 1981 Duke Blue Devils football team was an American football team that represented Duke University as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) during the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season . In their third year under head coach Shirley Wilson , the Blue Devils complied an overall record of 6–5, with a conference record of 3–3, and finished fourth in the ACC. Duke's offense became the first in ACC history to average over 300 yards a game passing.[ 1]
Date Time Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 12 at No. 11 Ohio State * L 13–3486,266 [ 2] September 19 at South Carolina * L 3–1756,321 [ 3] September 26 at Virginia W 29–2427,523 [ 4] October 3 East Carolina * W 24–1418,250 [ 5] October 10 1:30 p.m. Virginia Tech * Wallace Wade Stadium Durham, NC W 14–732,000 [ 6] October 17 No. 6 Clemson Wallace Wade Stadium Durham, NC L 10–3826,000 [ 7] October 24 at Maryland L 21–2431,800 [ 8] October 31 at Georgia Tech * W 38–2430,232 [ 9] November 7 at Wake Forest W 31–1022,000 [ 10] November 14 NC State Wallace Wade Stadium Durham, NC (rivalry ) W 17–726,750 [ 11] November 21 No. 12 North Carolina L 10–3138,525 [ 12] *Non-conference game HomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time
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1981 Duke Blue Devils football team roster Players Coaches Offense Defense Special teams Head coach Coordinators/assistant coaches Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt
Chris Castor, ACC Offensive Player of the Year ^ WRAL.com . Retrieved 2020-Apr-22. ^ "Buckeyes inconsistent in win" . The Akron Beacon Journal . September 13, 1981. Retrieved January 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "South Carolina defeats Duke" . Greensboro News & Record . September 20, 1981. Retrieved January 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Duke squeaks by Virginia" . The Daily News Leader . September 27, 1981. Retrieved January 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Late Pack spurt zaps pesky Bucs" . The News and Observer . September 20, 1981. Retrieved March 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Tabron steals one for Blue Devils" . The News and Observer . October 11, 1981. Retrieved December 16, 2021 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Clemson bedevils Duke, 38–10" . Anderson Independent-Mail . October 18, 1981. Retrieved January 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Maryland slips by Blue Devils for 24–21 win" . The Charlotte Observer . October 25, 1981. Retrieved January 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Rallying Duke wrecks Tech" . The News and Observer . November 1, 1981. Retrieved January 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Rush-minded Devils crush defenseless Wake" . The Danville Register . November 8, 1981. Retrieved January 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Sub Ron Sally sparks Duke over Wolfpack" . Daily Press . November 15, 1981. Retrieved January 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Tar Heels gain Gator Bowl bid" . Fort Lauderdale News . November 22, 1981. Retrieved January 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "1981 Duke Blue Devils Schedule and Results" . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 28, 2024 .
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