1981 Elon Fightin' Christians football
NAIA Division I national champion
SAC champion
NAIA Division I Championship Game, W 3–0 vs. Pittsburg State
ConferenceSouth Atlantic Conference
Record11–1–1 (6–1 SAC)
Head coach
1981 South Atlantic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 2 Elon $^ 6 –1 –012 –1 –1
Presbyterian 5 –2 –06 –5 –0
Carson–Newman 4 –3 –07 –4 –0
Catawba 3 –4 –05 –5 –0
Gardner–Webb 3 –4 –05 –5 –0
Mars Hill 3 –4 –05 –5 –0
Newberry 2 –5 –04 –7 –0
Lenoir–Rhyne 2 –5 –02 –9 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NAIA Division I playoff participant
Rankings from NAIA Division I poll

The 1981 Elon Fightin' Christians football team was an American football team that represented Elon University of Elon, North Carolina, as a member of the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) during the 1981 NAIA Division I football season. In their fifth and final year under head coach Jerry Tolley, the Christians compiled an 11–1–1 record (6–1 against SAC opponents) and won the SAC championship.[1]

The team lost to Catawba and tied with Norfolk State.[1] The team advanced to the NAIA Division I playoffs, defeating Concord (38–8) in the quarterfinals, Hillsdale (41–13) in the semifinals, and Pittsburg State (3–0) in the national championship game.

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 12Mars Hill
W 8–0
September 19at Guilford*Greensboro, NCW 38–0
October 3Lenoir–Rhyne
  • Burlington Memorial Football Stadium
  • Burlington, NC
W 12–3
October 10at Norfolk State*Norfolk, VAT 20–2015,500[2]
October 17at PresbyterianClinton, SCW 16–10[3]
October 24Catawba
  • Burlington Memorial Football Stadium
  • Burlington, NC
L 30–17
October 31Gardner–Webb
  • Burlington Memorial Football Stadium
  • Burlington, NC
W 56–10
November 7at NewberryNewberry, SCW 27–213,000[4]
November 14Winston-Salem State*
  • Burlington Memorial Football Stadium
  • Burlington, NC
W 30–206,500[5]
November 21at Carson–NewmanJefferson City, TNW 23–14[6]
December 5at Concord*Bluefield, WV (NAIA Division I quarterfinal)W 37–81,500[7]
December 12Hillsdale*
  • Burlington Memorial Football Stadium
  • Burlington, NC (NAIA Division I semifinal)
W 41–134,500[8]
December 19Pittsburg State*
  • Burlington Memorial Football Stadium
  • Burlington, NC (NAIA Division I National Championship Game)
W 3–03,705[9][10]
  • *Non-conference game

References

  1. 1 2 "Elon Year-by-Year vs. Opponents". Elon University. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Norfolk State 20, Elon 20". The Charlotte Observer. October 11, 1981. p. 3C – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ Richard Chesley (October 18, 1981). "Unbeaten Elon Trips Presbyterian 16-10". The State. p. 5D – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Elon captures Pettus, holds off Indians". The Greenville News. November 8, 1981. p. 4C – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Elon 30, Winston-Salem State 20". The Charlotte Observer. November 15, 1981. p. 6D – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "Elon clinches a tie". The Greenville News. November 22, 1981. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Bangley, defense lead Elon to 38-7 victory". The News and Observer. December 6, 1981. p. 9-II – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ David Scott (December 13, 1981). "Elon Marches To NAIA Title Game". The Charlotte Observer. p. 9D – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ Bill Woodward (December 20, 1981). "Elon captures NAIA crown (part 1)". The News and Observer. pp. II-1 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ Bill Woodward (December 20, 1981). "Elon captures NAIA crown (part 2)". The News and Observer. pp. II-1 – via Newspapers.com.
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