1981 Virginia Union Panthers football team

The 1981 Virginia Union Panthers football team represented Virginia Union University as a member of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) during the 1981 NCAA Division II football season. Led by 11th-year head coach Willard Bailey, the Panthers compiled an overall record of 11–1 and a mark of 7–0 in conference play, and finished as CIAA champion after they defeated North Carolina Central in the first CIAA Championship Game. Virginia Union finished their season with a loss against Shippensburg State in the Division II playoffs. At the conclusion of the season, the Panthers were also recognized as black college national champion.

1981 Virginia Union Panthers football
CIAA Championship Game, W 45–7 vs. North Carolina Central
ConferenceCentral Intercollegiate Athletic Association
DivisionNorthern Division
Record11–1 (7–0 CIAA)
Head coach
Home stadiumHovey Field
1981 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Northern
No. 2 Virginia Union xy$^ 7 –0 –011 –1 –0
Elizabeth City State ^ 6 –1 –08 –3 –0
No. 10 Hampton 5 –2 –08 –2 –0
Norfolk State 3 –4 –04 –5 –1
Virginia State 3 –4 –04 –6 –0
Saint Paul's (VA) 0 –7 –00 –10 –0
Southern
North Carolina Central xy 6 –1 –07 –4 –0
Winston-Salem State 4 –3 –05 –5 –0
Johnson C. Smith 3 –4 –04 –6 –0
Fayetteville State 2 –5 –03 –5 –0
Livingstone 1 –6 –03 –7 –0
Bowie State * 2 –5 –05 –5 –0
Championship: Virginia Union 45, North Carolina Central 7
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
  • * – ineligible for conference title
Rankings from NCAA Division II Football Committee poll for Virginia Union and NAIA Division I poll for Hampton

Schedule
DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 12North Carolina Central
W 27–75,500[1]
September 19at Hampton
W 34–145,100[2]
September 26Winston-Salem StateNo. 5
  • Hovey Field
  • Richmond, VA
W 36–73,000[3]
October 3at Saint Paul's (VA)No. 4
W 55–6700[4]
October 10at Clark (GA)*No. 4
W 42–0[5]
October 17Bowie StateNo. 3
  • Hovey Field
  • Richmond, VA
W 25–01,300[6]
October 24Norfolk StateNo. 3
  • Hovey Field
  • Richmond, VA
W 43–136,300[7]
October 31vs. Virginia StateNo. 3
W 14–1212,000[8]
November 7Morgan State*No. 3
  • Hovey Field
  • Richmond, VA
W 38–0[9]
November 14No. 5 Elizabeth City StateNo. 3
  • Hovey Field
  • Richmond, VA
W 16–7[10]
November 21vs. North Carolina CentralNo. 3
W 45–712,500[11]
November 28No. 8 Shippensburg State*No. 2
L 27–40[12]

References
  1. "Dillon's feats stop Central". Durham Morning Herald. September 13, 1981. Retrieved April 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Wyche unashamed after Union spanks Hampton Institute 34–14". Daily Press. September 20, 1981. Retrieved April 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Union blitzes Rams". Richmond Times-Dispatch. September 27, 1981. Retrieved April 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Union rips Saint Paul's 55–6". Richmond Times-Dispatch. October 4, 1981. Retrieved April 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Va. Union mops up stadium with Clark College 42–0". The Atlanta Constitution. October 11, 1981. Retrieved April 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Union held by problems to 25–0 win". Richmond Times-Dispatch. October 18, 1981. Retrieved April 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Classy Va. Union raps Norfolk State". Daily Press. October 25, 1981. Retrieved April 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Panthers given a scare but reach CIAA final". Richmond Times-Dispatch. November 1, 1981. Retrieved April 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Union tramples Morgan by 38–0". Richmond Times-Dispatch. November 8, 1981. Retrieved April 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Virginia Union nips ECSU for 10th win". The News and Observer. November 15, 1981. Retrieved April 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "Union dissolves N.C. Central". The Charlotte Observer. November 22, 1981. Retrieved April 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "Shippensburg rolls past Virginia Union into semifinals". The Morning News. November 29, 1981. Retrieved April 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.


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