1981 VMI Keydets football team

The 1981 VMI Keydets football team was an American football team that represented the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their 11th year under head coach Bob Thalman, the team compiled an overall record of 6–3–1 with a mark of 3–1–1 in conference play, placing second in the SoCon.^[2]

1981 Southern Conference football standings
v t e	Conf.					Overall
Team	W		L		T	W		L		T
Furman $	5	–	2	–	0	8	–	3	–	0
VMI	3	–	1	–	1	6	–	3	–	1
East Tennessee State	4	–	2	–	0	6	–	5	–	0
Chattanooga	3	–	2	–	1	7	–	3	–	1
The Citadel	3	–	2	–	1	7	–	3	–	1
Western Carolina	3	–	4	–	0	4	–	7	–	0
Appalachian State	1	–	5	–	1	3	–	7	–	1
Marshall	1	–	5	–	0	2	–	9	–	0
Davidson	0	–	2	–	0	4	–	6	–	0

$ – Conference champion This conference was a hybrid of I-AA and I-A programs. Davidson was classified as I-AA.^[1] The rest of the teams were I-A.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 12	Western Carolina	Alumni Memorial Field Lexington, VA	W 21–14		^[3]
September 19	at Army*	Michie Stadium West Point, NY	W 14–7	29,970	^[4]
September 26	William & Mary*	Alumni Memorial Field Lexington, VA (rivalry)	W 31–14	8,250	^[5]
October 10	vs. The Citadel	Foreman Field Norfolk, VA (Oyster Bowl, rivalry)	W 14–0	20,000	^[6]
October 17	at Appalachian State	Conrad Stadium Boone, NC	T 14–14	18,830	^[7]
October 24	at Marshall	Fairfield Stadium Huntington, WV	W 20–16	13,440	^[8]
October 31	at Virginia*	Scott Stadium Charlottesville, VA	L 10–13	25,119	^[9]
November 7	Richmond*	Alumni Memorial Field Lexington, VA (rivalry)	L 14–45	7,800	^[10]
November 14	Furman	Alumni Memorial Field Lexington, VA	L 21–33	5,100	^[11]
November 21	at Virginia Tech*	Lane Stadium Blacksburg, VA (rivalry)	W 6–0	21,100	^[12]
*Non-conference game

^ "Terriers in Home Finale". Herald-Journal. November 7, 1981. p. 5. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
^ "1981 VMI Keydets football schedule". VMI Athletics. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
^ "Punchless WCU falls to Keydets". Asheville Citizen-Times. September 13, 1981. Retrieved February 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "VMI ambushes Army, 14–7". The Herald Statesman. September 20, 1981. Retrieved February 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Raber, VMI bombard W&M 31–14". Daily Press. September 27, 1981. Retrieved February 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "VMI uses defense to stymie Citadel". Daily Press. October 11, 1981. Retrieved February 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "VMI uses rally to register tie at Appalachian". Daily Press. October 18, 1981. Retrieved February 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "VMI rallies, conquers Herd 20–16". The Charlotte Observer. October 25, 1981. Retrieved February 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Cavs nip VMI for 1st victory". The News and Observer. November 1, 1981. Retrieved February 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Richmond 45, VMI 14". The Tampa Tribune. November 8, 1981. Retrieved February 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Furman captures SC crown by defeating Keydets 33–21". Daily Press. November 15, 1981. Retrieved February 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Keydets surprise Gobblers, 6–0". The Daily News Leader. November 22, 1981. Retrieved February 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.

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