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Duke Football Team History

Duke Blue Devils

Duke University
Durham, NC
Founded: 1838
Stadium: Wallace Wade Stadium
Capacity: 33,941
Colors: Duke Blue & White
Coach: Shirley Red Wilson
Conference: Atlantic Coast-

Select Year:

1888 <-- 1980 <- 1981 -> 1982 --> 2024

1981 Season Highlights

Shirley Red Wilson enters his 3rd season as Head Coach at Duke.

1981 Season

Date	Opponent	Score
Sat., Sep. 12	@ Ohio State	13	34	L
Sat., Sep. 19	@ South Carolina	3	17	L
Sat., Sep. 26	@ Virginia	29	24	W
Sat., Oct. 3	vs. East Carolina	24	14	W
Sat., Oct. 10	vs. Virginia Tech	14	7	W
Sat., Oct. 17	vs. Clemson	10	38	L
Sat., Oct. 24	@ Maryland	21	24	L
Sat., Oct. 31	@ Georgia Tech	38	24	W
Sat., Nov. 7	@ Wake Forest	31	10	W
Sat., Nov. 14	vs. North Carolina State	17	7	W
Sat., Nov. 21	vs. North Carolina	10	31	L

1981 Season Totals
Record	6-5
Points Scored	210
Scoring Average	19.1
Points Allowed	230
Defense Average	20.9
Opponents Record	63-61
Conference Record	4-3
Home Record	3-2
Away Record	3-3

1981 NCAA Final Rankings
Rank	Record	Source
was not ranked.

1981 Atlantic Coast- Standings
	Season			Bowls	Conference
Team	W/L/T	PF	PA		W/L/T	PF	PA	Coach
Clemson	12-0	338	105	Won 22-15	6-0	195	56	Danny Ford
North Carolina	10-2	375	150	Won 31-27	6-1	170	71	Dick Crum
Duke	6-5	210	230		4-3	156	158	Shirley Red Wilson
Maryland	4-6-1	232	194		4-2	168	108	Jerry Claiborne
North Carolina State	4-7	182	223		2-5	97	150	Monte Kiffin
Wake Forest	4-7	217	365		1-5	124	255	Al Groh
Miami	9-2	245	145					Howard Schnellenberger
Georgia Tech	1-10	124	309		0-2	31	66	Bill Curry
Virginia	1-10	127	261		0-6	90	175	Dick Bestwick

1981 All American Awards
Player	Position	Class	Ht.	Wt.	Award	Team	Source
Coming Someday

1981 All Atlantic Coast Conference Players
Player	Position	Class	Ht.	Wt.	Team	Source
Coming Someday

Some records may be incomplete.

Great Moments in College Football History

In 1905, 18 men were killed in college football games, and 159 were permanently injured.