1981 Austin Kangaroos football team

American college football season

1981 Austin Kangaroos football

NAIA Division II national co-champion
TIAA co-champion

NAIA Division II Championship Game, T 24–24 vs. Concordia–Moorhead

Conference| Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Record| 11–1–1 (9–1 TIAA)
Head coach|

* Larry Kramer (9th season)

Home stadium| Louis Calder Stadium

Seasons

<- 1980

1982 ->

1981 Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings

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| Conf |  |  | Overall
Team | W |  | L |  | T |  |  | W |  | L |  | T
Austin +^  | 9  | - | 1  | - | 0 |  |  | 11  | - | 1  | - | 1
Sul Ross \+  | 9  | - | 1  | - | 0 |  |  | 9  | - | 1  | - | 0
Tarleton State | 6  | - | 4  | - | 0 |  |  | 6  | - | 4  | - | 0
McMurry | 3  | - | 7  | - | 0 |  |  | 3  | - | 7  | - | 0
Trinity (TX) | 2  | - | 8  | - | 0 |  |  | 2  | - | 8  | - | 0
Lubbock Christian | 1  | - | 9  | - | 0 |  |  | 1  | - | 9  | - | 0

* \+ - Conference co-champions
* ^ – NAIA Division II playoff participant

The 1981 Austin Kangaroos football team was an American football team represented Austin College as a member of the Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association (TIAA) during the 1981 NAIA Division II football season. In their ninth season under head coach Larry Kramer, the Kangaroos compiled an 11–1–1 record (9–1 against TIAA opponents), and tied for the TIAA championship. After losing their second game, the Kangaroos won 10 straight games. They participated in the NAIA Division II playoffs, defeating Oklahoma Panhandle State (27–16) in the quarterfinals and William Jewell (33–28) in the semifinals. In the national championship game, the Kangaroos played a 24–24 tie with Concordia–Moorhead, resulting in a shared national championship.[1][2]

The team played its home games at Louis Calder Stadium in Sherman, Texas.

## Individual honors[edit]

The team was led on offense by quarterback Larry Shilling who was selected as the TIAA Offensive Player of the Year in 1980 and returned for the 1981 season.[3] At the end of the 1981 season, Shillings was selected by the American Football Coaches Association as the first-team quarterback on the Kodak College Division II All-America team.[4]

Austin players were selected as first-team players at seven positions on the 1981 All-TIAA football team: quarterback Larry Shillings (tie); wide receiver Clay Oliphant; placekicker and punter Gene Branum; defensive back Chris Luper; linebacker Jeff Robins; and defensive lineman Larry Hickman. Several Austin players also received second-team honors, including running back David Simmons; wide receiver Rory Dukes; offensive guard Don Parnell; offensive tackle David Adams; defensive lineman Rex Baker; linebacker David Bowen; and defensive back Kenny Kirby.[5]

Coach Larry Kramer finished third in voting by the Texas Sports Writers Association for Texas college coach of the year, behind Southwest Texas State coach Jim Wacker and SMU coach Ron Meyer.[6]

## Schedule[edit]

Date| Opponent| Site| Result| Attendance| Source

|
|
|
|
|

September 12| Lubbock Christian|

* Louis Calder Stadium
* Sherman, TX

| W 31–6| |
September 19| at Sul Ross| Alpine, TX| L 7–17| |
September 26| Tarleton State|

* Louis Calder Stadium
* Sherman, TX

| W 50–7| | [7]
October 3| at Trinity (TX)| San Antonio, TX| W 24–3| |
October 10| McMurry|

* Louis Calder Stadium
* Sherman, TX

| W 30–7| |
October 17| at Lubbock Christian| Lubbock, TX| W 17–7| |
October 24| Sul Ross|

* Louis Calder Stadium
* Sherman, TX

| W 17–14| |
October 31| at Tarleton State| Stephenville, TX| W 30–21| | [8]
November 7| Trinity (TX)|

* Louis Calder Stadium
* Sherman, TX

| W 42–20| |
November 14| at McMurry| Abilene, TX| W 26–13| |
November 21| at Oklahoma Panhandle State*| Goodwell, OK (NAIA Division II Quarterfinal) | W 27–16| | [9]
December 5| William Jewell*|

* Louis Calder Stadium
* Sherman, TX (NAIA Division II Semifinal)

| W 33–28| | [10]
December 12| Concordia–Moorhead*|

* Louis Calder Stadium
* Sherman, TX (NAIA Division II Championship)

| T 24–24| 3,540| [11][12]

* *Non-conference game

## References[edit]

1. ^ Dwayne Wilder (December 9, 2021). "Thinking on Austin College's 1981 football season". Herald Democrat.
2. ^ Denne H. Freeman (December 11, 1981). "Austin College (in Sherman) has football program". The Marshall News Messenger. Associated Press. p. 3B - via Newspapers.com.
3. ^ "Austin College Expecting To Battle For TIAA Crown". Tyler Morning Telegraph. September 4, 1981. p. B5 - via Newspapers.com.
4. ^ "College all-stars". The Missoulian. December 3, 1981. p. 18 - via Newspapers.com.
5. ^ "Five Indians All-TIAA". Abilene Reporter-News. November 26, 1981. p. 3D - via Newspapers.com.
6. ^ "Wacker named Texas' best". The Seguin Gazette-Enterprise. January 21, 1982. p. 5 - via Newspapers.com.
7. ^ "Austin College demolishes Tarleton State, 50-7". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. September 27, 1981. p. 14B - via Newspapers.com.
8. ^ "Shillings powers Austin College win". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. November 1, 1981. p. 11B - via Newspapers.com.
9. ^ Kathy Perovich (November 22, 1981). "Kangaroos Kick Aggies". The Daily Oklahoman. p. 2B - via Newspapers.com.
10. ^ "William Jewell eliminated by Austin College, 33-28". St. Joseph News-Press. December 6, 1981. p. 3F - via Newspapers.com.
11. ^ Paul Hagen (December 13, 1981). "Concordia, Austin 'both No. 1': 57-yard field goal with 1:12 left ties Cobbers 24-24". Minneapolis Tribune. p. 14C - via Newspapers.com.
12. ^ "Austin shares title". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. December 13, 1981. p. 10B - via Newspapers.com.

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NAIA football national champions

Single division|

* 1956: Montana State & Saint Joseph's (IN)
* 1957: Pittsburg State
* 1958: Northeastern State
* 1959: Texas A&I
* 1960: Lenoir–Rhyne
* 1961: Pittsburg State
* 1962: Central State (OK)
* 1963: Saint John's (MN)
* 1964: Concordia (MN) & Sam Houston State
* 1965: Saint John's (MN)
* 1966: Waynesburg
* 1967: Fairmont State
* 1968: Troy State
* 1969: Texas A&I

NAIA Division I|

* 1970: Texas A&I
* 1971: Livingston
* 1972: East Texas State
* 1973: Abilene Christian
* 1974: Texas A&I
* 1975: Texas A&I
* 1976: Texas A&I
* 1977: Abilene Christian
* 1978: Angelo State
* 1979: Texas A&I
* 1980: Elon
* 1981: Elon
* 1982: Central State (OK)
* 1983: Carson–Newman
* 1984: Carson–Newman & Central Arkansas
* 1985: Central Arkansas & Hillsdale
* 1986: Carson–Newman
* 1987: Cameron
* 1988: Carson–Newman
* 1989: Carson–Newman
* 1990: Central State (OH)
* 1991: Central Arkansas
* 1992: Central State (OH)
* 1993: East Central
* 1994: Northeastern State
* 1995: Central State (OH)
* 1996: Southwestern Oklahoma State

NAIA Division II|

* 1970: Westminster (PA)
* 1971: Cal Lutheran
* 1972: Missouri Southern
* 1973: Northwestern (IA)
* 1974: Texas Lutheran
* 1975: Texas Lutheran
* 1976: Westminster (PA)
* 1977: Westminster (PA)
* 1978: Concordia (MN)
* 1979: Findlay
* 1980: Pacific Lutheran
* 1981: Austin & Concordia (MN)
* 1982: Linfield
* 1983: Northwestern (IA)
* 1984: Linfield
* 1985: Wisconsin–La Crosse
* 1986: Linfield
* 1987: Pacific Lutheran & Wisconsin–Stevens Point (forfeited)
* 1988: Westminster (PA)
* 1989: Westminster (PA)
* 1990: Peru State
* 1991: Georgetown (KY)
* 1992: Findlay
* 1993: Pacific Lutheran
* 1994: Westminster (PA)
* 1995: Central Washington & Findlay
* 1996: Sioux Falls

Single division|

* 1997: Findlay
* 1998: Azusa Pacific
* 1999: Northwestern Oklahoma State
* 2000: Georgetown (KY)
* 2001: Georgetown (KY)
* 2002: Carroll (MT)
* 2003: Carroll (MT)
* 2004: Carroll (MT)
* 2005: Carroll (MT)
* 2006: Sioux Falls
* 2007: Carroll (MT)
* 2008: Sioux Falls
* 2009: Sioux Falls
* 2010: Carroll (MT)
* 2011: Saint Xavier
* 2012: Marian (IN)
* 2013: Grand View
* 2014: Southern Oregon
* 2015: Marian (IN)
* 2016: Saint Francis (IN)
* 2017: Saint Francis (IN)
* 2018: Morningside
* 2019: Morningside
* 2020: Lindsey Wilson
* 2021: Morningside
* 2022: Northwestern (IA)

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Conf]: Conference record
*[W]: Wins
*[L]: Losses
*[T]: Ties