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American college football season
The 1981 UNLV Rebels football team was an
American football team that represented the
University of Nevada, Las Vegas as an
independent during the
1981 NCAA Division I-A football season . In their sixth and final year under head coach
Tony Knap , the team compiled a 6–6 record.
[1]
[2]
A notable win was the road victory over eighth-
ranked
BYU in October, who were without starting quarterback
Jim McMahon , replaced by sophomore
Steve Young .
[3]
Approaching age 67, Knap retired after the season,
[4] and was succeeded by
Harvey Hyde , the head coach at
Pasadena City College .
[5]
[6]
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 5 at
San Jose State W 16–617,112
September 12
New Mexico W 49–4225,605
September 19
West Texas State Las Vegas Silver Bowl Whitney, NV L 17–2124,560
[7]
September 26
Long Beach State Las Vegas Silver Bowl Whitney, NV W 32–3125,080
October 3 at
Wyoming L 21–4523,793
October 10 at No. 8
BYU W 45–4139,852
[3]
October 24
Utah Las Vegas Silver Bowl Whitney, NV L 28–6927,883
October 31 at
Hawaii L 21–5746,153
November 7 at
Fresno State L 26–4216,241
November 14
San Diego State Las Vegas Silver Bowl Whitney, NV L 20–3823,090
November 21
Air Force Las Vegas Silver Bowl Whitney, NV W 24–2122,574
[8]
November 28 at
UTEP W 27–20 3,214
Rankings from
AP Poll released prior to the game
1981 UNLV Rebels football team roster
Players
Coaches
Offense
Defense
Special teams
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
Injured
Redshirt
^
"1981 UNLV Rebels Schedule and Results" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 20, 2020 .
^
"UNLV 2020 Football Guide" (PDF) . University of Nevada, Las Vegas. 2020. p. 130. Retrieved December 20, 2020 .
^
a
b
"Vegas shocks BYU, 45-41" . Eugene Register-Guard . (Oregon). wire service reports. October 11, 1981. p. 6B.
^
"Knap resigns at UNLV, plans to grow apples" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . (Idaho). Associated Press. November 24, 1981. p. 3C.
^
"Pasadena City College Coach Harvey Hyde, 42, who guided..." UPI.com. (UPI archives). December 7, 1981. Retrieved August 13, 2022 .
^
"Transactions: college" . Reading Eagle . (Pennsylvania). December 8, 1981. p. 28.
^
"West Texas State 21, Nevada-Las Vegas 17" . Fort Worth Star-Telegram . September 20, 1981. Retrieved May 2, 2021 – via
Newspapers.com .
^
"Nevada-Las Vegas 24, Air Force 21" .
The Arizona Republic . November 22, 1981. p. G2. Retrieved October 20, 2021 – via
Newspapers.com .
Venues Bowl games & rivalries Culture & lore People
Seasons