1981 Football Team

The 1981 USF Football Team, coached by the late Dave Schroeder, was the school’s first-ever conference championship team in football after 79 years of competition. The Cougars finished 6-3-1 and clinched the conference title with a 10-6 win over Huron at Howard Wood Field. In that game, USF held Huron to under 250 yards total offense. The Cougars rallied in the second half with a field goal and then a two-yard TD run by Nelson Cumana. The team captains for the 1981 team included second team All-American offensive tackle Steve Leary, running back Joel Blanchard and defensive back John Solberg.

USF had several standouts on the team including second team All-American Brian Hansen. A member of the USF Athletics Hall of Fame, Hansen, a three-time All-SDIC selection, led the NAIA in punting in 1981 at 43.3 and had the longest punt in the nation of 84 yards against Westmar. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in 1984 and had a 16-year career, including a Pro Bowl selection. Selected to the All-SDIC Team was Leary, offensive guard Howard Pindyck, split end Randy Lang, running back Nelson Cumana and Hansen. Nelson Cumana rushed for 1,200 yards and finished his career with 1,981 yards, which ranked first all-time at USF at the time. In addition, Randy Lang had eight TD receptions. Eight seniors – Leary, Ryck Hale, Solberg, Rod Parks, Fred Holmes, Stan Atwood, Jay Bruggeman and Blanchard played key leadership roles.

In the Nov. 12, 1981 issue of the Vessel, Head Coach Dave Schroeder noted that the winning attitude played a huge role in the school’s first-ever title. “The key to winning was our coming of age and learning to come back,” he noted of the team’s fortitude and resiliency. “Success breeds a different kind of attitude.”

Team members included Joel Blanchard, Roy Brown, Brian Budd, Garth Caselli, Robert Chapman, Nelson Cumana, Andy Disney, Dan Ellingson, Joe Fasy, Eric Feiler, Leo Garcia, Todd Goldman, Elvin Gonzalez, Warren Grover, Ryck Hale, Brian Hansen, Bruce Harper, Leon Hebrink, Fred Holmes, Greg Johnson, Joel Juillard, Keith Keel, James Kennerly, Todd Knutson, Mark Koopman, Dale Kurth, Mick Lambert, Randy Lang, Steve Leary, Dale Long, Vic McConnell, Rick Miller, Nelson Pedraza, Bob Pinder, Howard Pindyck, Jeff Reinke, Chuck Reitzel, Thom Ross, Dave Schiefen, Joel Small, John Solberg, Eric Symmonds, Todd Thorpe, Mark Trisolini, Dalen Uhlenhopp, John Vera, Jose Vidal, Steve Young, Jay Yttreness.

Coaching staff included David Schroeder, Earl Craven, Kevin McDonald, Wes Hebrink, John Scott, Neil Graff, Hugh DeBerg, Doug DeJong, Ken “SID” Kortemeyer.