1981 Montreal Alouettes season
Head coachJoe Scannella
Jim Eddy (Interim)
Home fieldOlympic Stadium
Results
Record3–13
Division place3rd, East
Playoff finishLost East Semi-Final
Uniform

The 1981 Montreal Alouettes finished the season in third place in the East Division with a 3–13 record. They appeared in the East Semi-Final, where they lost to the Ottawa Rough Riders 20-16. After the season the Alouettes folded after owner Nelson Skalbania lost $2 million, and the CFL revoked the franchise from him with the team now heavily in debt.

Offseason

The Alouettes were purchased by Nelson Skalbania.[1] Skalbania proceeded by signing several American stars. His biggest acquisition was Los Angeles Rams quarterback Vince Ferragamo (who appeared in Super Bowl XIV) to a $300,000 contract.[2] The other signings included wide receiver James Scott, kick return specialist Billy "White Shoes" Johnson, running back David Overstreet and defensive end Keith Gary.[2]

Preseason

Game Date Opponent Results Venue Attendance
Score Record
A Sun, June 7 vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats L 21–27 0–1 Olympic Stadium 21,742
B Tue, June 11 at Ottawa Rough Riders L 17–18 0–2 Lansdowne Park 16,139
C Sun, June 21 vs. Ottawa Rough Riders W 21–17 1–2 Olympic Stadium 21,249
D Sat, July 27 at Hamilton Tiger-Cats W 38–24 2–2 Ivor Wynne Stadium 16,604

Regular season

Despite the high-profile talent, the Alouettes finished the season with only 3 wins, but because of how weak the East Division was that year, the team did earn a playoff berth (the crossover rule, which allows a fourth place team with a better record than a third place team in the other division to qualify, had not yet been implemented).[3] Skalbania lost two million dollars and the CFL revoked his ownership.[2]

Standings

East Division
Team GP W L T Pts PF PA Div Stk
Hamilton Tiger-Cats161141234143356–0W1Details
Ottawa Rough Riders165110103064463–3L1Details
Montreal Alouettes16313062675182–4W1Details
Toronto Argonauts16214042415061–5L2Details

Schedule

Week Game Date Opponent Results Venue Attendance
Score Record
1 1 Sat, July 4 at BC Lions L 8–48 0–1 Empire Stadium 26,627
2 2 Fri, July 10 vs. Toronto Argonauts W 23–22 1–1 Olympic Stadium 35,281
3 3 Fri, July 17 at Ottawa Rough Riders L 31–33 1–2 Lansdowne Park 24,872
4 4 Sun, July 26 vs. Edmonton Eskimos L 17–33 1–3 Olympic Stadium 45,835
5 5 Sun, Aug 2 vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders L 23–43 1–4 Olympic Stadium 33,205
6 6 Sat, Aug 8 at Winnipeg Blue Bombers L 2–58 1–5 Winnipeg Stadium 32,936
7 Bye
8 7 Sun, Aug 23 vs. BC Lions L 14–29 1–6 Olympic Stadium 28,932
9 8 Sat, Aug 29 at Hamilton Tiger-Cats L 11–16 1–7 Ivor Wynne Stadium 27,180
10 9 Sun, Sept 6 at Saskatchewan Roughriders L 26–35 1–8 Taylor Field 28,526
11 10 Sat, Sept 12 vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats L 10–26 1–9 Olympic Stadium 27,270
12 Bye
13 11 Sat, Sept 26 at Edmonton Eskimos L 11–62 1–10 Commonwealth Stadium 48,470
14 12 Sun, Oct 4 vs. Calgary Stampeders W 22–16 2–10 Olympic Stadium 22,222
15 13 Sat, Oct 10 at Calgary Stampeders L 3–29 2–11 McMahon Stadium 28,896
16 14 Sat, Oct 17 at Toronto Argonauts L 14–20 2–12 Exhibition Stadium 31,038
17 15 Sat, Oct 24 vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers L 13–33 2–13 Olympic Stadium 20,487
18 16 Sun, Nov 1 vs. Ottawa Rough Riders W 39–15 3–13 Olympic Stadium 20,867

[4]

Postseason

Round Date Opponent Results Venue Attendance
Score Record
East Semi-Final Sun, Nov 8 at Ottawa Rough Riders L 16–20 0–1 Lansdowne Park 17,754

[4]

Awards and honours

References

  1. ↑ Weird Facts about Canadian Football, p.71, Overtime Books, First Printing 2009, ISBN 978-1-897277-26-3
  2. 1 2 3 Weird Facts about Canadian Football, p.72, Overtime Books, First Printing 2009, ISBN 978-1-897277-26-3
  3. ↑ Weird Facts about Canadian Football, p.72 Overtime Books, First Printing 2009, ISBN 978-1-897277-26-3
  4. 1 2 "1981 Montreal Alouettes (CFL) - Pro Football Archives".
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