Going into the Canadian College Bowl (now the Vanier Cup) the 1981 Acadia University Axemen Football team was a 22-point underdog, despite posting a perfect season in Atlantic Canada. The week before the Axemen trounced the Queen’s Golden Gales 40-14 in the Atlantic Bowl. Overcoming the odds, they defeated the defending champion, University of Alberta, 18-12. More than half of this team was homegrown, which was uncommon in this era. They were one of six teams in Nova Scotia history to win the National Championship and one of only 13 teams in CIS history to complete an undefeated season.

That year, Steve Repic was League MVP and College Bowl MVP, Quentin Tynes was Rookie of the Year, Stuart MacLean was Defensive Player of the Year, and John Huard was AUS Coach of the Year. Stuart MacLean, Tom Johnson and Chris Rhora were CIS All-Canadians and John Huard was the CIS Top Coach.

Players: Colum Armstrong, Ron Arsenault, Rod Barton, Alex Callus, Dave Clark, Don Clow, Mike Cox, Stephen Comeau, David Conrad, Steve Crane, John Davies, Darrell Dempster, Mike DeWare, Jim Direnzo, Brian Fraser, Nadder Haddad, David Haley, Alan Hartley, Lee Hodgkins, Tom Johnson, David Joudry, Joseph Joyce, John Knowles, Ross Langley, Bill Little, Scott MacLean, Stuart MacLean, Stephen Margeson, Nick Matejuk, Ron Meech, Stephen Moran, Tony Munden, Larry Priestnall, Steve Repic, Chris Rhora, Donald Roach, Ernesto Salamone, Vincenzo Salamone, Keith Skiffington, Steve Smith, Bob Trainor, Bruce Tufts, Quentin Tynes, Hubert Walsh, George Watkinson, George Wenk, Jim Williams

Coaches: John Huard, David Hirsch, Bill Hurley, Phil Hurley, Wayne MacDonald, Bill McLeod, Dan McNally, Dan Palov, Tony Stewart Trainers: Jim MacLeod, Heather MacGowan Team Physician: David Simms Managers: Mike MacKay, Brian Auger