1980 Georgia Bulldogs football team

1980 Georgia Bulldogs football
Consensus national champion SEC champion Sugar Bowl champion
Sugar Bowl, W 17–10 vs. Notre Dame
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 1
AP	No. 1
Record	12–0 (6–0 SEC)
Head coach	Vince Dooley (17th season)
Offensive coordinator	George Haffner (1st season)
Offensive scheme	I formation
Defensive coordinator	Erk Russell (17th season)
Base defense	4–4
Home stadium	Sanford Stadium

1980 Southeastern Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 1 Georgia $	6	–	0	–	0			12	–	0	–	0
No. 19 Mississippi State	5	–	1	–	0			9	–	3	–	0
No. 6 Alabama	5	–	1	–	0			10	–	2	–	0
LSU	4	–	2	–	0			7	–	4	–	0
Florida	4	–	2	–	0			8	–	4	–	0
Tennessee	3	–	3	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Ole Miss	2	–	4	–	0			3	–	8	–	0
Kentucky	1	–	5	–	0			3	–	8	–	0
Auburn	0	–	6	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Vanderbilt	0	–	6	–	0			2	–	9	–	0
$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

The 1980 Georgia Bulldogs football team represented the Georgia Bulldogs of the University of Georgia during the 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Bulldogs completed the season with a 12–0 record. The Bulldogs had a regular season Southeastern Conference (SEC) record of 6–0. The Bulldogs completed their season with a 17–10 victory over Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl.

The team was named national champion by NCAA-designated major selectors of Associated Press, Berryman, Billingsley, Football News, Football Writers, Helms, National Championship Foundation, National Football Foundation, Poling System, Sporting News, and UPI (coaches), while co-champion by Rothman and Sagarin (ELO-Chess), resulting in a consensus national champion designation.[1]

Before the season

Herschel Walker, a 6-1, 218-pound running back, and the most sought after high school football player in the nation, signed a national letter of intent to play for the University of Georgia Bulldogs on Easter Sunday, April 6, 1980.[2][n 1]

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
September 6	7:30 p.m.	at Tennessee	No. 16	Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN (rivalry)		W 16–15	95,288	[4]
September 13	1:30 p.m.	Texas A&M*	No. 12	Sanford Stadium Athens, GA		W 42–0	60,150	[5]
September 20	1:30 p.m.	Clemson*	No. 10	Sanford Stadium Athens, GA (rivalry)		W 20–16	61,800	[6]
September 27	1:30 p.m.	TCU*	No. 10	Sanford Stadium Athens, GA		W 34–3	59,200	[7]
October 11	1:30 p.m.	Ole Miss	No. 6	Sanford Stadium Athens, GA		W 28–21	60,300	[8]
October 18	1:30 p.m.	Vanderbilt	No. 6	Sanford Stadium Athens, GA (rivalry)		W 41–0	59,300	[9]
October 25	7:30 p.m.	at Kentucky	No. 5	Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY		W 27–0	57,239	[10]
November 1	12:35 p.m.	No. 14 South Carolina*	No. 4	Sanford Stadium Athens, GA (rivalry)	ABC	W 13–10	62,200	[11]
November 8	12:35 p.m.	vs. No. 20 Florida	No. 2	Gator Bowl Stadium Jacksonville, FL (rivalry)	ABC	W 26–21	68,528	[12]
November 15	2:30 p.m.	at Auburn	No. 1	Jordan-Hare Stadium Auburn, AL (rivalry)		W 31–21	74,900	[13]
November 29	1:30 p.m.	Georgia Tech*	No. 1	Sanford Stadium Athens, GA (rivalry)		W 38–20	62,800	[14]
January 1, 1981	2:00 p.m.	vs. No. 7 Notre Dame*	No. 1	Louisiana Superdome New Orleans, LA (Sugar Bowl)	ABC	W 17–10	77,895	[15]
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Roster

1980 Georgia Bulldogs football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class OT 77 Jim Blakewood Jr QB 8 Buck Belue Jr TE 88 Norris Brown So QB 17 Daryll Jones Fr WR 80 Charles Junior So WR 24 Lindsay Scott Jr FB 33 Ronnie Stewart Jr RB 34 Herschel Walker Fr TE 30 Scott Williams Fr FB 25 Jimmy Womack Sr	Defense Pos. # Name Class CB 31 Mike Fisher Sr S 49 Jeff Hipp Sr DL 98 Tim Parks Sr LB 46 Danny Rogers Sr CB 19 Scott Woerner Sr	Special teams Pos. # Name Class K 6 Rex Robinson Sr	Head coach Vince Dooley Coordinators/assistant coaches Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt

Game summaries

Tennessee

The season began with junior Donnie McMickens starting ahead of Walker at tailback as the Bulldogs faced the University of Tennessee on September 6 in Knoxville. With Tennessee gaining a 9–0 lead early in the 2nd quarter, coach Dooley told his offensive coordinator, "I'm putting Herschel in...Don't be afraid to let him carry the ball."^[citation needed]

Tennessee held a 15–2 advantage late in the third quarter when Walker changed the momentum of the game. Late in the third quarter, Walker scored on a pitch sweep from 16 yards out, where he ran over Tennessee's safety and future Dallas Cowboys teammate, Bill Bates, near the goal line.[16] Walker scored again five minutes later on a 9-yard touchdown run as Georgia went on to win the game, 16–15.[3]

Texas A&M

A week later, Georgia hosted Texas A&M as the Bulldogs got off to a 28–0 lead by halftime. With four minutes left in the third quarter, Walker broke off a 76-yard TD run. He finished with 21 carries for 145 yards and 3 touchdowns against the Aggies. Quarterback Buck Belue complemented Walker's ground game by going 6 of 13 for 147 passing yards during the contest.[17]

Clemson

In the games that followed, Georgia raced to a 6–0 start by knocking off Clemson (20–16), TCU (34–3), Ole Miss (28–21), and Vanderbilt (41–0). Walker ran for 121 yards against Clemson and 69 more versus TCU—including a 41-yard run. Georgia's 20-16 win over Clemson was even closer than the score indicated, as the Tigers held Georgia to just 155 total yards, of offense which was just 34 more than Walker's rush total. Walker needed help from senior CB/PR Scott Woerner to get past defensive-minded Clemson as the return man delivered with a 67-yard punt return for a score early in the first quarter as the Bulldogs would go on to win a close one.[18]

Ole Miss

Walker missed much of the Ole Miss game with an injury.[19][20]

Vanderbilt

In the Vandy game on October 18, Walker had 23 rushes for a career-high 283 yards, scoring on long touchdown runs of 60, 48, and 53 yards.[21]

South Carolina

The special teams and defense gave Georgia the upper hand in the two weekends that followed and helped the Bulldogs get past Kentucky (27–0) and South Carolina (13–10). The win in Athens, Georgia over the Gamecocks on November 1 featured Walker matching up with the 1980 Heisman Trophy winner, George Rogers. Georgia got out to a 13–0 lead early in the third quarter and held on to win by 3 points. Walker's 76-yard touchdown run gave Georgia a commanding lead at 10–0 with early in the 3rd quarter. Walker rushed 43 times for 219 yards.[n 2]

Florida

See also: 1980 Florida Gators football team and Florida–Georgia football rivalry

#20 Florida Gators (6–1) vs. #2 Georgia Bulldogs (8–0)

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Georgia	7	7	6	6	26
Florida	3	7	0	11	21

at Gator Bowl • Jacksonville, Florida

• Date: November 8
• Game weather: Sunny
• Game attendance: 68,528
• TV announcers (ABC): Al Michaels and Frank Broyles
• [23]

Game information
Georgia Buck Belue 7/16, 145 Yds, TD, 2 INT Herschel Walker 37 Rush, 238 Yds, TD Lindsay Scott 2 Rec, 114 Yds, TD Florida Wayne Peace 20/37, 286 Yds, TD, 2 INT James Jones 22 Rush, 89 Yds, TD Tyrone Young 10 Rec, 183 Yds

Georgia had made it to 8–0 when coach Dooley's Bulldogs faced the most daunting task of the year. The game would be affectionately referred to as the "Miracle on Duval Street" as second-ranked Georgia faced a 6–1 Florida Gators team in Jacksonville on November 8.[24] Walker started things off by taking a toss sweep play to the right for 72 yards and a score early in the first quarter. Walker carried Georgia's offense that afternoon by rushing 37 times for 238 yards against the Gators.[25] Georgia extended its lead to 20–10 late in the 3rd quarter when Florida began to mount its comeback. Florida QB Wayne Peace directed two scoring drives that gave the Gators a 21–20 lead late. With time running out on 3rd-and-11, QB Buck Belue found WR Lindsay Scott for a 93-yard touchdown pass to give Georgia the win, 26–21.[26]

Scoring summary

Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP UGA FLA 1 13:09 Georgia Walker 72-yard touchdown run, Robinson kick good 7 0 1 7:07 Florida 40-yard field goal by Clark 7 3 2 13:29 77 Georgia Stewart 13-yard touchdown reception from Belue, Robinson kick good 14 3 2 7:10 Florida Collinsworth 9-yard touchdown reception from Peace, Clark kick good 14 10 3 9:38 Georgia 24-yard field goal by Robinson 17 10 3 3:58 Georgia 20-yard field goal by Robinson 20 10 4 14:14 81 Florida Jones 11-yard touchdown run, 2-point pass good 20 18 4 6:52 11 Florida 40-yard field goal by Clark 20 21 4 1:03 Georgia Scott 93-yard touchdown reception from Belue, 2-point pass incomplete 26 21 "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 26 21

[27]

Auburn

Georgia clinched the SEC Championship on November 15 by taking out Auburn on the road, 31–21. Walker did most of the work by rushing 27 times for 84 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown.

Georgia Tech

Two weeks later, Walker ended the regular season with an exclamation point by scoring on touchdown runs of 1, 23, and 65 yards as Georgia defeated in-state rival Georgia Tech, 38–20. Walker rushed 25 times for 205 yards against the Ramblin' Wreck.^[citation needed]

Postseason

Notre Dame

The Bulldogs were ranked No. 1 at 11–0 as they were invited to play a traditional football power, coach Dan Devine's Notre Dame Fighting Irish (9–1–1), in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, La. on January 1, 1981.[28] With the score tied 3–3, Walker took center stage after Notre Dame failed to properly field a kickoff. Two plays later, Walker dove over the top for a 1-yard touchdown run to give UGA a 10–3 lead. He took advantage of more Irish misfortune as a Notre Dame fumble set Georgia up at the Irish 22-yard line. Three plays later, Walker was in the end zone again for a 17–3 lead. Georgia held on to win, 17–10. Walker, who suffered a dislocated left shoulder very early in the game, managed to rush 36 times for 150 yards, including a longest run of 23 yards.[29]

At the season's conclusion, Walker helped his Georgia Bulldogs complete a 12–0 record as the Associated Press voted the University of Georgia No. 1 with 58½ first place votes to Pittsburgh's 3½. Walker and his teammates were also voted No. 1 by the United Press International Poll—which listed Georgia with 36 first place votes to Pitt's 3.[30]

This would be Georgia's last National Championship until 2021, when the Bulldogs defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide 33-18 in the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship game.

Notes

1. Mike Cavan helped provide head coach Vince Dooley with his prized recruit.[3]
2. Rogers similarly kept pace, gaining 168 yards on 35 carries himself.[22]

References

1. 2017 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records (PDF). Indianapolis: The National Collegiate Athletic Association. July 2017. pp. 114, 120. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
2. "Georgia Signs Herschel Walker". Spartanburg Herald. Spartanburg, South Carolina. Associated Press. April 7, 1980. p. B1. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
3. Smith, Loran; Grizzard, Lewis (1981). GLORY! GLORY!. Atlanta: Peachtree Publishers Limited. pp. 73–89. ISBN 9780931948183. Retrieved September 16, 2013.
4. "Walker rallies Georgia past Vols". The Macon Telegraph & News. September 7, 1980. Retrieved October 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Georgia trounces A&M". Victoria Advocate. September 14, 1980. Retrieved October 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Georgia stops Tigers". The News and Observer. September 21, 1980. Retrieved October 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Georgia smacks Texas Christian". The Tennessean. September 28, 1980. Retrieved October 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Norris rescues Georgia". The Macon Telegraph & News. October 12, 1980. Retrieved October 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "'Dogs 'walk' over Vanderbilt by 41–0". Bristol Herald Courier. October 19, 1980. Retrieved October 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Georgia's blend just too strong for Wildcats". Sunday Herald-Leader. October 26, 1980. Retrieved October 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Walker outruns Rogers, Georgia edges Carolina". The Cincinnati Enquirer. November 2, 1980. Retrieved October 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Great Scott! Gators stunned". The Miami Herald. November 9, 1980. Retrieved October 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
13. "Georgia gets by Auburn". The Tampa Tribune-Times. November 16, 1980. Retrieved October 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
14. "Georgia keeps record perfect". The Macon Telegraph & News. November 30, 1980. Retrieved October 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
15. "Opportunistic Georgia fulfills national-title dream". Chicago Tribune. January 2, 1981. Retrieved October 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
16. "From The Mag: That time Herschel Walker trucked Bill Bates".
17. Smith, Loran; Grizzard, Lewis (1981). GLORY! GLORY!. Atlanta: Peachtree Publishers Limited. p. 203. ISBN 9780931948183. Retrieved September 16, 2013.
18. Smith, Loran; Grizzard, Lewis (1981). GLORY! GLORY!. Atlanta: Peachtree Publishers Limited. pp. 90–97, 204. ISBN 9780931948183. Retrieved September 16, 2013.
19. Guidera, Tim. "Norris came from nowhere to keep 'Dogs headed somewhere - savannahnow.com - Savannah Morning News". Archived from the original on August 18, 2016. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
20. "Sophomore Carnie Norris, a third string tailback filling in..."
21. Smith, Loran; Grizzard, Lewis (1981). GLORY! GLORY!. Atlanta: Peachtree Publishers Limited. pp. 204–207. ISBN 9780931948183. Retrieved September 16, 2013.
22. Smith, Loran; Grizzard, Lewis (1981). GLORY! GLORY!. Atlanta: Peachtree Publishers Limited. p. 209. ISBN 9780931948183. Retrieved September 16, 2013.
23. Ocala Star-Banner. 1980 Nov 09. Retrieved 2019-Jan-02.
24. "Top 5: Georgia's top Gator killers of all time".
25. Smith, Loran; Grizzard, Lewis (1981). GLORY! GLORY!. Atlanta: Peachtree Publishers Limited. pp. 114–159, 210. ISBN 9780931948183. Retrieved September 16, 2013.
26. Burns, Robbie (2010). Belue to Scott!: The greatest moment in Georgia football history. Macon, GA: H&H Publishing. ISBN 978-0-615-39400-8.
27. 24/7 Sports. Retrieved 2019-Jan-02.
28. Smith, Loran; Grizzard, Lewis (1981). GLORY! GLORY!. Atlanta: Peachtree Publishers Limited. pp. 160–169, 211–212. ISBN 9780931948183. Retrieved September 16, 2013.
29. Smith, Loran; Grizzard, Lewis (1981). GLORY! GLORY!. Atlanta: Peachtree Publishers Limited. pp. 170–190, 213. ISBN 9780931948183. Retrieved September 16, 2013.
30. Smith, Loran; Grizzard, Lewis (1981). GLORY! GLORY!. Atlanta: Peachtree Publishers Limited. pp. 190, 201. ISBN 9780931948183. Retrieved September 16, 2013.