1980 Kentucky Wildcats football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1980 Kentucky Wildcats football Southeastern Conference SEC 3–8 1–5 Fran Curci 8th Commonwealth Stadium The 1980 Kentucky Wildcats football team represented the University of Kentucky in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their eighth season under head coach Fran Curci, the Wildcats compiled a 3–8 record (1–5 against SEC opponents), finished in eighth place in the SEC, and were outscored by their opponents, 280 to 167.1980 Kentucky Wildcats Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football August 23, 2016 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/kentucky/1980-schedule.htmlKentucky Football Media Guide University of Kentucky August 23, 2016 184 2015 https://www.ukathletics.com/page/2015-football-media-guide The team played its home games in Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington, Kentucky. The team's statistical leaders included Larry McCrimmon with 1,060 passing yards, Randy Brooks with 578 rushing yards, and Alan Watson with 536 receiving yards.1980 Kentucky Wildcats Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football August 23, 2016 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/kentucky/1980.html Schedule 1980 AP y y September 6 Utah State<ncg> Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY W 17-10 57,900 Cats Come Back In Final Period For 17-10 Win Sunday Herald-Leader September 7, 1980 C1, C6 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86580123/cats-come-back-in-final-period-for/ Newspapers.com September 13 at No. 4 Oklahoma<ncg> Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK L 7-29 74,852 OU Wakes Up in Second Half, 29-7 The Daily Oklahoman Al Carter September 14, 1980 1C, 3C https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86581647/ou-wakes-up-in-second-half-29-7/ Newspapers.com September 20 Indiana<ncg> Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY (rivalry) L 30-36 57,869 Indiana Bypasses Kentucky on Corso's Catch Sunday Herald-Leader Mark Bradley September 21, 1980 D1, D6 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86580310/indiana-bypasses-kentucky-on-corsos/ Newspapers.com September 27 Bowling Green<ncg> Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY W 21-20 55,800 Bowling Green's Bad Luck Lingers; Cats Win 21-20 Sunday Herald-Leader D.G. FitzMaurice September 28, 1980 C1, C6 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86580490/bowling-greens-bad-luck-lingers-cats/ Newspapers.com October 4 at Alabama Legion Field Birmingham, AL L 0-45 78,400 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71516539/win-no-300-sweet-for-bear-sour-for/ The Lexington Herald-Leader Win No. 300 sweet for Bear, sour for Curci October 5, 1980 February 19, 2021 Newspapers.com October 18 LSU Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY L 10-17 57,800 Tigers Overcome Bobbles, Bumbles As Cats Crumble Sunday Herald-Leader Mark Bradley October 19, 1980 C1, C6 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86580621/tigers-overcome-bobbles-bumbles-as/ Newspapers.com October 25 No. 5 Georgia Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY L 0-27 57,353 Georgia's Blend Just Too Strong For Wildcats Sunday Herald-Leader Mark Bradley October 26, 1980 C1, C6 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86580743/georgias-blend-just-too-strong-for/ Newspapers.com November 1 at Tulane<ncg> Louisiana Superdome New Orleans, LA L 22-24 42,139 Tulane Kills Kentucky Comeback After Time Runs Out Sunday Herald-Leader Mark Bradley November 2, 1980 C1, C6 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86581352/tulane-kills-kentucky-comeback-after/ Newspapers.com November 8 Vanderbilt Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY (rivalry) W 31-10 54,522 Disaster Calls, But Cats Answer With 31-10 Win Sunday Herald-Leader Mark Bradley November 9, 1980 C1, C6 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86580864/disaster-calls-but-cats-answer-with/ Newspapers.com November 15 No. 20 Florida Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY (rivalry) L 15-17 54,200 What Couldn't Be, Was: Victory Eludes UK Again Sunday Herald-Leader Mark Bradley November 16, 1980 C1, C6 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86581037/what-couldnt-be-was-victory-eludes/ Newspapers.com November 22 at Tennessee Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN (rivalry) L 14-45 90,244 UT Does The Job The Tennessean F.M. Williams November 23, 1980 D1, D8 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86581503/ut-does-the-job/ Newspapers.com Roster 1980 Kentucky Wildcats f 7 Terry Henry QB 11 Larry McCrimmon WR 12 Randy Jenkins QB 15 John Thomas Boyle QB 16 Juan Portela WR 20 Massie WR 22 Kerry Baird WR 23 Chris Jackson RB 24 Gordon Jackson RB 32 Rod Francis FB 34 Henry Parks RB 45 Randy Brooks FB 50 John Maddox OG 51 Ken Roark C 52 Adams OT 63 Johnson OL 64 Corbin T 65 Burford C 66 C Smith LB 67 Young C 69 Bond OG 70 Martin OL 74 Thomas C 75 Stiles C 76 Williams OG 77 Smyth OT 79 Mickey Cochran OT 80 Campbell TE 82 Clark WR 85 Mangas TE 86 Watson SE 2 Meaux DB 4 Petty DB 9 Richmond DB 14 Beuhner DB 19 Jacobs DB 21 Grimsley DB 27 J Jones LB 28 Meers DB 31 Motley DB 35 B Johnson DB 37 Greg Long DB 38 Joe Freeman LB 41 Ference DE 42 Schroeder LB 44 Glenn Amerson LB 44 Roe DE 46 Dorazio LB 48 Jacobs DE 49 McClelland LB 53 Ben Ansley LB 54 Robert Byrd LB 55 C Jones NG 56 Marzan LB 58 Hasty L 59 Smith DE 60 So James Bowen DT 61 Fr Ronald Bojalad DL 62 So Craig Miller DT 72 Tim Gooch DT 78 Jr Earl Wilson DT 81 Fr Eddie Simmons DB 3 Griggs PK 5 Chris Poulton P 17 Rick Strein PK *Fran Curci Jon Mirilovich – Offensive coordinator Tom Turchetta – Offensive line coach Larry Kirksey – Wide receivers/tight ends coach Charlie McCullers – Offensive backs coach Charlie Bailey – Assistant Head Coach and Defensive coordinator Dan Coughlin – Defensive line coach Bill Glaser – Defensive ends coach George Catavolos – Defensive backs coach Mike Cassity – Assistant defensive backs coach Postseason NFL draft The following Wildcat drafted into the National Football League following the season.https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1981/draft.htm 1981 NFL Draft Listing Pro-Football-Reference.com October 10, 2026 Kentucky Wildcats 2 Round Pick Player Position NFL team 9233Tim GoochDefensive tackleBaltimore Colts References Kentucky Category:Kentucky Wildcats football seasons Kentucky Wildcats football