1980 Florida Gators football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1980 Florida Gators football Southeastern Conference SEC 19 8–4 4–2 Charley Pell 2nd Mike Shanahan 1st Timothy Groves Cris Collinsworth Timothy Golden David Little Florida Field Tangerine Bowl W Won 35–20 vs. Maryland The 1980 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida during the 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season. The season was the Florida Gators football team's second season under new head coach Charles B. "Charley" Pell, and marked a remarkable one-year turnaround for the Gators from their 0–10–1 record in 1979.Norm Carlson, University of Florida Football Vault: The History of the Florida Gators, Whitman Publishing, LLC, Atlanta, Georgia, pp. 95–96 (2007). The winless 1979 season was the worst season in Gators history, and it was Pell's first campaign as the new head coach of the Gators, after the Gators' previous head coach, Doug Dickey, was fired in the aftermath of a 4–7 season in 1978. Pell's 1980 Florida Gators posted an 8–4 overall record and a Southeastern Conference (SEC) record of 4–2, tying for fourth place in the ten-team SEC. 2015 Florida Gators Football Media Guide https://web.archive.org/web/20151208143532/http://web.gatorzone.com/football/media/2015/media_guide.pdf 2015-12-08 , University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, pp. 111–112 (2015). Retrieved August 14, 2015. The Gators capped their season with a 35–20 bowl victory over the Maryland Terrapins in the Tangerine Bowl, marking the first time in the history of major college football that a winless team received a bowl bid the following season. Linebacker David Little set the career record for tackles by a Gator and was consensus All-American.https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/all-america-1980-1989.html#1980 Consensus All-America Teams (1980-1989) College Football at Sports-Reference.com Receivers Cris Collinsworth was first-team All-American. Ted Alston was the second receiver. The season features the famous "Run Lindsay Run" in the close loss to national champion Georgia.Associated Press, " Belue-to-Scott Desperation Pass Saves 'Dogs from Jaws of Gators", The Albany Sunday Herald, p. 1D (November 9, 1980). Retrieved August 21, 2011. Schedule 1980 AP September 13 w y y California Tampa Stadium Tampa, FL 41–13 41,388 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-florida-thras/134415414/ The San Francisco Examiner Florida thrashes Bears in second half September 14, 1980 October 31, 2023 Newspapers.com September 20 w y y Georgia Tech Grant Field Atlanta, GA 45–12 35,165 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-macon-news-lightning-gators-strike/134415485/ The Macon Telegraph & News Lightning, Gators strike Tech September 21, 1980 October 31, 2023 Newspapers.com September 27 w Mississippi State Florida Field Gainesville, FL 21–15 56,225 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-florida-snaps-sec-jinx/134415550/ The Tennessean Florida snaps SEC jinx September 28, 1980 October 31, 2023 Newspapers.com October 4 l 19 LSU Florida Field Gainesville, FL rivalry 7–24 59,299 https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-world-lsu-feasts-on-gator-gumbo/134415666/ Daily World LSU feasts on Gator gumbo October 5, 1980 October 31, 2023 Newspapers.com October 18 w y Ole Miss Hemingway Stadium Oxford, MS 15–3 36,012 https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-gators-kick-up-a/134414239/ The Pensacola News-Journal Gators kick up a 15–3 storm October 19, 1980 October 31, 2023 Newspapers.com October 25 w y y Louisville Florida Field Gainesville, FL 13–0 62,687 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-florida-dumps-u-of-l/134415758/ The Courier-Journal Florida dumps U of L, suffers by comparison October 26, 1980 October 31, 2023 Newspapers.com November 1 w Auburn Florida Field Gainesville, FL rivalry 21–10 63,274 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-auburn-fumbles/134412565/ The Atlanta Journal & Constitution Auburn fumbles to 21–10 loss November 2, 1980 October 31, 2023 Newspapers.com November 8 l y 20 Georgia 2 Gator Bowl Stadium Jacksonville, FL rivalry ABC 21–26 68,528 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-great-scott-gators-stu/134415886/ The Miami Herald Great Scott! Gators stunned November 9, 1980 October 31, 2023 Newspapers.com November 15 w y 20 Kentucky rivalry Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY 17–15 51,766 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86581037/what-couldnt-be-was-victory-eludes/ Sunday Herald-Leader What couldn't be, was: Victory eludes UK again November 16, 1980 October 31, 2023 Newspapers.com November 29 l y 18 Miami (FL) Florida Field Gainesville, FL rivalry ABC 7–31 56,437 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune-hurricanes-blow-away-g/134416066/ The Tampa Tribune Hurricanes blow away Gators November 30, 1980 October 31, 2023 Newspapers.com December 6 l y y 19 Florida State 3 Doak Campbell Stadium Tallahassee, FL rivalry ABC 13–17 53,772 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-commercial-appeal-seminoles-escape-t/134416143/ The Commercial Appeal Seminoles escape threat by Gators December 7, 1980 October 31, 2023 Newspapers.com December 20 w y y Maryland Orlando Stadium Orlando, FL Tangerine Bowl MTN 35–20 52,541 https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-peaces-passes-le/134416204/ The Pensacola News-Journal Peace's passes lead Florida over Terrapins December 21, 1980 October 31, 2023 Newspapers.com Game summaries California California 0 13 0 0 Florida 13 0 21 7 September 13 Tampa Stadium 41,388 yes Q1 8:58 FLA Kellom 1 yard run (Clark kick) FLA 7–0 Q1 3:29 FLA Clark 33 yard field goal FLA 10–0 Q1 :24 FLA Clark 49 yard field goal FLA 13–0 Q2 10:46 CAL Lewis 24 yard pass from Campbell (Luckhurst kick) FLA 13–7 Q2 3:29 CAL Luckhurst 42 yard field goal FLA 13–10 Q2 :04 CAL Luckhurst 30 yard field goal Tie 13–13 Q3 5:49 FLA Faulkner 9 yard pass from Hawko (Clark kick) FLA 20–13 Q3 3:11 FLA Jones 3 yard run (Clark kick) FLA 27–13 Q3 1:15 FLA Garrett 20 yard pass from Hawko (Clark kick) FLA 34–13 Q4 13:23 FLA T. Williams 2 yard run (Clark kick) FLA 41–13 yes Palm Beach Post. 1980 Sept 14. Retrieved 2015-Oct-14. Vs. Georgia 1980 Georgia Bulldogs football team Florida–Georgia football rivalry Florida Gators 2; text-align:center collapsed #20 Florida Gators (6–1) vs. #2 Georgia Bulldogs (8–0) November 8 Georgia 7 7 6 6 Florida 3 7 0 11 Gator Bowl • Jacksonville, Florida 68,528 Sunny ABC Al Michaels and Frank Broyles Ocala Star-Banner. 1980 Nov 09. Retrieved 2019-Jan-02. Georgia Buck Belue7/16, 145 Yds, TD, 2 INT Herschel Walker37 Rush, 238 Yds, TD Lindsay Scott2 Rec, 114 Yds, TD Florida Wayne Peace20/37, 286 Yds, TD, 2 INT James Jones22 Rush, 89 Yds, TD Tyrone Young10 Rec, 183 Yds UGA FLA collapsed 1 13:09 Georgia RushTD Walker 72 good Robinson run/pass good/failed/incomplete 7 0 1 7:07 Florida FG 40 Clark 7 3 2 13:29 Georgia 77 RecTD Stewart Belue 13 good Robinson run/pass good/failed/incomplete 14 3 2 7:10 Florida RecTD Collinsworth Peace 9 good Clark run/pass good/failed/incomplete 14 10 3 9:38 Georgia FG 24 Robinson 17 10 3 3:58 Georgia FG 20 Robinson 20 10 4 14:14 Florida 81 RushTD Jones 11 pass good 20 18 4 6:52 Florida 11 FG 40 Clark 20 21 4 1:03 Georgia RecTD Scott Belue 93 pass incomplete 26 21 26 21 24/7 Sports. Retrieved 2019-Jan-02. At Florida State Florida Gators 2; text-align:center collapsed Florida Gators (7–3) at #3 Florida State Seminoles (9–1) December 6 Florida 7 6 0 0 Florida St 3 0 7 7 Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, Florida 53,772 ABC Recap/Box First quarter FSU – Bill Capece 44-yard field goal, 8:28. Florida St 3–0. FLA – Tyrone Young 53-yard pass from Wayne Peace (Brian Clark kick), 2:31. Florida 7–3. Drive: 88 yards. Second quarter FLA – Brian Clark 38-yard field goal, 9:55. Florida 10–3. FLA – Brian Clark 36-yard field goal, 1:48. Florida 13–3. Third quarter FSU – Hardis Johnson 19-yard pass from Rick Stockstill (Bill Capece kick), 10:12. Florida 13–10. Fourth quarter FSU – Hardis Johnson 20-yard pass from Rick Stockstill (Bill Capece kick), 14:24. Florida St 17–13. Top passers FLA – Wayne Peace – 9/24, 160 yards, TD, 4 INT FSU – Rick Stockstill – 11/18, 137 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Top rushers FLA – FSU – Ricky Williams – 21 rushes, 75 yards Top receivers FLA – FSU – Hardis Johnson – 7 receptions, 107 yards Personnel 1980 Florida Gators f 14 So Johnell Brown RB 21 Sr Cris Collinsworth WR y C Calvin Davis RB Fr Dwayne Dixon WR y 80 So Chris Faulkner TE y 69 So Dan Fike OT y 42 Jr Johnny Gaffney WR 28 Jr Curt Garrett WR 12 So Bob Hewko QB y 89 So Spencer Jackson WR 30 So James Jones James Jones (running back, born 1961) FB y Doug Kellom RB 88 Fr Wilber Marshall TE y Mark Massey QB 82 So Mike Mularkey TE y Larry Ochab QB Fr Wayne Peace QB y Dan Plonk OL 39 Sr Carl Prioleau RB John Redmond OL 59 So Doug Smith C 19 Sr Johnny Smith WR Jim Subers OL 70 Sr Joe Wickline OT 44 So Derald Williams RB 31 Sr Terry Williams RB 7 So Tyrone Young WR y 53 Sr Rod Brooks DL C 90 So Val Brown DL 87 Sr Mike Clark Mike Clark (defensive end) DE y 61 Sr Ron Coleman DL Ivory Curry DB 66 Jr Robin Fisher DL 85 Jr David Galloway DL 43 So Sonny Gilliam DB 57 Sr Tim Golden DE 20 Sr Tim Groves S Fernando Jackson LB 24 So Kyle Knight CB Tony Lilly DB y 51 Sr David Little LB y David Little (linebacker) Dock Luckie DL Vito McKeever DB 50 Sr Yancey Sutton DL 47 So Bruce Vaughan CB 95 So Tom Weigmann LB 3 Jr Brian Clark K 4 Jr Mark Dickert P *Charley Pell Mike Heimerdinger (GA) Vince Kendrick (RB) Mike Shanahan (OC) References Florida Category:Florida Gators football seasons Category:Citrus Bowl champion seasons Florida Gators football