1980 Georgia Bulldogs football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1980 Georgia Bulldogs football Georgia Athletics logo.svg 150 Southeastern Conference SEC 1 1 12–0 6–0 Vince Dooley 17th George Haffner 1st I formation Erk Russell 17th 4–4 Sanford Stadium Consensus national championSEC championSugar Bowl champion Sugar Bowl W Won 17–10 vs. Notre Dame The 1980 Georgia Bulldogs football team represented 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.http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2017/FBS.pdf 2017 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records The National Collegiate Athletic Association July 2017 Indianapolis January 24, 2018 114, 120 Schedule 1980 AP September 6 7:30 p.m. w y 16 Tennessee rivalry Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN 16–15 95,288 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101532895/walker-rallies-georgia-past-vols/ The Macon Telegraph & News Walker rallies Georgia past Vols September 7, 1980 October 31, 2023 Newspapers.com September 13 1:30 p.m. w y 12 Texas A&M Sanford Stadium Athens, GA 42–0 60,150 https://www.newspapers.com/article/victoria-advocate-georgia-trounces-am/134420536/ Victoria Advocate Georgia trounces A&M September 14, 1980 October 31, 2023 Newspapers.com September 20 1:30 p.m. w y 10 Clemson Sanford Stadium Athens, GA rivalry 20–16 61,800 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-georgia-stops-tige/134420615/ The News and Observer Georgia stops Tigers September 21, 1980 October 31, 2023 Newspapers.com September 27 1:30 p.m. w y 10 TCU Sanford Stadium Athens, GA 34–3 59,200 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-georgia-smacks-texas-chri/134420708/ The Tennessean Georgia smacks Texas Christian September 28, 1980 October 31, 2023 Newspapers.com October 11 1:30 p.m. w 6 Ole Miss Sanford Stadium Athens, GA 28–21 60,300 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-macon-telegraph-norris-rescues-georg/134414151/ The Macon Telegraph & News Norris rescues Georgia October 12, 1980 October 31, 2023 Newspapers.com October 18 1:30 p.m. w y 6 Vanderbilt Sanford Stadium Athens, GA rivalry 41–0 59,300 https://www.newspapers.com/article/bristol-herald-courier-dogs-walk-over/134369527/ Bristol Herald Courier 'Dogs 'walk' over Vanderbilt by 41–0 October 19, 1980 October 31, 2023 Newspapers.com October 25 7:30 p.m. w y 5 Kentucky Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY 27–0 57,239 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86580743/georgias-blend-just-too-strong-for/ Sunday Herald-Leader Georgia's blend just too strong for Wildcats October 26, 1980 October 31, 2023 Newspapers.com November 1 12:35 p.m. w y 4 South Carolina 14 Sanford Stadium Athens, GA rivalry ABC 13–10 62,200 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-enquirer-walker-outruns-r/134420927/ The Cincinnati Enquirer Walker outruns Rogers, Georgia edges Carolina November 2, 1980 October 31, 2023 Newspapers.com November 8 12:35 p.m. w y 2 Florida 20 Gator Bowl Stadium Jacksonville, FL rivalry ABC 26–21 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 2:30 p.m. w y 1 Auburn Jordan-Hare Stadium Auburn, AL rivalry 31–21 74,900 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune-georgia-gets-by-auburn/134412659/ The Tampa Tribune-Times Georgia gets by Auburn November 16, 1980 October 31, 2023 Newspapers.com November 29 1:30 p.m. w y 1 Georgia Tech Sanford Stadium Athens, GA rivalry 38–20 62,800 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-macon-telegraph-georgia-keeps-record/134421242/ The Macon Telegraph & News Georgia keeps record perfect November 30, 1980 October 31, 2023 Newspapers.com January 1, 1981 2:00 p.m. w y y 1 Notre Dame 7 Louisiana Superdome New Orleans, LA Sugar Bowl ABC 17–10 77,895 https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-opportunistic-georgia-fu/134421428/ Chicago Tribune Opportunistic Georgia fulfills national-title dream January 2, 1981 October 31, 2023 Newspapers.com 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.Associated Press Georgia Signs Herschel Walker https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YoIsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ts0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=4254,1303934&dq=herschel+walker+signs+with+georgia&hl=en Spartanburg Herald Spartanburg, South Carolina B1 April 7, 1980 February 1, 2013 Mike Cavan helped provide head coach Vince Dooley with his prized recruit.GLORY! GLORY! Smith Loran Grizzard Lewis 1981 Peachtree Publishers Limited Atlanta 73–89 9780931948183 https://books.google.com/books?id=7EzKAAAACAAJ&q=GLORY!+GLORY!+Peachtree+Publishers September 16, 2013 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."August 2016 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.https://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/13829698/when-georgia-herschel-walker-ran-tennessee-bill-bates-oral-history From The Mag: That time Herschel Walker trucked Bill Bates Walker scored again five minutes later on a 9-yard touchdown run as Georgia went on to win the game, 16–15. 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.GLORY! GLORY! Smith Loran Grizzard Lewis 1981 Peachtree Publishers Limited Atlanta 203 9780931948183 https://books.google.com/books?id=7EzKAAAACAAJ&q=GLORY!+GLORY!+Peachtree+Publishers September 16, 2013 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.GLORY! GLORY! Smith Loran Grizzard Lewis 1981 Peachtree Publishers Limited Atlanta 90–97, 204 9780931948183 https://books.google.com/books?id=7EzKAAAACAAJ&q=GLORY!+GLORY!+Peachtree+Publishers September 16, 2013 Ole Miss Walker missed much of the Ole Miss game with an injury.http://savannahnow.com/stories/100700/SPTtimugaproject.shtml#.V6GTazWyn20 Norris came from nowhere to keep 'Dogs headed somewhere - savannahnow.com - Savannah Morning News Tim Guidera 2016-08-03 https://web.archive.org/web/20160818152535/http://savannahnow.com/stories/100700/SPTtimugaproject.shtml#.V6GTazWyn20 2016-08-18 deadhttp://www.upi.com/Archives/1980/10/11/Sophomore-Carnie-Norris-a-third-string-tailback-filling-in/9583340084800/ Sophomore Carnie Norris, a third string tailback filling in... 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.GLORY! GLORY! Smith Loran Grizzard Lewis 1981 Peachtree Publishers Limited Atlanta 204–207 9780931948183 https://books.google.com/books?id=7EzKAAAACAAJ&q=GLORY!+GLORY!+Peachtree+Publishers September 16, 2013 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 eventual Heisman Trophy winner, George Rogers. Georgia got out to a 13–0 lead early in the third quarter and held on to win by three points. Walker's 76-yard touchdown run gave Georgia a commanding lead at 10–0 with early in the third quarter. Walker rushed 43 times for 219 yards. Rogers similarly kept pace, gaining 168 yards on 35 carries.GLORY! GLORY! Smith Loran Grizzard Lewis 1981 Peachtree Publishers Limited Atlanta 209 9780931948183 https://books.google.com/books?id=7EzKAAAACAAJ&q=GLORY!+GLORY!+Peachtree+Publishers September 16, 2013 Florida 1980 Florida Gators football team Florida–Georgia football rivalry Georgia Bulldogs 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 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.https://247sports.com/college/georgia/gallery/top-5-georgia-bulldogs-top-gator-killers-of-all-time-40422419/ Top 5: Georgia's top Gator killers of all time 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.https://books.google.com/books?id=7EzKAAAACAAJ&q=GLORY!+GLORY!+Peachtree+Publishers GLORY! GLORY! Smith Loran Grizzard Lewis Peachtree Publishers Limited 1981 9780931948183 Atlanta 114–159, 210 September 16, 2013 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. Burns Robbie Belue to Scott!: The greatest moment in Georgia football history H&H Publishing Macon, GA 2010 978-0-615-39400-8 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. 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.August 2016 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.GLORY! GLORY! Smith Loran Grizzard Lewis 1981 Peachtree Publishers Limited Atlanta 160–169, 211–212 9780931948183 https://books.google.com/books?id=7EzKAAAACAAJ&q=GLORY!+GLORY!+Peachtree+Publishers September 16, 2013 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.GLORY! GLORY! Smith Loran Grizzard Lewis 1981 Peachtree Publishers Limited Atlanta 170–190, 213 9780931948183 https://books.google.com/books?id=7EzKAAAACAAJ&q=GLORY!+GLORY!+Peachtree+Publishers September 16, 2013 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.GLORY! GLORY! Smith Loran Grizzard Lewis 1981 Peachtree Publishers Limited Atlanta 190, 201 9780931948183 https://books.google.com/books?id=7EzKAAAACAAJ&q=GLORY!+GLORY!+Peachtree+Publishers September 16, 2013 This was Georgia's last national championship until 2021. Roster 1980 Georgia Bulldogs y 77 Jr Jim Blakewood T 8 Jr Buck Belue QB y 88 So Norris Brown TE y Norris Brown (American football) 17 Fr Daryll Jones QB y 80 So Charles Junior WR 24 Jr Lindsay Scott WR y 33 Jr Ronnie Stewart FB 34 Fr Herschel Walker RB y 30 Fr Scott Williams Scott Williams (running back) TE y 25 Sr Jimmy Womack FB 31 Sr Mike Fisher CB 49 Sr Jeff Hipp S 98 Sr Tim Parks DL 46 Sr Danny Rogers LB 19 Sr Scott Woerner CB y 6 Sr Rex Robinson Rex Robinson (American football) K y Vince Dooley References Georgia Category:Georgia Bulldogs football seasons Category:College football national champions Category:Southeastern Conference football champion seasons Category:Sugar Bowl champion seasons Category:College football undefeated seasons Georgia Bulldogs football