1980 North Carolina Tar Heels football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1980 North Carolina Tar Heels football Atlantic Coast Conference ACC 9 10 11–1 6–0 Dick Crum 3rd Rick Donnalley Steve Streater Lawrence Taylor Ron Wooten Kenan Memorial Stadium ACC championAstro-Bluebonnet Bowl champion Astro–Bluebonnet Bowl W 16–7 vs. Texas The 1980 North Carolina Tar Heels football team was an American football team that represented the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) during the 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their third year under head coach Dick Crum, the Tar Heels compiled an 11–1 record (6–0 in conference games), kept six opponents from scoring a touchdown, and outscored all opponents by a total of 281 to 123. They won the ACC championship, were ranked No. 10 in the final AP poll, and defeated Texas in the Astro–Bluebonnet Bowl.1980 North Carolina Tar Heels Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football October 21, 2024 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/north-carolina/1980-schedule.html The 11 wins tied a program record set during the 1972 season. Senior linebacker Lawrence Taylor had 16 sacks, was a consensus selection on the 1980 All-America college football team and won ACC player of the year honors.Whitley, David. L.T. was reckless, magnificent, espn.com, accessed January 29, 2007.UNC's Taylor Piles Up Honors For His Defense Winston-Salem Journal December 20, 1980 22 https://www.newspapers.com/article/winston-salem-journal-lt/157585692/ Newspapers.com Crum was named ACC coach of the year.Crum named ACC coach of the year The Plain Dealer December 3, 1980 5F https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-crum-named-acc-coach-of/157583628/ Newspapers.com The team had two backs who gained over 1,000 rushing yards: Amos Lawrence (1,118 yards, 90 points) and Kelvin Bryant (1,039 yards, 72 points). Quarterback Rod Elkins led the team with 1,002 passing yards.1980 North Carolina Tar Heels Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football October 21, 2024 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/north-carolina/1980.html The team played its home games at Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Schedule 1980 AP Eastern September 6 1:00 p.m. w y 14 Furman Kenan Memorial Stadium Chapel Hill, NC 35–13 50,100 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89816049/carolina-topples-furman/ The News and Observer Carolina topples Furman September 7, 1980 November 30, 2021 Newspapers.com September 13 8:30 p.m. w y y 15 Texas Tech Jones Stadium Lubbock, TX 9–3 37,797 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tyler-courier-times-north-carolina-t/139740100/ The Tyler Courier-Times North Carolina tops Tech September 14, 1980 January 28, 2024 Newspapers.com September 27 1:00 p.m. w 14 Maryland 19 Kenan Memorial Stadium Chapel Hill, NC 17–3 51,400 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune-tar-heels-defense-sto/139740219/ The Tampa Tribune Tar Heels' defense stops Maryland, 17–3 September 28, 1980 January 28, 2024 Newspapers.com October 4 1:00 p.m. w y 10 Georgia Tech Kenan Memorial Stadium Chapel Hill, NC 33–0 49,750 https://www.newspapers.com/article/victoria-advocate-north-carolina-rolls-o/139740333/ The Victoria Advocate North Carolina rolls over Georgia Tech October 5, 1980 January 28, 2024 Newspapers.com October 11 1:00 p.m. w y 8 Wake Forest Groves Stadium Winston-Salem, NC rivalry 27–9 37,411 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-progress-tar-heels-dominate-wa/139740465/ The Daily Progress Tar Heels dominate Wake in 27–9 victory October 12, 1980 January 28, 2024 Newspapers.com October 18 1:00 p.m. w 8 NC State Kenan Memorial Stadium Chapel Hill, NC rivalry 28–8 51,845 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-roanoke-times-unc-looks-like-the-cla/139740571/ The Roanoke Times & World-News UNC looks like the class of the ACC against State October 19, 1980 January 28, 2024 Newspapers.com October 25 1:00 p.m. w y 7 East Carolina Kenan Memorial Stadium Chapel Hill, NC 31–3 48,100 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72670878/no-7-tar-heels-clip-east-carolina/ News-Press No. 7 Tar Heels clip East Carolina 31–3 October 26, 1980 January 28, 2024 Newspapers.com November 1 2:30 p.m. l y y 6 Oklahoma 16 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK ESPN 7–41 74,852 https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-sooners-demolish/139740699/ Wisconsin State Journal Sooners demolish sixth-rated Tarheels November 2, 1980 January 28, 2024 Newspapers.com November 8 1:00 p.m. w y 14 Clemson Memorial Stadium Clemson, SC 24–19 62,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/danville-register-and-bee-goal-line-stan/139740792/ The Danville Register Goal line stand saves Tar Heels November 9, 1980 January 28, 2024 Newspapers.com November 15 1:00 p.m. w 15 Virginia Kenan Memorial Stadium Chapel Hill, NC South's Oldest Rivalry 26–3 49,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/suffolk-news-herald-tar-heels-earn-blueb/139740896/ Suffolk News-Herald Tar Heels earn Bluebonnent berth with 26–3 victory over Virginia November 16, 1980 January 28, 2024 Newspapers.com November 22 1:00 p.m. w 15 Duke Kenan Memorial Stadium Chapel Hill, NC Victory Bell 44–21 51,389 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-bryants-running/139741018/ The Charlotte Observer Bryant's running helps Tar Heels KO Blue Devils' rally November 23, 1980 January 28, 2024 Newspapers.com December 31 8:00 p.m. w y y 13 Texas Astrodome Houston, TX Astro–Bluebonnet Bowl Mizlou 16–7 36,669 https://www.newspapers.com/article/san-angelo-standard-times-north-carolina/139741155/ San Angelo Standard-Times North Carolina runs over Longhorns, 16–7 January 1, 1981 January 28, 2024 Newspapers.comhttps://archive.org/details/carolinafootball1981unse/page/57/mode/1up Carolina Football : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive Rankings 1980 NCAA Division I-A football rankings AP 0 15 14 15 13 14 10 8 8 7 6 14 15 15 13 12 13 10 Coaches 0 15 17 13 13 15 11 8 8 7 6 14 15 13 11 11 11 9 Game summaries Maryland 1980 Maryland Terrapins football team UNC Deals Maryland 1st Defeat, 17-3 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1980/09/28/unc-deals-maryland-1st-defeat-17-3/314fb77d-c091-494c-9dab-0f0fc54f480c/ The Washington Post September 28, 1980 December 1, 2019 At Oklahoma 1980 Oklahoma Sooners football team Hey, Not Everyone Can Be Perfect https://www.si.com/vault/1980/11/10/825130/hey-not-everybody-can-be-perfect-alabama-ucla-north-carolina-and-baylor--unbeaten-ranked-in-the-top-10-and-aspirants-for-the-national-title--bit-the-dust Sports Illustrated November 10, 1980 November 13, 2019 Duke 1980 Duke Blue Devils football team Victory Bell (Duke–North Carolina) Vs. Texas (Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl) North Carolina vs. Texas Tar Heels 6 7 3 0 Longhorns 0 7 0 0 December 31 Astrodome, Houston, Texas 36,669 Jim Harper, Jr. Ray Scott, John Unitas, and Howard David Mizlou 1980 Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl 1980 Texas Longhorns football team N. CAROLINA DEFEATS TEXAS, 16-7 https://www.nytimes.com/1981/01/01/sports/n-carolina-defeats-texas-16-7.html The New York Times January 1, 1981 November 13, 2019 Roster 1980 North Carolina Tar Heels f 1 Sr Travis Freeman RB 1 Sr Billy "Freight Train" Johnson FB 10 So Rod Elkins QB n 19 Jr Jon Richardson WR 41 Sr Wayne Tucker WR 20 Sr Amos Lawrence Amos Lawrence (American football) RB y 51 Sr Rick Donnalley C y 54 So Dave Drechsler T y 78 Sr Ron Wooten G y Fr Kevin Wilson OL y Kevin Wilson (American football) 85 Sr Mike McCormick WR 5 Sr Steve Streater FS n 28 Jr Bill Jackson SS n 29 Jr Darrell Nicholson LB n 34 Sr Paul Davis Paul Davis (linebacker) NG y 76 Sr Donnell Thompson DT y 84 So Mike Wilcher OLB y 93 Jr Calvin Daniels OLB y 98 Sr Lawrence Taylor OLB y unk So Larry Winters DB n 5 Sr Steve Streater P n https://www.tarheeltimes.com/rosterfootball-1980.aspx *Dick Crum Denny Marcin, Larry Marmie, Cleve Bryant Statistics The Tar Heels gained an average of 297.7 rushing yards and 104.1 passing yards per game. On defense, they gave up 138.0 rushing yards and 144.1 passing yards per game. Two North Carolina backs tallied over 1,000 rushing yards: Amos Lawrence tallied 1,118 rushing yards on 229 carries for an average of 4.9 yards per carry. He also caught nine passes for 80 yards and led the team in scoring with 90 points on 15 touchdowns. Kelvin Bryant gained 1,039 rushing yards on 177 carries for an average of 5.9 yards per carry. He also caught 12 passes for 194 yards and scored 72 points on 12 touchdowns. Billy Johnson ranked third with 433 yards on 103 carries for a 4.2 yard average. Quarterback Rod Elkins completed 181 of 160 passes (50.6%) for 1,002 yards with 11 touchdowns, nine interceptins, and a 114.7 quarterback rating. The team's leading receivers were Mike Chatham (20 receptions, 239 yards), Victor Harrison (16 receptions, 210 yards), Jon Richardson (15 receptions, 206 yards), and Kelvin Bryant (12 receptions, 194 yards). Awards and honors Linebacker Lawrence Taylor won the award as the Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year.Tar Heels' Lawrence Taylor named best player in ACC The Salisbury Post December 1, 1980 1B https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salisbury-post-tar-heels-lawrence-t/157591524/ Newspapers.com Three North Carolina players received All-America honors. Taylor was a consensus pick, receiving first-team honors from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Associated Press (AP), Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), and United Press International (UPI). Guard Ron Wooten received first-team honors from the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA) and the Walter Camp Football Foundation (WCFF), second-team honors from the UPI, and third-team honors from the AP. Center Rick Donnalley received second-team honors from the AP. Eight North Carolina players received first-team honors on the 1980 All-Atlantic Coast Conference football team: guard Ron Wooten; center Rick Donnalley; running backs Amos Lawrence and Kelvin Bryant; Lawrence Taylor (at defensive line); linebacker Darrell Nicholson; Steve Streater (honored both as defensive back and punter).Tar Heels Dominate All-ACC Team The Robesonian November 30, 1980 2B https://books.google.com/books?id=6CxVAAAAIBAJ&dq=All-Atlantic+Coast+Conference+football+team&pg=PA8&article_id=4135,4838574 1981 NFL draft 1981 NFL draft The following players were drafted into professional football following the season. Player Position Round Pick Franchise Lawrence Taylor Linebacker 1 2 New York Giants Donnell Thompson Defensive tackle 1 18 Baltimore Colts Rick Donnalley Center 3 73 Pittsburgh Steelers Amos Lawrence Running back 4 103 San Diego Chargers Ron Wooten Guard 6 157 New England Patriots Harry Stanback Defensive tackle 6 164 Atlanta Falcons https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1981.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20071221202823/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1981.htm 2007-12-21 1981 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com References North Carolina Category:North Carolina Tar Heels football seasons Category:Atlantic Coast Conference football champion seasons Category:Bluebonnet Bowl champion seasons North Carolina Tar Heels football