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Rank the SEC champions of the 1980s...
Posted on 5/11/24 at 6:39 pm
Posted on 5/11/24 at 6:39 pm
In the build up to the 2024 college football season as well as the arrival of OU and Texas in conference, let's look back on the great teams of the past and bicker about who was the best of which decade. Starting with the 1980s...
1980: Georgia Bulldogs (SEC Record: 6-0)
1981: Georgia Bulldogs (SEC Record: 6-0); Alabama Crimson Tide (SEC Record: 6-0)
1982: Georgia Bulldogs (SEC Record: 6-0)
1983: Auburn Tigers (SEC Record: 6-0)
1984: Florida Gators (SEC Record: 5-0-1)
1985: Tennessee Volunteers (SEC Record: 5-1)
1986: LSU Tigers (SEC Record: 5-1)
1987: Auburn Tigers (SEC Record: 5-0-1)
1988: Auburn Tigers (SEC Record: 6-1); LSU Tigers (SEC Record: 6-1)
1989: Tennessee Volunteers (SEC Record: 6-1); Alabama Crimson Tide (6-1); Auburn Tigers (6-1)
1980: Georgia Bulldogs (SEC Record: 6-0)
1981: Georgia Bulldogs (SEC Record: 6-0); Alabama Crimson Tide (SEC Record: 6-0)
1982: Georgia Bulldogs (SEC Record: 6-0)
1983: Auburn Tigers (SEC Record: 6-0)
1984: Florida Gators (SEC Record: 5-0-1)
1985: Tennessee Volunteers (SEC Record: 5-1)
1986: LSU Tigers (SEC Record: 5-1)
1987: Auburn Tigers (SEC Record: 5-0-1)
1988: Auburn Tigers (SEC Record: 6-1); LSU Tigers (SEC Record: 6-1)
1989: Tennessee Volunteers (SEC Record: 6-1); Alabama Crimson Tide (6-1); Auburn Tigers (6-1)
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Posted on 5/11/24 at 6:55 pm to RollTide1987
Idk
But 82 was the best of the UGA teams
But 82 was the best of the UGA teams
Posted on 5/11/24 at 7:08 pm to RollTide1987
The sport evolved a lot over that decade. Go watch those early 80s teams and compare them to what we saw later. Small lineman, slow LBers, white dudes in the secondary and WR and QBs who mainly handed the ball off.
Posted on 5/11/24 at 7:10 pm to AUFANATL
So you’re describing real tough men. Don’t shake my grandpas hand. I promise you’ll go to your knees.
Posted on 5/11/24 at 7:40 pm to AUFANATL
quote:
The sport evolved a lot over that decade. Go watch those early 80s teams and compare them to what we saw later. Small lineman, slow LBers, white dudes in the secondary and WR and QBs who mainly handed the ball off.
White boys were common in the secondary until the late 80's early 90's. Ole Miss had Chauncey Godwin, a white corner from Tupelo, Todd Sandroni, a safety from Indianola, Roger Hancock, a safety from Alabama, and Jeff Carter another safety in the secondary. Godwin led the SEC in INTs in 89, and Sandroni did in 87. As a high school safety in the late 80's it wasn't all that far fetched to think you might could get a shot in the SEC. Something changed around the mid 90's, and a lot of white boys quit playing high school football and stayed with baseball and soccer.
Posted on 5/11/24 at 7:45 pm to RollTide1987
1984 and 1985 Florida were national championship caliber. 18-2-2 combined both seasons.
Posted on 5/11/24 at 7:45 pm to AUFANATL
quote:
slow LBers
Perhaps, but I think Derrick Thomas in his prime would hold his own today.
Posted on 5/11/24 at 8:10 pm to skrayper
quote:[quote]
Perhaps, but I think Derrick Thomas in his prime would hold his own today.
That was my point. In 1980 there weren't a lot of guys who reminded us of modern SEC players. Sure there were some freak exceptions like Herschel Walker and Reggie White but for the most part the players were smaller, slower, weaker and the playbooks were Pop Warner simple.
By 1990 that had changed
Posted on 5/11/24 at 8:33 pm to RollTide1987
The first season where I was old enough to really understand things was that 89 season.
I was an Auburn fan. That was the first ever Iron Bowl in Auburn. Auburn won to claim a share of the SEC title.
I was an Auburn fan. That was the first ever Iron Bowl in Auburn. Auburn won to claim a share of the SEC title.
Posted on 5/11/24 at 8:33 pm to AUFANATL
quote:
The sport evolved a lot over that decade. Go watch those early 80s teams and compare them to what we saw later. Small lineman, slow LBers, white dudes in the secondary and WR and QBs who mainly handed the ball off.
Yep. The 1980s were a huge transitional period for the sport of football as a whole as you started to see the passing game become more relevant in both college and the NFL. Teams like San Francisco in the NFL and Miami at the collegiate level spearheaded that transition.
This post was edited on 5/11/24 at 8:35 pm
Posted on 5/11/24 at 8:42 pm to RollTide1987
quote:
Teams like San Francisco in the NFL and Miami at the collegiate level spearheaded that transition.
University of Houston was lighting it up as well.
Posted on 5/11/24 at 9:28 pm to skrayper
quote:
I think Derrick Thomas in his prime would hold his own today.
Derrick Thomas was a man amongst boys in college. He would stand out in any era before or since.
Posted on 5/11/24 at 9:40 pm to RollTide1987
One anomaly might be the ‘92 Bama team in the national championship vs Miami. They ran for 267 yards and Jay Barker was 4-13 for 18 yards, while holding Miami to 48 rushing yards. That was actually their identity that year. Stallings was a throwback.
This post was edited on 5/11/24 at 9:43 pm
Posted on 5/11/24 at 9:41 pm to RollTide1987
Y
1980 was a significant year because that was the year they started allowing offensive linemen to "use their hands" in CFB.
Prior to that year Offensive linemen had to keep their hands against their chest when they blocked. No hands extended. That was considered holding.
It took a while but that was basically the beginning of the end for triple option offenses and the beginning of the passing oriented offenses we see today.
quote:
ep. The 1980s were a huge transitional period for the sport of football as a whole as you started to see the passing game become more relevant in both college and the NFL. Teams like San Francisco in the NFL and Miami at the collegiate level spearheaded that transition.
1980 was a significant year because that was the year they started allowing offensive linemen to "use their hands" in CFB.
Prior to that year Offensive linemen had to keep their hands against their chest when they blocked. No hands extended. That was considered holding.
It took a while but that was basically the beginning of the end for triple option offenses and the beginning of the passing oriented offenses we see today.
Posted on 5/11/24 at 10:28 pm to KingOfTheWorld
quote:
‘92 Bama
Their offense was nothing special but relative to the way the game was played at the time, that defense was as good as any that ever stepped onto the field. Anyone who argues otherwise just hates Bama that much or more likely, is too young to have ever watched them play in real time.
Posted on 5/11/24 at 10:31 pm to skrayper
quote:
Perhaps, but I think Derrick Thomas in his prime would hold his own today.
Michael Brooks from LSU as well. Both would be elite today.
Posted on 5/12/24 at 12:51 am to RollTide1987
To complete the requested exercise, here’s my go at it:
1. 1983 Auburn
2. 1980 Georgia
3. 1988 LSU
4. 1988 Auburn
5. 1982 Georgia
6. 1987 Auburn
7. 1989 Auburn
8. 1989 Alabama
9. 1989 Tennessee
10. 1981 Georgia
11. 1981 Alabama
12. 1986 LSU
13. 1985 Tennessee
(Florida ‘84 was vacated)
1. 1983 Auburn
2. 1980 Georgia
3. 1988 LSU
4. 1988 Auburn
5. 1982 Georgia
6. 1987 Auburn
7. 1989 Auburn
8. 1989 Alabama
9. 1989 Tennessee
10. 1981 Georgia
11. 1981 Alabama
12. 1986 LSU
13. 1985 Tennessee
(Florida ‘84 was vacated)
Posted on 5/12/24 at 2:41 am to samson73103
quote:
Their offense was nothing special but relative to the way the game was played at the time, that defense was as good as any that ever stepped onto the field. Anyone who argues otherwise just hates Bama that much or more likely, is too young to have ever watched them play in real time.
Of course. Bama rode that defense all year. Bill Oliver and Stallings devised one the greatest defensive game plans ever seen in football for that championship game. It was beautiful. Gina Toretta was lost.
Posted on 5/12/24 at 3:48 am to RollTide1987
The 1980s was weird. Somehow 1992 worked its way into that decade.
Florida and Auburn in 1985 had many pros on their rosters. Neither won a championship, but that game had talent on both sides of the football.
Wilbur Marshall.
Bo Jackson.
Steve Wallace.
And on and on.
The 1988 Auburn team was one I thought could have beaten anybody on the country.
Florida and Auburn in 1985 had many pros on their rosters. Neither won a championship, but that game had talent on both sides of the football.
Wilbur Marshall.
Bo Jackson.
Steve Wallace.
And on and on.
The 1988 Auburn team was one I thought could have beaten anybody on the country.
Posted on 5/12/24 at 6:19 am to KingOfTheWorld
quote:
One anomaly might be the ‘92 Bama team in the national championship vs Miami.
I mean...there were power run teams that relied on defense that continued to win national championships or at least compete for them during the 80s. Nebraska was still running their option offense out of the I-formation and the national champions of 1985 - the Oklahoma Sooners - had quite possibly the greatest wishbone QB in the history of the sport under center.
Gene Stallings wasn't necessarily a throw back as a good many teams in college football were still playing that brand of football.
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