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re: Who deserved the 1980 national championship?
Posted on 7/9/18 at 1:09 pm to SAINTS0321
Posted on 7/9/18 at 1:09 pm to SAINTS0321
Notre Dame beat a lot of ranked teams. So while Georgia didn’t have a super tough schedule beating Notre Dame was a real test and Georgia won the game. Notre Dame was as high as rank 1 during the year and would have been ranked 2 had they not gotten beat by USC. That said, FSU and Pitt would have been tougher games however ND had more clout back then.
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Posted on 7/9/18 at 1:43 pm to DawgsLife
quote:
Add to that, Herschel Walker separated his shoulder early in the first quarter, I believe, in the national Championship game, and still played the entire game. The game might not have been as close had he been healthy.
Yep. HW separated the shoulder and dislocated it, BTW...on his first carry of the game. He missed the next 3 plays, came back in on the next series, and still had 150 yards rushing against a ND defense that hadn't allowed 100 yards rushing to any back all season.
This post was edited on 7/9/18 at 1:47 pm
Posted on 7/9/18 at 2:01 pm to Prettyboy Floyd
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So while Georgia didn’t have a super tough schedule beating Notre Dame was a real test and Georgia won the game. Notre Dame was as high as rank 1 during the year and would have been ranked 2 had they not gotten beat by USC
Keep in mind Notre Dame tied 1-7 Georgia Tech and in the regular season finale Southern Cal mopped the floor with them.
Certainly Georgia was the deserved National Champion,but that 1980 Notre Dame team was far from great. As for #1, they were ranked #1 the following season after beating LSU and wound up 5-6.A week or two at #1 was a rite of passage for Notre Dame from 1964 to 1993.
Posted on 7/9/18 at 2:04 pm to UnderDog68
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Yep. HW separated the shoulder and dislocated it, BTW...on his first carry of the game. He missed the next 3 plays, came back in on the next series, and still had 150 yards rushing against a ND defense that hadn't allowed 100 yards rushing to any back all season.
He was and still is an amazing physical specimen.
Posted on 7/9/18 at 2:08 pm to UnderDog68
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HW separated the shoulder and dislocated it, BTW...on his first carry of the game. He missed the next 3 plays, came back in on the next series, and still had 150 yards rushing against a ND defense that hadn't allowed 100 yards rushing to any back all season.
That guy is a monster. He has literally been one of the baddest men in the world for 38 years and counting.
Posted on 7/9/18 at 2:10 pm to I-59 Tiger
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A week or two at #1 was a rite of passage for Notre Dame from 1964 to 1993.
This is true. It was and still is common for them to be overranked.
However, I am not as certain about Pitt in 1980. They played 3 ranked teams. The lost soundly to FSU, and beat two lower ranked teams. #18 South Carolina (who ended up unranked)and #5 Penn State and Penn State ended up ranked #10. So, they ended up playing two teams that ended up ranked and one beat them soundly. Yes, they had Dan Marino, but Marino did not break through until 1981. He was probably a below average QB in 1980.
Posted on 7/9/18 at 2:12 pm to Pdubntrub
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That guy is a monster. He has literally been one of the baddest men in the world for 38 years and counting.
I am a little older than he is, but today he could beat the daylights out of me when I was at my best many, many years ago.
Bo Jackson was another physical freak. Them playing at the same time is unbelievable.
Posted on 7/9/18 at 2:17 pm to Pdubntrub
Over the three seasons Walker was there, UGA went 33-3. They never lost a conference game. Two of their 3 losses were to the national champs. Their other loss was to Dan Marino and Pitt on a last minute drive. Every loss was close. People constantly thought we'd be manhandled in the bowls. We never were.
We were the best team in 1980. Those other teams should have beaten their schedule. We did all we could do.
We were the best team in 1980. Those other teams should have beaten their schedule. We did all we could do.
Posted on 7/9/18 at 2:20 pm to DawgsLife
Pitt had more than Marino.
All five Pitt lineman ended up starting in the NFL, including bookend Hugh Green and Rickey Jackson who were pretty much unblockable while Panthers
3 defensive backs ended up starting in the NFL
the ENTIRE offensive line started in the NFL: Jimbo Covert, Mark May, Russ Grimm, Rob Fada and Ron Sams.
So did two receivers, Marino, the fullback, the kicker and five more players that didn’t even start that year for Pitt.
That’s 23 NFL starters on one team! Seven of them were first-round draft picks.
That's an NFL oline protecting Marino.
Here's a Bobby Bowden quote
More than 20 years later, Bowden said this of the 1980 Pitt squad: "I've said it many times, in all my years of coaching, that Pitt team was the best college football team I have ever seen."
All five Pitt lineman ended up starting in the NFL, including bookend Hugh Green and Rickey Jackson who were pretty much unblockable while Panthers
3 defensive backs ended up starting in the NFL
the ENTIRE offensive line started in the NFL: Jimbo Covert, Mark May, Russ Grimm, Rob Fada and Ron Sams.
So did two receivers, Marino, the fullback, the kicker and five more players that didn’t even start that year for Pitt.
That’s 23 NFL starters on one team! Seven of them were first-round draft picks.
That's an NFL oline protecting Marino.
Here's a Bobby Bowden quote
More than 20 years later, Bowden said this of the 1980 Pitt squad: "I've said it many times, in all my years of coaching, that Pitt team was the best college football team I have ever seen."
This post was edited on 7/9/18 at 2:24 pm
Posted on 7/9/18 at 2:25 pm to DawgsLife
Actually Pittsburgh was trailing 29-22 in the fourth and fumbled leading to Florida State's last touchdown. And Pitt led the game "statistically."
Again, Georgia was the only choice for #1. And,on November 15th ,when bowls were announced, Notre Dame was a logical opponent,especially after their win over Alabama. But,IMO Pittsburgh was better than Notre Dame in 1980.
Also, I realize comparing scores is dicey and not always a great barometer considering all the variables that may have gone in to each game. But Georgia and Pittsburgh did have two common opponents.They both played Tennessee in Knoxville with Georgia winning 16-15 and Pittsburgh destroyed Tennessee, 30-6. Georgia beat South Carolina 13-10 in Athens and Pittsburgh easily defeated South Carolina in the Gator, 37-9.
Again, Georgia was the only choice for #1. And,on November 15th ,when bowls were announced, Notre Dame was a logical opponent,especially after their win over Alabama. But,IMO Pittsburgh was better than Notre Dame in 1980.
Also, I realize comparing scores is dicey and not always a great barometer considering all the variables that may have gone in to each game. But Georgia and Pittsburgh did have two common opponents.They both played Tennessee in Knoxville with Georgia winning 16-15 and Pittsburgh destroyed Tennessee, 30-6. Georgia beat South Carolina 13-10 in Athens and Pittsburgh easily defeated South Carolina in the Gator, 37-9.
Posted on 7/9/18 at 2:26 pm to DawgsLife
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However, I am not as certain about Pitt in 1980. They played 3 ranked teams. The lost soundly to FSU, and beat two lower ranked teams. #18 South Carolina (who ended up unranked)and #5 Penn State and Penn State ended up ranked #10. So, they ended up playing two teams that ended up ranked and one beat them soundly. Yes, they had Dan Marino, but Marino did not break through until 1981. He was probably a below average QB in 1980.
From a pure eye test standpoint, I'd err with Pitt that team was basically the USC of the East Coast stacked top to bottom with elite talent they could've beaten anyone they lined up against, also forgot Carlton Williamson (one of the members of the early 80s 49ers SB-winning secondary) and Tim Lewis (first round draft selection in 1983) comprised that team as well simply a reservoir of elite football talent
Posted on 7/9/18 at 2:30 pm to Pdubntrub
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Pitt had more than Marino.
Well, yeah. A great OLine and some others. But they didn't look all that overpowering to me that year. It all came together for them in 1981 and 1982. Mainly in 1982. They were an absolute machine. I remember watching them dominate us in our bowl game and see our chances for a National Championship slip away. I am just not sold on them being ready to be "the team" in 1980.
However, I can assure you that Bobby Bowden knows more about football than i ever will!
Posted on 7/9/18 at 2:32 pm to I-59 Tiger
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Actually Pittsburgh was trailing 29-22 in the fourth and fumbled leading to Florida State's last touchdown. And Pitt led the game "statistically."
I gotta be honest with you...I was getting Pitt 1980 confused with Pitt in 1975 or so, when Tony Dorsett was there. When you get old stuff like that happens.
This post was edited on 7/9/18 at 2:33 pm
Posted on 7/9/18 at 2:34 pm to Pdubntrub
Georgia deserved the NC that year. But, I didn't realize how bad of a game Buck Belue had until I looked at the box score. 1 of 12 for a grand total of 7 yards. Herschel had no help on offense.
Posted on 7/9/18 at 2:34 pm to koreandawg
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We were the best team in 1980. Those other teams should have beaten their schedule. We did all we could do.
To this day wonder what would've happened had UGA played SMU for the natty in 82 instead of Penn State, would've been a phenomenal game featuring Herschel, Pony Express and Michael Carter among other greats. I theorize Penn State only received the natty game berth because of their SOS, never understood the logic of a loss being superior to a tie as if losing games should be rewarded and they were blown TF out in that loss too. Nevertheless, PSU won that year's natty and defeated UGA gotta give em credit for that.
Posted on 7/10/18 at 5:04 am to lsupride87
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End of the year regular season ranked opponents for FSU in the 90s below. Trying to insinuate their run was due to weak schedules is hilarious
It absolutely helped being in the ACC.BTW one of the "ranked" ACC teams listed was 9 win team Clemson who lost to FSU 57-0 and beat ZERO top 20 teams.When you breeze through an easy conference schedule it makes it much easier to prepare for your OOC schedule.
Name one conference opponent FSU played in their initial run that was the best team on their schedule.
So you really believe they woulda had the same run in the SEC?Going almost 4 seasons with out a conference loss and losing 2 conference games 8 years...
Not even Bobby Bowden would agree with you.
quote:
"I felt that it was too difficult to win through the SEC to win a national championship," Bowden told Finebaum. "I felt like our best route would be to go through the ACC and that did prove out to be correct. I don’t know if we could have made it through the SEC."
This post was edited on 7/10/18 at 5:27 am
Posted on 7/10/18 at 5:17 am to DawgsLife
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Georgia has, as a whole, been consistent, but not really great on a National level consistently.
Ok,wasn't really my point.
We were specifically discussing the early 80's run.
Posted on 7/10/18 at 6:24 am to Pdubntrub
This is the schedule UGA won a national championship with in 1980:
Tennessee 5-6
Texas A&M 4-7
Clemson 6-5
TCU 1-10
Ole Miss 3-8
Vandy 2-9
Kentucky 3-8
South Carolina 8-4
Florida 8-4
Auburn 5-6
GA Tech 1-9-1
Notre Dame 9-2-1
So understand this for UGA in 1980:
- Their quality opponents in 1980 were two 8-win teams: Florida and SOUTH CAROLINA.
- They played two 1-win teams on their 11-game regular season schedule.
- 8 of the 11 teams they played on their regular season schedule had losing records.
- Their regular season opponent winning percentage that year was 37.8% (their average opponent was a 3 or 4 win team).
Tennessee 5-6
Texas A&M 4-7
Clemson 6-5
TCU 1-10
Ole Miss 3-8
Vandy 2-9
Kentucky 3-8
South Carolina 8-4
Florida 8-4
Auburn 5-6
GA Tech 1-9-1
Notre Dame 9-2-1
So understand this for UGA in 1980:
- Their quality opponents in 1980 were two 8-win teams: Florida and SOUTH CAROLINA.
- They played two 1-win teams on their 11-game regular season schedule.
- 8 of the 11 teams they played on their regular season schedule had losing records.
- Their regular season opponent winning percentage that year was 37.8% (their average opponent was a 3 or 4 win team).
Posted on 7/10/18 at 6:40 am to RD Dawg
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Congrats on that run in '90's with those ACC "powerhouses"
Right cause the SEC was a powerhouse in the 90s outside of Florida
Posted on 7/10/18 at 6:44 am to jj06
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Right cause the SEC was a powerhouse in the 90s outside of Florida
You do realize that the AP recognizes national championships for Alabama and Tennessee in the 90s too, right?
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