1980 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team

1980 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football
ConferenceIndependent
Record1–9–1
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorLarry Travis (3rd season)
Defensive coordinatorKen Blair (1st season)
CaptainBen Utt
Duane Wood
Ken Taylor
Darrell Thomas
Home stadiumGrant Field
Seasons
← 1979
1981 →
1980 NCAA Division I-A independents football records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 2 Pittsburgh       11 1 0
Tennessee State       9 1 0
No. 5 Florida State       10 2 0
No. 8 Penn State       10 2 0
No. 9 Notre Dame       9 2 1
No. 18 Miami (FL)       9 3 0
Southern Miss       9 3 0
Navy       8 4 0
South Carolina       8 4 0
Virginia Tech       8 4 0
Boston College       7 4 0
Northeast Louisiana       7 4 0
Rutgers       7 4 0
UNLV       7 4 0
Tulane       7 5 0
Colgate       5 4 1
North Texas State       6 5 0
Villanova       6 5 0
West Virginia       6 6 0
Louisville       5 6 0
Richmond       5 6 0
Syracuse       5 6 0
East Carolina       4 7 0
Illinois State       4 7 0
Temple       4 7 0
Army       3 7 1
Holy Cross       3 8 0
Cincinnati       2 9 0
Memphis State       2 9 0
William & Mary       2 9 0
Georgia Tech       1 9 1
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1980 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team represented the Georgia Institute of Technology during the 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Yellow Jackets were led by first-year head coach Bill Curry, and played their home games at Grant Field in Atlanta. Georgia Tech struggled mightily under Curry, finishing with one of the worst records in Georgia Tech history with 1 win, 9 losses, and 1 tie. A major highlight was achieved, however, when the Yellow Jackets produced a 3–3 tie against the number one team in the country, the undefeated Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Schedule

[edit]
DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 6at No. 2 AlabamaL 3–2678,410[1]
September 20FloridaL 12–4535,165[2]
September 27Memphis State
  • Grant Field
  • Atlanta, GA
W 17–828,062[3]
October 4at No. 10 North CarolinaL 0–3349,750[4]
October 11Tennessee
L 10–2350,127[5]
October 18at AuburnL 14–1757,950[6]
October 25Tulanedagger
  • Grant Field
  • Atlanta, GA
L 14–3135,119[7]
November 1at DukeL 12–1718,200[8]
November 8No. 1 Notre Dame
T 3–341,226[9]
November 15Navy
  • Grant Field
  • Atlanta, GA
L 8–1917,631[10]
November 29at No. 1 GeorgiaL 20–3862,800[11]
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[12][13]

Roster

[edit]
1980 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
RB 29 David Allen Jr
WR 80 Leon Chadwick Sr
RB 26 Ronny Cone So
TE 85 Glenn Etheridge So
G 76 Ellis Gardner So
WR 83 Marlon Heggs Sr
OL 62 Ken Howell
QB 2 Mike Kelley Jr
WR 82 Kris Kentera Jr
OT 78 Dave Lutz So
QB 18 Ted Peeples Sr
C 60 Mark Schultz So
G 64 Ben Utt (C) Sr
QB, TE Ken Whisenhunt Fr
FB 46 Dan Wood Sr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
DL 92 Mark Bradley Jr
DE 74 Marvin Dyett So
LB 95 Sheldon Fox Sr
LB 56 Robert Jaracz Fr
S 24 Lawrence Lowe Sr
LB Steve Mooney
DE 96 Rick Olive Sr
DB Mark Sheffield
LB 43 Lance Skelton Jr
DB 28 Ken Taylor (C) Sr
DB 41 Ted Thurson So
DL Lynwood Volley
LB 49 Duane Wood So
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
P 8 Jeff Pierce Sr
K Johnny Smith
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Larry Travis – Offensive coordinator/offensive line
  • Rip SchererQuarterbacks
  • Jeff McLean – Running backs
  • Terry Tuley – Running backs
  • Mac McWhorterWide receivers
  • Brad Roper – Tight ends
  • Mark Hunter – Offensive line
  • Ken Blair – Defensive coordinator
  • Romeo CrennelDefensive line
  • Mike Dean – Defensive backs
  • John Fabris – Defensive assistant

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Jackets can't stem Tide, 26–3". The Atlanta Constitution. September 7, 1980. Retrieved February 19, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Lightning, Gators strike Tech". The Macon Telegraph & News. September 21, 1980. Retrieved October 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Tigers discover offense, but fall at Tech". The Commercial Appeal. September 28, 1980. Retrieved July 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "North Carolina rolls over Georgia Tech". The Victoria Advocate. October 5, 1980. Retrieved January 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Vols find a 'foot' the best weapon". The Tampa Tribune-Times. October 12, 1980. Retrieved May 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Auburn one up on Tech". The Dothan Eagle. October 19, 1980. Retrieved October 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Jackets' late rally falls short, 31–14". The Atlanta Constitution. October 26, 1980. Retrieved July 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Tech hits a new low in 17–12 fall to Duke". The Atlanta Journal & Constitution. November 2, 1980. Retrieved January 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Notre Dame ties Tech, 3–3". The Indianapolis Star. November 9, 1980. Retrieved July 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Navy wrecks Ga. Tech, 19–8". The Baltimore Sun. November 16, 1980. Retrieved July 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Georgia keeps record perfect". The Macon Telegraph & News. November 30, 1980. Retrieved October 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "1980 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Schedule and Results". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  13. ^ 2011 Georgia Tech Media Guide Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine. p. 173