1980 Pittsburgh Panthers football team

1980 Pittsburgh Panthers football
National champion (CFRA, DeVold, New York Times)
Co-national champion (FACT, Sagarin)
Gator Bowl champion
Eastern champion
ConferenceIndependent
Ranking
CoachesNo. 2
APNo. 2
Record11–1
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorWally English (2nd season)
Offensive schemeMultiple pro-style
Defensive coordinatorFoge Fazio (2nd season)
Base defenseMultiple front
Home stadiumPitt Stadium
1980 NCAA Division I-A independents football records
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 2   –   –   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 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh as an independent during the 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season. Despite losing one game, the Panthers were named national champion by NCAA-designated major selectors DeVold System, Football Research, and The New York Times,[1] while also named co-national champion by Rothman (FACT) and Sagarin.[2] The university does not claim a national championship for this season, nor are the Panthers popularly recognized for winning that year's national championship. Pitt was awarded the Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy as the champion of the East.

The team is noteworthy for featuring four future members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame: linebacker Rickey Jackson, center Russ Grimm, tackle Jimbo Covert, and quarterback Dan Marino. Several other players on the team, including Mark May and Hugh Green, would go on to be Pro Bowl NFL stars.

Championship selections

Selectors that named Pitt the 1980 national champion:[3]

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 131:30 p.m.Boston CollegeNo. 3
ABCW 14–644,820[4]
September 202:30 p.m.at KansasNo. 5
W 18–341,300[5]
September 271:30 p.m.TempleNo. 6
  • Pitt Stadium
  • Pittsburgh, PA
W 36–247,071[6]
October 41:30 p.m.MarylandNo. 6
  • Pitt Stadium
  • Pittsburgh, PA
W 38–947,409[7]
October 117:00 p.m.at No. 11 Florida StateNo. 4
L 22–3652,894[8]
October 181:30 p.m.West VirginiaNo. 11
  • Pitt Stadium
  • Pittsburgh, PA (rivalry)
W 42–1455,130[9]
October 252:00 p.m.at TennesseeNo. 12
W 30–694,008[10]
November 14:00 p.m.at SyracuseNo. 11
ABCW 43–650,243[11]
November 81:30 p.m.LouisvilleNo. 9
  • Pitt Stadium
  • Pittsburgh, PA
W 41–2347,280[12]
November 151:30 p.m.at ArmyNo. 8
W 45–731,150[13]
November 281:00 p.m.at No. 5 Penn StateNo. 4
ABCW 14–982,459[14]
December 299:00 p.m.vs. No. 18 South CarolinaNo. 3
ABCW 37–972,297[15]

[16]

Game summaries

Boston College

See also: 1980 Boston College Eagles football team
Boston College Eagles at No. 3 Pittsburgh Panthers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Eagles 0 0 606
No. 3 Panthers 0 8 6014

at Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA

  • Date: September 13
  • Game time: 1:30 PM EDT
  • Game attendance: 44,820
  • TV: ABC
Statistics BC PITT
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Boston College Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Pittsburgh Passing
Rushing
Receiving

At Kansas

See also: 1980 Kansas Jayhawks football team
No. 5 Pittsburgh Panthers at Kansas Jayhawks – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 5 Panthers 0 10 6218
Jayhawks 3 0 003

at Memorial Stadium • Lawrence, KS

  • Date: September 20
  • Game time: 2:30 PM EDT
  • Game attendance: 41,300
Statistics PITT KU
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Pittsburgh Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Kansas Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Temple

See also: 1980 Temple Owls football team
Temple Owls at No. 6 Pittsburgh Panthers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Owls 2 0 002
No. 6 Panthers 13 13 3736

at Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA

  • Date: September 27
  • Game time: 1:30 PM EDT
  • Game attendance: 47,071
Statistics TU PITT
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Temple Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Pittsburgh Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Maryland

See also: 1980 Maryland Terrapins football team
Maryland Terrapins at No. 6 Pittsburgh Panthers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Terrapins 0 3 609
No. 6 Panthers 14 7 31438

at Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA

  • Date: October 4
  • Game time: 1:30 PM EDT
  • Game attendance: 47,409
Statistics MD PITT
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Maryland Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Pittsburgh Passing
Rushing
Receiving

At #11 Florida State

See also: 1980 Florida State Seminoles football team
No. 4 Pittsburgh Panthers at No. 11 Florida State Seminoles – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 4 Panthers 7 0 15022
No. 11 Seminoles 3 20 6736

at Doak Campbell Stadium • Tallahassee, FL

  • Date: October 11
  • Game time: 7:00 PM EDT
  • Game attendance: 52,894
Statistics PITT FSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Pittsburgh Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Florida State Passing
Rushing
Receiving

West Virginia

See also: 1980 West Virginia Mountaineers football team and Backyard Brawl
West Virginia Mountaineers at No. 11 Pittsburgh Panthers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Mountaineers 7 0 7014
No. 11 Panthers 7 28 0742

at Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA

  • Date: October 18
  • Game time: 1:30 PM EDT
  • Game attendance: 55,130
  • [17]
Statistics WVU PITT
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
West Virginia Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Pittsburgh Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Starting free safety Rick Trocano moved over to offense in the second quarter to replace the injured Dan Marino. Previously the starter at QB in 1978, Trocano led Pitt to four second-quarter touchdowns during the Panthers' win at Pitt Stadium.[18]

At Tennessee

See also: 1980 Tennessee Volunteers football team
No. 12 Pittsburgh Panthers at Tennessee Volunteers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 12 Panthers 3 13 01430
Volunteers 6 0 006

at Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, TN

  • Date: October 25
  • Game time: 2:00 PM EDT
  • Game attendance: 94,008
Statistics PITT TENN
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Pittsburgh Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Tennessee Passing
Rushing
Receiving

At Syracuse

See also: 1980 Syracuse Orangemen football team and Pittsburgh–Syracuse football rivalry
No. 11 Pittsburgh Panthers at Syracuse Orangemen – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 11 Panthers 12 14 31443
Orangemen 0 6 006

at Carrier Dome • Syracuse, NY

Statistics PITT SYR
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Pittsburgh Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Syracuse Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Louisville

See also: 1980 Louisville Cardinals football team
Louisville Cardinals at No. 9 Pittsburgh Panthers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 0 9 01423
No. 9 Panthers 0 20 21041

at Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Date: November 8
  • Game time: 1:30 PM EST
  • Game attendance: 47,280
Statistics LOU PITT
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Louisville Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Pittsburgh Passing
Rushing
Receiving

At Army

See also: 1980 Army Cadets football team
No. 8 Pittsburgh Panthers at Army Cadets – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 8 Panthers 28 7 3745
Cadets 0 7 007

at Michie Stadium • West Point, NY

  • Date: November 15
  • Game time: 1:30 PM EST
  • Game attendance: 31,150
Statistics PITT ARMY
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Pittsburgh Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Army Passing
Rushing
Receiving

At #5 Penn State

See also: 1980 Penn State Nittany Lions football team and Penn State–Pittsburgh football rivalry
No. 4 Pittsburgh Panthers at No. 5 Penn State Nittany Lions – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 4 Panthers 0 7 7014
No. 5 Nittany Lions 3 0 609

at Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA

  • Date: November 28
  • Game time: 1:00 PM EST
  • Game attendance: 82,459
  • TV: ABC
Statistics PITT PSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Pittsburgh Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Penn State Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Vs. #18 South Carolina (Gator Bowl)

See also: 1980 South Carolina Gamecocks football team and 1980 Gator Bowl
1980 Gator Bowl: #3 Pittsburgh Panthers vs. #18 South Carolina Gamecocks – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 3 Panthers 10 7 17337
No. 18 Gamecocks 0 3 069

at Gator Bowl Stadium • Jacksonville, FL

  • Date: December 29
  • Game time: 9:00 PM EST
  • Game attendance: 72,297
  • Referee: Robert Carpenter (ACC)
  • TV announcers (ABC): Al Michaels (play-by-play), Ara Parseghian (color commentator) and Steve Davis (sideline reporter)
Statistics PITT S CAR
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Pittsburgh Passing
Rushing
Receiving
South Carolina Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Personnel

Coaching staff

1980 Pittsburgh Panthers football staff
Coaching staff
  • Jackie Sherrill – Head coach
  • Foge Fazio – Assistant head coach/defensive coordinator
  • Wally English – Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks
  • Joe Daniels – Running backs
  • Ron Dickerson – Defensive backs
  • Bob Matey – Defensive line
  • Joe Moore – Offensive line
  • Joe Naunchik – Receivers
  • Ray Zingler – Defensive ends
   Support staff
  • Alex Kramer – Administrative assistant
  • Kevin Dickey – Recruiting doordinator
  • Nick Rapone – Part-Time Assistant
  • Bob Davie – Part-Time Assistant
  • Kirk Ferentz – Part-Time Assistant
   Strength and conditioning staff
  • Buddy Morris – Weight training coordinator

Roster

1980 Pittsburgh Panthers football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
G 70 Emil Boures Jr
OT 75 Jimbo Covert So
C 56 Russ Grimm Sr
QB 13 Dan Marino So
OT 73 Mark May Sr
RB 40 Randy McMillan Sr
TE 84 Benjie Pryor Sr
G 77 Ron Sams So
QB 8 Rick Trocano Sr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
DT 68 Jerry Boyarsky Sr
DB 5 Tom Flynn Fr
DE 99 Hugh Green Sr
DE 87 Rickey Jackson Sr
DB 26 Tim Lewis So
DT 71 Bill Maas Fr
DT 86 Greg Meisner Sr
DT 76 Bill Neill Sr
CB 3 Lynn Thomas Sr
SS 48 Carlton Williamson Sr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
K 1 David Trout Sr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured
  • Redshirt

[19]

Awards and honors

  • Hugh Green, Walter Camp Award[20]
  • Hugh Green, Lombardi Award[21]
  • Hugh Green, Maxwell Award[22]
  • Mark May, Outland Trophy[23]

Team players drafted into the NFL

Player Position Round Pick NFL club
Hugh Green Defensive end 1 7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Randy McMillan Running back 1 12 Baltimore Colts
Mark May Tackle 1 20 Washington Redskins
Rickey Jackson Linebacker 2 51 New Orleans Saints
Greg Meisner Defensive tackle 3 63 Los Angeles Rams
Carlton Williamson Defensive back 3 65 San Francisco 49ers
Russ Grimm Center 3 69 Washington Redskins
Bill Neill Defensive tackle 5 115 New York Giants
Benjie Pryor Tight end 5 120 Cincinnati Bengals
Lynn Thomas Defensive back 5 121 San Francisco 49ers
Jerry Boyarsky Defensive tackle 5 128 New Orleans Saints
Rick Trocano Quarterback 11 292 Pittsburgh Steelers

[24]

Media

Radio

Flagship station Play-by-play Color commentator Sideline reporter Studio host
WTAE–AM 1250 Bill Hillgrove John Sauer

References

  1. ^ a b White Jr., Gordon S. (January 4, 1981). "Georgia No. 1 in Both Wire Polls; Pitt Heads The Times Ranking". The New York Times. sec. 5 pp. 1, 7. The Times ranking indicated that Georgia did not play as strong a schedule as some of the teams ranked above it. Georgia's opponents had a composite won-lost-tied record of 55-78-2 for .414, the lowest percentage in that category among the top 20 teams in the final computer ranking. [...] Pittsburgh took the No. 1 spot on the computer by the narrowest margin since The Times started the weekly evaluation.
  2. ^ 2018 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. August 2018. p. 114. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
  3. ^ "College Football Data Warehouse: Yearly National Championship Selections". Archived from the original on February 11, 2010. Retrieved January 29, 2009.
  4. ^ "Nine turnovers, but Pitt wins". St. Petersburg Times. September 14, 1980. p. 7C – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Pitt sputters, then rolls by Kansas 18–3". The Kansas City Star. September 21, 1980. Retrieved November 4, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Panthers rout Temple despite injury to Marino". The Palm Beach Post. September 28, 1980. Retrieved August 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Pitt stops Terps cold". The Daily Times. October 5, 1980. Retrieved January 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Seminoles sizzle on". St. Petersburg Times. October 12, 1980. Retrieved November 4, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Pitt rips West Virginia". The Anniston Star. October 19, 1980. Retrieved November 4, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Sub quarterback Trocano paces Pitt victory 30–6". The Morning News. October 26, 1980. Retrieved May 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Trocano, Pittsburgh pummel Syracuse". Wisconsin State Journal. November 2, 1980. Retrieved November 4, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Pitt stops Louisville". The Dothan Eagle. November 9, 1980. Retrieved November 4, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "No. 8 Pitt powers past hapless Cadets, 45–7". Mount Vernon Argus. November 16, 1980. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Pitt edges Penn State, 14–9". The Abilene Reporter-News. November 29, 1980. Retrieved November 4, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Pittsburgh pounds South Carolina 37–9". The Palm Beach Post. December 30, 1980. Retrieved January 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "1980 Pitt Panthers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  17. ^ Gadsden Times. 1980 Oct 19. Retrieved 2018-Dec-16.
  18. ^ "Site Unavailable". Archived from the original on October 25, 2009.
  19. ^ "Saturday's game rosters". Lawrence Journal-World. (Kansas). September 19, 1980. p. 16.
  20. ^ "Football". Archived from the original on January 7, 2008. Retrieved January 6, 2009.
  21. ^ "NCAA College Football Awards - ESPN".
  22. ^ "NCAA College Football Awards - ESPN".
  23. ^ "FWAA > Awards > Outland Trophy > Winners". Archived from the original on January 2, 2009. Retrieved January 6, 2009.
  24. ^ "1981 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Archived from the original on December 21, 2007.
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