1980 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team

The 1980 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team represented Mississippi State University during the 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season. The season is best known for a win over then-#1 Alabama, often considered to be the greatest win in school history.[1][2]

1980 Mississippi State Bulldogs football
Sun Bowl, L 17–31 vs. Nebraska
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
Ranking
APNo. 19
Record9–3 (5–1 SEC)
Head coach
Defensive coordinatorMelvin Robertson (2nd season)
Home stadiumScott Field
Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium
Seasons
← 1979
1981 →
1980 Southeastern Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 1 Georgia $ 6 0 0 12 0 0
No. 19 Mississippi State 5 1 0 9 3 0
No. 6 Alabama 5 1 0 10 2 0
LSU 4 2 0 7 4 0
Florida 4 2 0 8 4 0
Tennessee 3 3 0 5 6 0
Ole Miss 2 4 0 3 8 0
Kentucky 1 5 0 3 8 0
Auburn 0 6 0 5 6 0
Vanderbilt 0 6 0 2 9 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

Schedule edit

DateOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 6at Memphis State*W 34–745,789[3]
September 13Louisiana Tech*W 31–1132,812[4]
September 20at VanderbiltW 24–1429,300[5]
September 27at FloridaL 15–2156,225[6]
October 4at Illinois*W 28–2160,889[7]
October 11Southern Miss*
  • Scott Field
  • Starkville, MS
L 14–4236,211[8]
October 18at No. 18 Miami (FL)*W 34–3117,806[9]
October 25AuburnW 24–2140,822[10]
November 1No. 1 Alabama
  • Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium
  • Jackson, MS (rivalry)
W 6–350,891[11]
November 15LSUNo. 19
  • Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium
  • Jackson, MS (rivalry)
W 55–3148,863[12]
November 22vs. Ole MissNo. 17
  • Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium
  • Jackson, MS (Egg Bowl)
W 19–1462,520[13]
December 27vs. No. 8 Nebraska*No. 17CBSL 17–3134,723[14]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[15]

Personnel edit

1980 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
WR Black
QB 13 John Bond Fr
WR James Otis Doss
OL Matt Edwards
WR David Ellis
OL Ronman Grace
RB Michael Haddix
OL Wayne Harris
C 58 Kent Hull
RB Donald Ray King
RB Danny Knight
RB Henry Koontz
OL Alan Massey
RB Mardye McDole
OL Mike McDonald
QB Robby Mink
QB Tim Parenton
WR Jerry Price
RB Lamar Windham
RB George Wonsley
WR Glen Young
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
DL Eamie Barnes
DE 79 Glen Collins
LB 99 Johnie Cooks
LB Don Edwards
DB Lawrence Evans
DB Rob Fesmire
DB Larry Friday
DL Ricky George
DL Billy Jackson
DB Willie Jackson
DB Steve Johnson
DL Tyrone Keys
LB Rusty Martin
DL Mike McEnany
LB Curtis Stowers
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
K, P Dana Moore
K Bob Morgan
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches

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

Game summaries edit

vs Ole Miss edit

Ole Miss Rebels (3–7) vs. #17 Mississippi State Bulldogs (8–2)
Period 1 2 34Total
Mississippi St 10 0 3619
Ole Miss 0 7 0714

at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, Jackson, Mississippi

  • Date: November 22, 1980
  • Game weather: Rain
  • Game attendance: 62,520
Team Category Player Statistics
Mississippi St Passing John Bond 8/14, 151 Yds
Rushing John Bond 15 Rush, 163 Yds, TD
Receiving
Ole Miss Passing
Rushing
Receiving

[16]

References edit

  1. ^ Metal Building Dawg (October 23, 2012). "History of MSU vs. Alabama". ForWhomtheCowbellTolls.com.
  2. ^ The Croom Diaries (October 27, 2012). "Is This the Biggest Game in MSU History?". MaroonAndWhiteNation.com.
  3. ^ "Growling Bulldogs bite, then bury Tigers". The Commercial Appeal. September 7, 1980. Retrieved October 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Miss. State 31, Louisiana Tech 11". The Clarion-Ledger. September 14, 1980. Retrieved July 2, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Vandy drops first SEC game 24–14". The Daily News-Journal. September 21, 1980. Retrieved October 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Florida snaps SEC jinx". The Tennessean. September 28, 1980. Retrieved October 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "State holds on to defeat Illinois 28–21". The Greenwood Commonwealth. October 5, 1980. Retrieved October 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "42–14: USM hands out a 'Dog-whippin'". The Clarion-Ledger. October 12, 1980. Retrieved March 25, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "'Canes blow opportunity". The Tampa Tribune-Times. October 19, 1980. Retrieved October 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "24–21, State's goal-line stand saved a MSU victory and may have cost Auburn's Doug Barfield his job". The Clarion-Ledger. October 26, 1980. Retrieved October 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Mississippi State stuns Alabama". The Montgomery Advertiser. November 2, 1980. Retrieved February 19, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Third quarter explosion blows Maroons by LSU". The Crowley Post-Signal. November 16, 1980. Retrieved October 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Bond leads 'Dogs over Rebels". Enterprise-Journal. November 23, 1980. Retrieved October 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Cornhuskers mug Mississippi State". The Cincinnati Enquirer. December 28, 1980. Retrieved October 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "1980 Mississippi State Bulldogs Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  16. ^ "Bond Leads MSU Over Mississippi." Ocala Star-Banner. pg. 3C. 1980-Nov-23. Retrieved 2022-Dec-17.