1980 Sonoma State Cossacks football team

The 1980 Sonoma State Cossacks football team represented Sonoma State University as an independent during the 1980 NCAA Division III football season. This was the first year Sonoma State played intercollegiate football since they discontinued the program after the 1971 season. The team was led by head coach Milt Cerf. Cerf was an insurance broker, who had agreed to fund the program himself in 1979.[1] Cerf led the 1979 "club" team to a 3–3 record against junior colleges and freshmen teams.[2]

1980 Sonoma State Cossacks football
ConferenceIndependent
Record6–4
Head coach
Home stadiumCossacks Stadium
Seasons
← 1971
1981 →
1980 NCAA Division III independents football records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Dayton ^     14 0 0
Millsaps     9 0 0
Wabash     8 0 1
Hofstra     8 2 0
Wagner ^     8 2 0
DePauw     7 2 1
Salisbury State     7 3 1
Catholic University     6 3 0
Sonoma State     6 4 0
Canisius     5 4 0
Brockport     5 4 1
Buffalo     6 5 0
Albany     5 5 0
Georgetown     4 4 0
San Diego     5 5 0
UCF     4 4 1
Saint Mary's     5 6 0
Duquesne     4 5 0
Frostburg State     4 5 0
Grove City     4 5 0
Norwich     4 6 0
Rochester (NY)     3 5 1
St. Norbert     3 6 0
Cortland     3 7 0
Colorado College     2 7 0
Saint Francis (PA)     2 7 0
Union (NY)     1 7 0
Fordham     0 9 0
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant

The 1980 Cossacks were again a club team.[3][4] Sonoma State finished the season with a record of 6–4. The team outscored its opponents 275 to 195 for the season. The Cossacks played home games at Cossacks Stadium[note 1] in Rohnert Park, California.

Schedule edit

DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 61:30 p.m.Chapman
W 38–03,000[5]
September 131:30 p.m.at Pomona-Pitzer
W 28–6
September 201:30 p.m.Redlands
  • Cossacks Stadium
  • Rohnert Park, CA
W 21–143,000[6]
September 271:30 p.m.at Cal State NorthridgeL 24–35300–500[7][8]
October 41:30 p.m.La Verne
  • Cossacks Stadium
  • Rohnert Park, CA
W 21–0
October 111:30 p.m.at Occidental
W 45–14800[9]
October 181:30 p.m.Saint Mary's 
  • Cossacks Stadium
  • Rohnert Park, CA
L 21–441,300[10]
October 257:30 p.m.at Humboldt State
W 49–20
November 112:30 p.m.at San DiegoL 7–14
November 81:30 p.m.Azusa Pacific
  • Cossacks Stadium
  • Rohnert Park, CA
L 21–48

[11][12]

Notes edit

  1. ^ Cossacks Stadium was renamed in 2002 to Seawolf Stadium when the University changed the name of the mascot to Seawolves.

References edit

  1. ^ Martha M. Yates. "Memories of SSU". Sonoma State University. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  2. ^ "'First year back' ends with a win". The Press Democrat. Santa Rosa, California. November 5, 1979. p. 1D. Retrieved November 17, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. 
  3. ^ Leef, Ralph (September 4, 1980). "An early 'defeat' for SSU football team". The Press Democrat. Santa Rosa, California. p. 1D. Retrieved May 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com  .
  4. ^ Leef, Ralph (September 4, 1980). "SSU (continued)". The Press Democrat. Santa Rosa, California. p. 1D. Retrieved May 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com  .
  5. ^ "Sonoma State Routs Chapman, 34-0". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. September 7, 1980. p. III-4. Retrieved November 17, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. 
  6. ^ "Cossacks claim third straight". The Press Democrat. Santa Rosa, California. September 21, 1980. p. 1D. Retrieved November 17, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. 
  7. ^ "Cal Poly Pomona Wins On a Field Goal, 20-17". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. September 28, 1980. p. III-13. Retrieved March 31, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. 
  8. ^ "Final 1980 Cumulative Football Statistics Report". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  9. ^ "Final 1980 Cumulative Football Statistics Report". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  10. ^ "Final 1980 Cumulative Football Statistics Report". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  11. ^ "SSU grid schedule". The Petaluma Argus-Courier. Petaluma, California. September 4, 1980. p. 6. Retrieved November 16, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. 
  12. ^ "Sonoma State Football - 1980". Retrieved November 14, 2017.