1979 College Football All-America Team
Encyclopedia
The 1979 College Football All-America team is composed of various organizations that choose College All-America teams that season. The organizations that chose the teams were Associated Press
, United Press International
, Newspaper Enterprise Association, Football Writers Association of America
, American Football Coaches Association
, Walter Camp Foundation, and The Sporting News
.
AP, UPI, and NEA were all press organizations that polled writers and players. FWAA was also a poll of writers, as was the Walter Camp Foundation. The AFCA was a poll of college coaches. The Sporting News chose a team for their publications. AP, UPI, NEA,The Sporting News and Pro Football Weekly chose both first and second teams. AP, UPI, NEA, also listed numerous honorable mentions.
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
, United Press International
United Press International
United Press International is a once-major international news agency, whose newswires, photo, news film and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines and radio and television stations for most of the twentieth century...
, Newspaper Enterprise Association, Football Writers Association of America
Football Writers Association of America
The Football Writers Association of America is one of the organizations whose College Football All-America Team is recognized by the NCAA...
, American Football Coaches Association
American Football Coaches Association
The American Football Coaches Association is an association of over 11,000 football coaches and staff on all levels. According to its constitution, some of the main goals of the American Football Coaches Association are to "maintain the highest possible standards in football and the profession of...
, Walter Camp Foundation, and The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
.
AP, UPI, and NEA were all press organizations that polled writers and players. FWAA was also a poll of writers, as was the Walter Camp Foundation. The AFCA was a poll of college coaches. The Sporting News chose a team for their publications. AP, UPI, NEA,The Sporting News and Pro Football Weekly chose both first and second teams. AP, UPI, NEA, also listed numerous honorable mentions.
Receivers
- Ken MargerumKen MargerumKenneth Margerum is a retired American football player. Margerum has coached in several capacities at the college level, as head football coach at Menlo College , wide receivers coach at Stanford University and University of Hawaii, and through the 2009 season as an assistant coach for the San...
, Stanford (AP, UPI, NEA, WC, AFCA, TSN) - Art MonkArt MonkJames Arthur "Art" Monk is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins, New York Jets, and the Philadelphia Eagles...
, Syracuse (FWAA) - Johnny Lam Jones, Texas (TSN)
Tackles
- Greg Kolenda, Arkansas (AP, UPI, NEA, WC, AFCA, FWAA)
- Tim Foley, Notre Dame (UPI, NEA, TSN)
- Melvin JonesMelvin Jones (American football)Melvin Earl Jones is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins. He played college football at the University of Houston and was drafted in the seventh round of the 1980 NFL Draft....
, Houston (WC, AFCA) - Stan BrockStan Brock-External links:...
, Colorado (TSN)
Guards
- Brad BuddeBrad BuddeBrad Edward Budde is a former American football offensive guard in the National Football League .-College career:...
, USC (AP, UPI, NEA, WC, AFCA, FWAA, TSN) - Ken Fritz, Ohio State (AP, UPI, NEA, WC, FWAA)
- Jim Bunch, Alabama (AP, AFCA, FWAA)
- Ray SnellRay SnellRay Snell is a former guard in the National Football League for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, most notably, along with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tampa Bay, using their 4th ever first round draft pick, acquired Snell with the 22nd in the first round of the 1980 NFL Draft...
, Wisconsin (TSN)
Centers
- Jim RitcherJim Ritcher-Career:He started his career playing high school football for Highland High School in Medina, Ohio and was an All-American at North Carolina State and won the Outland Trophy in 1979 as the nation's best offensive lineman. In the National Football League, Richer was moved to guard from center by...
, North Carolina State (AP, UPI, NEA, WC, AFCA, FWAA, TSN)
Quarterbacks
- Marc Wilson, Brigham Young (AP, UPI, WC, AFCA, FWAA)
- Art SchlichterArt SchlichterArthur Ernest Schlichter is a retired college and professional American football quarterback, sometimes known for his compulsive gambling and the legal problems especially gambling that arose from it...
, Ohio State (NEA, TSN)
Running backs
- Charles WhiteCharles White (American football)Charles White is a former professional American football running back. He had a distinguished college career and later played in the National Football League for the Cleveland Browns and the Los Angeles Rams.-College football:...
, USC (AP, UPI, NEA, WC, AFCA, FWAA, TSN) - Billy SimsBilly SimsBilly Sims is a former college football and NFL running back. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1978.-Early years:...
, Oklahoma (AP, UPI, NEA, WC, AFCA, FWAA, TSN) - Vagas FergusonVagas FergusonVagas Ferguson was a star running back for the University of Notre Dame who continued on to the National Football League for three seasons with the New England Patriots, who drafted him in the first round, the Cleveland Browns, and the Houston Oilers.In 1979, his senior season at Notre Dame,...
, Notre Dame (UPI, WC, AFCA, FWAA) - George RogersGeorge Rogers (American football)George Washington Rogers is a former American football player who achieved distinction in both the college and professional ranks as a running back...
, South Carolina (AP, NEA)
Ends
- Hugh Green, Pittsburgh (AP, UPI, NEA, WC, AFCA, FWAA, TSN)
- Curtis GreerCurtis GreerCurtis Greer is a former professional American football player who was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the first round of the 1980 NFL Draft. A 6'4", 256 lbs. defensive end from the University of Michigan, Greer played in eight NFL seasons from 1980 to 1987 for the Cardinals...
, Michigan (NEA, AFCA, FWAA) - Jacob GreenJacob GreenJacob Carl Green is a former American football defensive end. He played college football for Texas A&M....
, Texas A&M (AP, WC)
Tackles
- Steve McMichaelSteve McMichael-World Wrestling Federation :After the end of his NFL career, he appeared at ringside in the WWF for Lawrence Taylor at WrestleMania XI on April 2, 1995 in Hartford, Connecticut. Taylor was wrestling Bam Bam Bigelow and there were several football players at ringside to keep wrestlers from...
, Texas (AP, UPI, WC, AFCA, FWAA) - Bruce ClarkBruce Clark (American football)Bruce Clark is a former American football defensive end who played eight seasons in the National Football League for the New Orleans Saints and the Kansas City Chiefs. He was drafted in the 1980 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers, but chose to play in the Canadian Football League. Clark played two...
, Penn State (UPI, NEA, WC, AFCA, FWAA, TSN) - Jim StuckeyJim StuckeyJames Stuckey is a former American Football defensive tackle who played for the San Francisco 49ers and the New York Jets in a seven year career that lasted from 1980 to 1986 in the National Football League....
, Clemson (AP, UPI, NEA, FWAA, TSN) - Hosea TaylorHosea TaylorHosea Taylor is a former American football defensive end for the Baltimore Colts. He played 16 games in the 1981 NFL season as well as four games in the 1983 NFL season...
, Houston (NEA) - Rulon JonesRulon JonesRulon Jones is a retired American football defensive lineman.Jones was drafted out of the Utah State University in the 1980 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos. He played his entire career in Denver. During his career, Jones played in 129 games and recorded 52.5 official quarterback sacks...
, Utah State (TSN)
Linebackers
- George CumbyGeorge CumbyGeorge Edward Cumby is a former NFL football player. After graduating from Bishop T.K. Gorman High School in 1975, he went on to become a three-time All-American at the University of Oklahoma, , being a consensus choice in 1979...
, Oklahoma (AP, UPI, NEA, WC, AFCA, FWAA, TSN) - Mike SingletaryMike SingletaryMichael "Mike" Singletary is an American football coach and former professional football player. He is currently the linebacker coach and assistant head coach for the Minnesota Vikings of the NFL....
, Baylor (AP, WC, AFCA, FWAA) - Ron SimpkinsRon SimpkinsRonald Bernard Simpkins is a former linebacker who played seven seasons in the National Football League with the Cincinnati Bengals. Simpkins played college football at the University of Michigan, where he was an All-American....
, Michigan (AP, UPI, WC, FWAA) - Dennis JohnsonDennis Johnson (linebacker)Dennis Craig Johnson is a former professional American football linebacker in the National Football League. He played six seasons for the Minnesota Vikings and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ....
, USC (UPI, TSN) - Otis WilsonOtis WilsonOtis Ray Wilson is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League for the Chicago Bears and the Los Angeles Raiders. He won a Super Bowl as a member of the 1985 Chicago Bears...
, Louisville (NEA, TSN) - Dave Hodge, Houstom (AFCA)
Backs
- Kenny EasleyKenny EasleyKenny Mason Easley Jr. is a former American football strong safety who played seven seasons for the Seattle Seahawks from 1981 to 1987 in the National Football League...
, UCLA (AP, UPI, NEA, WC, AFCA, FWAA, TSN) - Johnnie JohnsonJohnnie Johnson (American football)Johnnie Johnson was a member of the Los Angeles Rams from 1980 to 1988. He played cornerback and safety. Johnson played football for the University of Texas from 1976 to 1979. He was a unanimous All-America selection at defensive back in 1978 and 1979...
, Texas (AP, UPI, NEA, WC, AFCA, FWAA, TSN) - Roland JamesRoland JamesRoland Orlando James is a former American football defensive back who was selected by the New England Patriots in the first round of the 1980 NFL Draft. At 6'2", 190 lbs from the University of Tennessee, James played his entire NFL career for the Patriots from 1980 to 1990...
, Tennessee (UPI, NEA, WC, AFCA, FWAA, TSN) - Don McNealDon McNealDon McNeal is a former American professional football player who played defensive back for the Miami Dolphins in the 1980s....
, Alabama (NEA, TSN) - Mark HaynesMark HaynesMark Haynes is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League who played in three Pro Bowls as a member of the New York Giants, and in three Super Bowls for the Denver Broncos....
, Colorado (AP)
Punters
- Jim MillerJim Miller (punter)James Gordon Miller is a former American football punter in the National Football League for the San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, and the New York Giants.-College career:...
, Mississippi (UPI, NEA, WC, FWAA, TSN)
Key
- AP - Associated Press
- UPI - United Press International
- NEA - Newspaper Enterprise Association
- FWAA - Football Writers Association of America
- WC - Walter Camp Foundation
- AFCA - American Football Coaches Association
- TSN - The Sporting News
- PFW - Pro Football Weekly
- FN - Football News
- 1 - First Team Selection
- 2 - Second Team Selection