1980 South Carolina Gamecocks football team
Encyclopedia
The 1980 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina
in the 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season
. Led by head coach Jim Carlen
, the Gamecocks played their home games at Williams-Brice Stadium
in Columbia, South Carolina
.
. His 1,781 yards was the best in the nation and earned him a spot as a finalist for the Heisman Trophy
.
The Downtown Athletic Club
in New York City
named Rogers as the winner of the 1980 Heisman Trophy. Rogers beat out an impressive group of players, including Pittsburgh defensive lineman Hugh Green and Georgia running back Herschel Walker
. Rogers also earned spots on eight All-America teams, all First Team honors.
Rogers had his number "38" retired during halftime ceremonies at South Carolina's final 1980 home game. He was the first University of South Carolina
player to have his jersey retired while still active at the school.
Rogers left the Gamecock football program as its most successful running back, and many of his records remain after all these years. His 5,204 yards is still the highest career total by any Gamecock running back, and his 31 rushing touchdowns is tied with Harold Green for first. He is second on the all-time points scored list with 202. He also gained more than 100 yards in each of his final 22 college games.
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
in the 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season
1980 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season saw Georgia take its first national title since World War II.The Georgia Bulldogs starred freshman running back Herschel Walker, who made his NCAA debut against Tennessee. Down 15-2 at halftime, Georgia sent in Walker, the third string running back at the...
. Led by head coach Jim Carlen
Jim Carlen
-External links:...
, the Gamecocks played their home games at Williams-Brice Stadium
Williams-Brice Stadium
Williams-Brice Stadium is the home football stadium for the South Carolina Gamecocks, the college football team representing the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina...
in Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
.
Season
In 1980, the South Carolina Gamecocks returned with plenty of talent, which was headlined by senior running back and Heisman candidate 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...
. His 1,781 yards was the best in the nation and earned him a spot as a finalist for the Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
.
The Downtown Athletic Club
Downtown Athletic Club
The Downtown Athletic Club was a private social club and athletic club in a 35-story building located at 19 West Street, in Lower Manhattan, New York City, USA.-History:...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
named Rogers as the winner of the 1980 Heisman Trophy. Rogers beat out an impressive group of players, including Pittsburgh defensive lineman Hugh Green and Georgia running back Herschel Walker
Herschel Walker
Herschel Junior Walker is an American mixed martial artist and a former American football player. He played college football for the University of Georgia Bulldogs and earned the 1982 Heisman Trophy. He began his professional career with the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League...
. Rogers also earned spots on eight All-America teams, all First Team honors.
Rogers had his number "38" retired during halftime ceremonies at South Carolina's final 1980 home game. He was the first University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
player to have his jersey retired while still active at the school.
Rogers left the Gamecock football program as its most successful running back, and many of his records remain after all these years. His 5,204 yards is still the highest career total by any Gamecock running back, and his 31 rushing touchdowns is tied with Harold Green for first. He is second on the all-time points scored list with 202. He also gained more than 100 yards in each of his final 22 college games.
Schedule
The Gamecocks finished the regular season with an 8-3 record.| Game | Date | Opponent | Result | USC Gamecocks points | Opponents | Record |
| 1 | Sept. 6 | Pacific | Win | 37 | 0 | 1-0 |
| 2 | Sept. 13 | Wichita State Wichita State Shockers The Shockers are the athletic teams at Wichita State University, who compete in the NCAA Division I Missouri Valley Conference. Wichita State is well known for its fan support and its baseball program, which has the highest winning percentange of any college baseball team over the past 31 years... |
Win | 73 | 0 | 2-0 |
| 3 | Sept. 20 | @ So. Cal | Loss | 13 | 23 | 2-1 |
| 4 | Sept. 27 | @ Michigan 1980 Michigan Wolverines football team The 1980 Michigan Wolverines football team, coached by Bo Schembechler, won the Big Ten Conference championship with a record of 10–2 and defeated the Washington Huskies in the 1981 Rose Bowl game, 23–6... |
Win | 17 | 14 | 3-1 |
| 5 | Oct. 4 | North Carolina State | Win | 30 | 10 | 4-1 |
| 6 | Oct. 11 | Duke Duke Blue Devils football The Duke Blue Devils football program is a college football team that represents Duke University . The team is currently a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference , which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association . The Blue Devils compete in the Coastal... |
Win | 20 | 7 | 5-1 |
| 7 | Oct. 18 | Cincinnati Cincinnati Bearcats football The Cincinnati Bearcats football program represents the University of Cincinnati in a college football. They compete at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level as members of the Big East Conference. The Bearcat football program is one of the nation's oldest, having fielded a team as... |
Win | 49 | 7 | 6-1 |
| 8 | Nov. 1 | @ Georgia | Loss | 10 | 13 | 6-2 |
| 9 | Nov. 8 | The Citadel | Win | 45 | 24 | 7-2 |
| 10 | Nov. 15 | Wake Forest | Win | 39 | 38 | 8-2 |
| 11 | Nov. 22 | @ Clemson Clemson Tigers football The Clemson Tigers football team is an American football team from Clemson University in South Carolina. It competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference... |
Loss | 6 | 27 | 8-3 |
Team players in the NFL
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | NFL Club |
| George Rogers George 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... |
Running Back | 1 | 1 | New Orleans Saints |