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American college football season
The 1980 LSU Tigers football team represented
Louisiana State University (LSU) as a member of the
Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the
1980 NCAA Division I-A football season . Led by first-year head coach
Jerry Stovall , the Tigers compiled an overall record of 7–4, with a mark of 4–2 in conference play, and finished tied for fourth in the SEC.
[1]
Bo Rein was hired November 30, 1979 after four seasons at
North Carolina State as the successor to
Charles McClendon , who compiled a 137–59–7 record in 18 seasons. Rein's tenure was cut short after only 42 days when he died in a plane crash January 10, 1980.
Jerry Stovall , a former LSU All-American and nine-year
National Football League veteran with the
St. Louis Cardinals , was approved as Rein's successor approximately 36 hours after the plane crash.
LSU was tied for first place in the
Southeastern Conference following a Nov. 1 victory over
Ole Miss , but subsequent one-sided road losses to
Alabama and
Mississippi State led bowls to snub the Tigers. LSU ended on a high note by drubbing bowl-bound Tulane.
As of
2021 , this is the last LSU team to finish with a winning record and not be invited to a bowl.
Schedule
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 6 No. 13
Florida State * L 0–1677,535
[2]
September 13
Kansas State * Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA W 21–075,405
[3]
September 20
Colorado * Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA W 23–2074,999
[4]
September 27 at
Rice * L 7–1741,000
[5]
October 4 at No. 19
Florida W 24–759,299
[6]
October 11
Auburn Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA (
rivalry ) W 21–1776,094
[7]
October 18 at
Kentucky W 17–1057,800
[8]
November 1
Ole Miss Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA (
rivalry ) W 38–1671,422
[9]
November 8 at No. 6
Alabama L 7–2860,210
[10]
November 15 at No. 19
Mississippi State L 31–5548,863
[11]
November 22
Tulane * W 24–769,248
[12]
*Non-conference game HomecomingRankings from
AP Poll released prior to the game
[13]
Roster
1980 LSU Tigers football team roster
Players
Coaches
Offense
Defense
Special teams
Pos.
#
Name
Class
K
5
David Johnston
Jr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
George Belu – Offensive coordinator/offensive line
Bob Gatling – Quarterbacks
Darrel Moody – Running backs
Stephen Regan – Wide receivers
Otis Washington – Offensive line
Greg Williams – Defensive coordinator/defensive backs
Pete Jenkins – Defensive line
Bishop Harris – Outside linebackers
Bobby Morrison – Inside linebackers
Legend
(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
Injured
Redshirt
Roster
References
^
"1980 LSU Fighting Tigers Schedule and Results" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 31, 2023 .
^
"Seminole defense whitewashes LSU" . The Opelika-Auburn News . September 7, 1980. Retrieved October 31, 2023 – via
Newspapers.com .
^
"Louisiana State stymies Kansas State 21–0" . The Kansas City Star . September 14, 1980. Retrieved October 31, 2023 – via
Newspapers.com .
^
"Johnston field goal lifts Tigers by Buffaloes" . The Daily Advertiser . September 21, 1980. Retrieved October 31, 2023 – via
Newspapers.com .
^
"Rice upsets LSU, 17–7" . The Odessa American . September 28, 1980. Retrieved October 31, 2023 – via
Newspapers.com .
^
"LSU feasts on Gator gumbo" . Daily World . October 5, 1980. Retrieved October 31, 2023 – via
Newspapers.com .
^
"Soph fires LSU by Auburn, 21–17" . The Knoxville News-Sentinel . October 12, 1980. Retrieved October 31, 2023 – via
Newspapers.com .
^
"Tigers overcome bobbles, bumbles as Cats crumble" . Sunday Herald-Leader . October 19, 1980. Retrieved October 31, 2023 – via
Newspapers.com .
^
"LSU, fans get pokes at Rebs" . The Commercial Appeal . November 2, 1980. Retrieved October 31, 2023 – via
Newspapers.com .
^
" 'Relentless' Tide covers LSU, 28–7" . The Shreveport Times . November 9, 1980. Retrieved October 31, 2023 – via
Newspapers.com .
^
"Third quarter explosion blows Maroons by LSU" . The Crowley Post-Signal . November 16, 1980. Retrieved October 31, 2023 – via
Newspapers.com .
^
"LSU rides Wave to 24–7 victory" . Daily World . November 23, 1980. Retrieved October 31, 2023 – via
Newspapers.com .
^
"1980 Season" . tigerdroppings.com . Retrieved September 30, 2022 .
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People
Seasons National championship seasons in bold