UGA’s Jacksonville pinnacle: ‘That was something, wasn’t it?’
Lindsay Scott races to glory against Florida in 1980. (AJC file)
It’s Georgia-Florida week, which for Dogs fans unfortunately means having to put up with constant reminders that the Gators have dominated the series in recent years.
It wasn’t always that way. During the Vince Dooley era, it was UGA that was dominant in the annual Jacksonville fixture, which yielded many fond memories for Georgia fans — none fonder than the game played on Nov. 8, 1980, that catapulted the Dogs into the No. 1 spot in the polls that they would not relinquish the rest of that football season.
The film clip of the famed Buck Belue-to-Lindsay Scott desperation pass that won the game has been shown so many times over the years that most fans can visualize each second in their minds, complete with the memorable Larry Munson call of the play.
”Lindsay Scott! Lindsay Scott! Lindsay Scott!” indeed.
Now, however, thanks to filmmaker Lenny Daniel, a fellow graduate of UGA’s Grady College, fans can experience that game — and the entire 1980 season — through the eyes of more than two dozen of those playing and coaching for the national championship Bulldogs.
And in connection with the renewal of the Dogs-Gators rivalry, the producers of “1980 Dawgs: The Inside Story of the National Championship Season” have released an excerpt from the Florida game chapter of the DVD release.
Watching the interview segments and game footage puts you back in the old Gator Bowl on that fateful day, with the participants offering detailed reminiscences of the game then known as the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. Defensive guard Tim Crowe remembers the crowd noise and that the first thing the players smelled when they came out of the locker room was liquor.
Despite coming off a tough game the previous week against South Carolina and soon-to-be Heisman winner George Rogers, Georgia got off to a fast start, with eventual Heisman winner Herschel Walker scoring on one of his patented long runs less than two minutes into the game. The Dogs led 14-10 at halftime but Florida was ahead 21-20 in the fourth quarter thanks to the trouble the Georgia defense had with what rover Chris Welton recalls as offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan’s “cutting edge” short-passing attack with four wideouts, which the Dogs hadn’t seen before. Florida receiver Tyrone Young was practically unstoppable, the old Dogs recall.
Finally, though, when Georgia absolutely had to have a stop to get the ball back, Erk Russell’s defense rose to the occasion, as it did so many times that season, and forced Florida to punt. But the Dogs were backed up deep in their own territory and with just over a minute left it was third-and 12 at Georgia’s own 8-yard line.
The Dogs stuck with their I-formation play-action attack because, defensive end Robert Miles says, “That was our game.” Though Belue notes wryly, “I’m not sure what the play action was about. Florida knew we had to throw the ball.”
It didn’t look good. On the Georgia sideline, Welton and Russell were already talking about what the defense would have to do to get the ball back. Dooley noted that some of the Florida players were already starting to celebrate. But, center Hugh Nall says, “I knew somehow … we were going to win.”
Belue scrambled into the end zone and nearly got sacked, but the unsung hero of the play, right tackle Nat Hudson, peeled off his initial block just in time to deflect a blitzing Gator and allow Belue to find Scott open over the middle.
The plan was just to get a first down and then hopefully get into field goal range so that ever-reliable placekicker Rex Robinson would have a chance to win yet another one for the Dogs. When Scott made the catch, Welton told Russell he was going to get a first down. “Hell no,” Erk said, grabbing Welton in a bear hug and lifting him off the ground, “he’s gonna score!”
Sure enough, Scott turned upfield and hit an “alley” in the Florida coverage and turned on the afterburners. On the sideline, Dooley and other coaches and players, including the injured Nall in a leg cast, raced along with him, mobbing him in the end zone after he scored. The field was pandemonium but Russell summed up the improbable 92-yard play in his inimitable style by saying simply, “That was something, wasn’t it?”
There is, of course, much more on Daniel’s two-DVD set, which runs more than four hours and differs from the 78-minute documentary “1980! UGA National Championship Year Revisited” released on VHS in 1990 in more than just running time. Where the previous film, never issued on DVD, concentrated mostly on game footage supplemented by a few interviews, the new release focuses on the first-hand memories of the players, coaches, sideline reporter Loran Smith and even training assistant (and future TV meteorologist) David Chandley, sportscaster Bill Hartman (whose dad was the volunteer kicking coach) and Ed Legge, who covered the season for the Red & Black student newspaper. Just about the only significant voices missing are Walker and the late Russell.
As a piece of filmmaking, it probably could have benefited from being trimmed by about half, but I doubt many Bulldogs fans will complain about the surplus of anecdotes and memories, which include the fullest telling to date of the infamous “Seagraves initiation” the spring before, in which five Bulldog seniors were punished by Dooley for stealing and barbecuing one of the UGA farm’s prize pigs, an incident cited as a team bonding experience.
It’s all there, including special segments on Munson, Russell, the late Wayne McDuffie, “Mad Dog” Bill Lewis, the late Jimmy Payne, Dooley’s flirtation with his alma mater Auburn between the end of the regular season and the national championship Sugar Bowl game, and what it was like to play for Dooley. (He was the one the players were scared of, not “heart of gold” Russell.) You hear the players talking about how little Walker impressed them in preseason practice — at least, until he dented Jeff Hipp’s facemask in a goal line drill — and how much they loved the fans sitting around the railroad track.
There were a lot of heroes that season besides Belue, Scott and Walker — most notably defender and kick returner extraordinaire Scott Woerner, who just about single-handedly beat Clemson despite not even starting that game. And you’ll find out how scout teamer Terry Hoage came to make the trip to New Orleans and have a chance to block a Notre Dame field goal attempt.
Yes, it’s pure Dawgporn. And never more so than in those on-the-field and sideline memories of the win over the hated Gators. As Scott puts it, “It was magical.”
For more information on the “1980 Dawgs” video, go here.
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138 comments Add your comment
FLA DAWG
October 26th, 2011
8:14 pm
Nothing wrong with waxing on past Dawg Glory.
Frankly I’d rather watch a rerun of any game of that season than a live one of this season.
Probably the greatest defensive college National Championship Game ever played was that very season in New Orleans.
Dooley was masterful in the 17-10 victory over ND.
dbc
October 26th, 2011
8:22 pm
I was wearing a pair of khakis, a white button down shirt and a red tie. After that play, my shirt was soaked in bourbon and coke!
Wavy Gravy
October 26th, 2011
8:34 pm
I’m a Lewis.
Wavy Gravy
October 26th, 2011
8:36 pm
Although I never joined, many of my friends have.
(STILL) 2-10 against ranked teams
October 26th, 2011
8:57 pm
Bingo….that’s the problem with UGA football. While all the other powerhouses of the SEC (see Al, LSU, Fl, Aub) can claim their pinnacle to within the past decade by winning their respective Crystal trophies…….
…..all the “loyal” Dawg fans wearing their “Richt-colored” glasses can point to is some ancient history game 30 years ago as their “pinnacle”…….pathetic
“FIRE RICHT!!!!”
DodgerDAWG
October 26th, 2011
9:01 pm
WOW Bill, you amaze me. Maybe you should give up sports writing and become a movie critic. Or maybe just give up sports writing
cloudy
October 26th, 2011
9:15 pm
The Gators really are a pretty pathetic team this year. If ever they were ripe for the taking, this would be the year. Come on and show us something for once Dawgs.
(STILL) 2-10 against ranked teams
October 26th, 2011
9:21 pm
cloudy……NOOOOO!!!!! don’t say that!!!
Then all these Richt-lovers will demand he be given a guaranteed 10 year extension for beating this unranked “powerhouse” Gator team…..
Mobile Dawg
October 26th, 2011
9:39 pm
Good memories Bill. Larry Munson…..
Mobile Dawg
October 26th, 2011
9:41 pm
And to all the Dawgs that made him what he is….A legend…..Half these kids we got now have now idea what tradition is all about, just a sign of the times.
Alphare
October 26th, 2011
9:48 pm
is this Bill’s way to reveal who is old and who is not?
Mobile Dawg
October 26th, 2011
9:53 pm
Question is Alphare, which are you?
Alphare
October 26th, 2011
9:57 pm
Mobile Dawg, I don’t remember a thing about that 1980’s glory until I read Bill’s blog.
Dawg48
October 26th, 2011
10:02 pm
Just read that mitchell want be playing against fla!
Mobile Dawg
October 26th, 2011
10:03 pm
Lot of great memories as an older Dawg. Not so many lately, maybe part of it was Munson could make anything exciting. Richt’s first few years were good, the last few not so. It really sticks in my craw that he’s lacked the attention to detail and work ethic over the last five years of a “Championship Caliber” Coach. I really don’t think he can take us to the “football” promised land. We can have winning records but no championships.
Old Dog
October 26th, 2011
10:41 pm
That was before Richt came on board, right?
Columbus
October 27th, 2011
12:27 am
It sure looked like UGA was going to lose that game. I remember it so well. The undefeated season over. The whole field to go and UGA forced to throw. We ALL know Dooley was not one to pass the football. I mean a QB having 9 passes in a game was common. Throwing 12 was a LOT!
So UGA had to pass. They were not good at it and they had little experience doing it. They never did it basically. Florida was sitting back waiting on it and they hadnt let us do much of nothing and it sure looked over. The dream season after the losing season the year before was coming to an end. No way UGA was going to pass their way up the field. No way. They could pass when the other team wasnt expecting it, but with Florida waiting on it? No way!
Then it happened. On our last play because UGA would have punted with that field position I am sure. It was a miracle. Against all odds. All odds….A miracle. Still hard to believe to this day. The game was over. A first down looked very slim with them waiting on us to pass and us actually scoring looked impossible because again, they were waiting on us to pass it and we were not a passing team and we had the whole field to go. The 50 yard line looked a mile away, much less field goal range or a TD. It was a miracle. A miracle. That day at that time, magic happened during that one play.
LOL. Like in “The Waterboy” during the last play how everything slowed down and the impossible happened. I know thats corny but you get my point! It was like a power from above blessed that one moment and the impossible, VERY impossible, transpired right before our eyes. And the undefeated season took place.
You knew we would not lose any more games after that happened!
Go Dawgs! Beat Florida. I curse the Florida Gators football team from beating UGA as long as Richt is coach! I reverse the curse! I speak it into the air and into being! LOL. It is time to get abck to beating them on a regular basis. They will never be average as often as they were before Spurrier but..it is time to get the hex broken and winning at least HALF the games plus one, year after year.
Dr. Morpheus
October 27th, 2011
12:31 am
“Run, Isaiah!”
Scranton native
October 27th, 2011
1:03 am
FLA DAWG
October 26th, 2011
8:14 pm
…..
Probably the greatest defensive college National Championship Game ever played was that very season in New Orleans.
Dooley was masterful in the 17-10 victory over ND
—–
Actually the greatest defensive college National Championship Game occurred in the same stadium exactly 2 years later. Herschel had 107 yards on 28 carries
Thomas Brown
October 27th, 2011
1:32 am
I was on the Railroad Tracks; where we you ?
Thomas Brown
October 27th, 2011
1:32 am
11-13 record all 11 years neutral fields
09-10 record all 11 years neutral fields vs ranked teams at game time
09-10 record all 11 years at Home vs ranked teams at game time
01-03 record all 11 years at Home vs Top 10 teams at game time
03-06 record all 11 years neutral fields vs Top 10 teams at game time
04-09 record all 11 years neutral fields all SEC games
23-26 record all 11 years when opponent scores first
17-25 record all 11 years when trailing at half, lack adjustments
08-30 record all 11 years when trailing 3rd quarter, loser mentality
11-21 record all 11 years when scoring less than 18 points
02-08 record all 11 years vs Florida
33-19 record all 11 years vs SEC East 63 percent win percentage
17-26 record all 11 years vs teams finishing top 25
17 losses all 11 years vs teams who would not have finished top 25
03-10 record all 11 years vs teams finishing top 10
We all know that The SEC was DOWN in 2002, with only 1 other SEC team ending up ranked in the Coaches’ Poll Top 25 and that a 4-Loss Auburn 2002.
We all know that 2005 found that Georgia ended up # 3 of just The SEC teams in the polls.
Florida has their worst football team in 24 years.
TDawg
October 27th, 2011
6:57 am
For all of you guys who say forget the past, I was not born when UGA won their NC: Guess what? The guys that have been writing the checks to make this a great athletic program and actually appreciate tradition like to reminisce a little. You guys would actually benefit from remembering something that happened more than a week ago.
FLA DAWG
October 27th, 2011
7:32 am
Scranton,
Nope.
ND’s Defensive Front was GIGANTIC.
They were successful in slowing our Offense though our O Line was possibly the best in the country.
It was a D struggle from start to end with Dooley waiting for ND to make a mistake.
And when they did we scored.
An incredible game. A great coaching job requiring patience and insight.
(By the way, what TB wouldn’t want to average 4 yds per carry!?)
Thomas Brown
October 27th, 2011
7:50 am
tell me again October 27th, 2011 7:10 am
“Florida has the same team attitude problems we have had in the past. 10 players have transferred from their top rated class. Something ain’t right there.”
_____________________________________________________
What is in the past about our problems with players transferring out, flunking out, being kicked off, being suspended for 31 of our players Mark Richt gave Scholarships to for kick-off vs Florida day after tomorrow, whom he will not have ?
Dawg_Mike
October 27th, 2011
8:11 am
I was listening to the 1980 game on my car radio and had to pull over when Lindsey started running…
BUT I agree that was 30 years ago…time to move on Bill !
It seems like 30 years since the 07 win……
Wavy Gravy
October 27th, 2011
8:29 am
31… But who’s counting?
TampaShave
October 27th, 2011
9:01 am
Wavy, he is still counting players who left early for the NFL and got injured in those numbers. Not to mention, if you flunk out, you flunk out. Not the person I want on the team
Joey
October 27th, 2011
9:21 am
Good to read a post by GT Joe. I was concerned that he was in mourning. Have you put your BCSCG tickets on ebay yet?
(STILL) 2-10 against ranked team
October 27th, 2011
9:36 am
Only losers, wannabees, and old farts ruminate over glories of years, no make that decades, gone by…..winners look to the present and the future…….
AltamahaDawg
October 27th, 2011
9:44 am
It’s those Six junior leaving for the NFL last year.
AtlGator
October 27th, 2011
9:49 am
Yay! We were good when we wore leather helmets!
The shame of it... from Dooley to Richt
October 27th, 2011
9:49 am
I wonder if any of the books about UGA football include the perspective of someone speaking for the late Jan Kemp? The perspective that “student” athletes like Lindsay Scott were playing years without taking college level courses? That the proudest moment of the football program was earned by players who never earned a single college credit?
Dawgtards love to return to 1980, but their memories are really short when it comes to remembering an earthshaking event that happened a few years later that showed the world what a joke UGA athletes were and what a scam artist their beloved Vince Dooley was (and is). So for all those dawgtards with short memories or who think their athletes are actually taking real courses and trying to graduate, here’s the quote that broke the trial wide open and showed what a slimeball Dooley is:
O. Hale Almand Jr., a lawyer for the defense, offered a justification for the favorable treatment accorded the athletes, citing a hypothetical player. “We may not make a university student out of him,” he told the jury, “but if we can teach him to read and write, maybe he can work at the post office rather than as a garbageman when he gets through with his athletic career.”
Nothing has changed at UGA, they just do a slightly better job of keeping things quiet, but that’s hard to do when 45 of your player-thugs have been arrested, isn’t it?
UGA: WINNER OF THE FULMER CUP AND THE CESSPOOL OF THE SOUTH.
AltamahaDawg
October 27th, 2011
9:49 am
Yes, we can all tell what a big winner you are.
TampaDawg
October 27th, 2011
9:59 am
Winning at being a loser on a blog. Wonder what size trophy he gets for that?
AltamahaDawg
October 27th, 2011
10:04 am
The appropriate size.
BremanDawgfan
October 27th, 2011
2:20 pm
Bill – I like all the Bulldog history stuff you cover. Great job. I think a healthy football program has a good dose of respecting their history. There are plenty of others who cover every little current thing. I read your stuff to learn and to be reminded of the rich Bulldog history we are all a part of. Keep on doing it!
Some of the negative posters are from other programs – bad karma for your teams.
And for the younger Bulldogs – we will be back. Mark my words on that.
FLA DAWG
October 27th, 2011
9:58 pm
AtlGator,
I hope you are not Atlanta Gator. They guy had class and from what I have just read, my opinion is that you do not when it comes to this annual game.
Remembering the great days before a rematch is only natural – for both teams.
Of course, your alums recall Galen Hall………..yes, it’s not wonder your memory is short-lived. I guess mine would be too.
In truth, if Richt loses this game and is disposed of then my memory of him and his coaches will also be short-lived.
Don’t denegrate the great success an SEC Team had. I am proud of any SEC Team that wins the SECC and then The BCS or whatever bowl they end up in.
It has been a long time since Dawg Nation has had a Championship. No wonder so many are willing to settle for mediocrity when they’ve never tasted glory.
Though Vegas says UGA will win I have a hunch UF will unload on UGA and we will have our future ahead of us with a new, proven, successful and TOUGH HC.
FLA DAWG
October 27th, 2011
10:07 pm
THE SHAME of being a GT Grad,
Shocking that another GT LOSER would post on a Dawg site.
When you find the final answer to E=MCsquared then come back and let us know.
In fairness it must be incredibly difficult to support a team year after year that you must know will only bring you despair.
I mean most GT alums and fans must know since you cannot fill a high school capacity stadium.
Pity that in Inner City Atlanta University such an annual tragedy and joke exists.
Well, good luck in your search for the Theory of Relatity and it’s relationship to college football.
FLA DAWG,
UGA
Class of ‘79