1980 SMU Mustangs football team

The 1980 SMU Mustangs football team represented Southern Methodist University (SMU) as a member of the Southwest Conference (SWC) during the 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by fifth-year head coach Ron Meyer, the Mustangs compiled an overall record 8–4 with a mark of 5–3 in conference play, tying for second place in the SWC. SMU was invited to the Holiday Bowl, there they lost to BYU. The Mustangs finished the season ranked No. 20 in both major polls.[1]

1980 SMU Mustangs football
Holiday Bowl, L 45–46 vs. BYU
ConferenceSouthwest Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 20
APNo. 20
Record8–4 (5–3 SWC)
Head coach
Offensive schemeOption
Defensive coordinatorSteve Sidwell (5th season)
Base defense3–4
Home stadiumTexas Stadium (c. 65,101)
1980 Southwest Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 14 Baylor $ 8 –0 –010 –2 –0
No. 20 SMU 5 –3 –08 –4 –0
Houston 5 –3 –07 –5 –0
Texas 4 –4 –07 –5 –0
Rice 4 –4 –05 –6 –0
Arkansas 3 –5 –07 –5 –0
Texas A&M 3 –5 –04 –7 –0
Texas Tech 3 –5 –05 –6 –0
TCU 1 –7 –01 –10 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

Schedule
DateOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 13North Texas State*
W 28–952,781[2]
September 20TCU
W 17–1439,622
September 27Texas–Arlington*
  • Texas Stadium
  • Irving, TX
W 52–1626,611[3]
October 4at Tulane*
W 31–2142,563
October 11at No. 18 BaylorNo. 20
L 28–3235,000
October 18Houston
  • Texas Stadium
  • Irving, TX
L 11–1332,109
October 25at No. 2 Texas
ABCW 20–673,535
November 1Texas A&MNo. 19
  • Texas Stadium
  • Irving, TX
W 27–041,289
November 8at RiceNo. 18
W 34–1423,000
November 15at Texas TechNo. 18
L 0–1442,197
November 23Arkansas
  • Texas Stadium
  • Irving, TX
W 31–728,225
December 19vs. No. 13 BYU*No. 20
L 45–4650,200
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Roster
1980 SMU Mustangs football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
RB 19 Eric Dickerson So
QB 10 Mike Ford Sr
OL 77 Perry Hartnett Jr
RB 32 Craig James So
OL 71 Mike Jusko Sr
OL 67 Mike Mason Sr
OL 76 Lee Spivey Sr
QB 12 Jim Bob Taylor  So
 Defense
Pos.#NameClass
DL 75 Harvey Armstrong Jr
DB 27 Charles Bruton Sr
DT 74 Michael Carter So
DB 29 Russell Carter Fr
DL 99 Eric Ferguson Jr
DB 9 Mark Gibson Sr
DL 80 Byron Hunt Sr
DB 20 James Mobley Jr
DB 34 John Simmons Sr
 Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
K 1 Eddie Garcia Jr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Season summary

Texas
SMU at Texas
1 234Total
• SMU 0 3107 20
Texas 3 300 6
Scoring summary
1TexasGoodson 20 yard field goalTexas 3-0
2SMUGarcia 47 yard field goalTie 3-3
2TexasGoodson 47 yard field goalTexas 6-3
3SMUJames 53 yard run (Garcia kick)SMU 10-6
3SMUGarcia 44 yard field goalSMU 13-6
4SMUMobley 22 yard interception return (Garcia kick)SMU 20-6

This game became notable for a significant change made during it. Coach Meyer, who had run a pro-style offense with Mike Ford to this point, chose instead to adjust and run an option attack with freshman Lance McIlhenny instead. The adjustment worked, as Texas could not stop what became known as the Mustangs’ “Pony Express” running game of Craig James and eventual NFL Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson.

[4]

Team players in the NFL
PlayerPositionRoundPickNFL club
John SimmonsDefensive back364Cincinnati Bengals

References
  1. "2020 Football Media Guide".
  2. "SMU rolls over NTSU, 28–9". The Kilgore News Herald. September 14, 1980. p. 7. Retrieved October 28, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "SMU muscles by UTA". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. September 28, 1980. p. B1. Retrieved January 9, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  4. "SMU Shocks Texas Behind James' Running." Palm Beach Post. 1980 Oct 26.


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