1981 Sugar Bowl

Teams

Main article: 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season

Georgia

Main article: 1980 Georgia Bulldogs football team

Notre Dame

Main article: 1980 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team

Game summary

The game kicked off shortly after 1 p.m. CST, televised by ABC, at the same time as the Cotton Bowl on CBS.

In the first quarter, Notre Dame scored first on a 50-yard Harry Oliver field goal. Another Notre Dame scoring opportunity in the first quarter was foiled when Bulldog freshman Terry Hoage blocked a field goal. Hoage had been a last-minute addition to the roster by head coach Vince Dooley for his kick blocking ability. Due to good field position Georgia's Rex Robinson would eventually boot a 46-yard field goal of his own to tie the game at three.

On the ensuing kickoff, a communication gaffe between the Irish's deep return players resulted in neither one fielding the kick which bounced at the one-yard line and was recovered by Georgia's Bob Kelly. Two plays later, Bulldog running back Herschel Walker scored on a one-yard touchdown run as Georgia led 10–3. In the second quarter, Walker scored on a three-yard run making the score 17–3 at halftime.

The only score in the second half came in the third quarter; Notre Dame scored on a one-yard run to close the margin to 17–10. Georgia's defense held on to that lead, giving Georgia the victory and the 1980 national championship.

True freshman Walker rushed for 150 yards and was named Sugar Bowl MVP. Bulldog defensive back Scott Woerner made several key plays throughout the day including a late game interception that sealed the win. Georgia was first in both final polls.

Scoring

First quarter

• Notre Dame – Harry Oliver 50-yard field goal
• Georgia – Rex Robinson 46-yard field goal
• Georgia – Herschel Walker 1-yard run (Robinson kick) Second quarter
• Georgia – Walker 2-yard run (Robinson kick) Third quarter
• Notre Dame – Phil Carter 1-yard run (Oliver kick) Fourth quarter :No scoring

Statistics

:{| class=wikitable style="text-align:center" ! Statistics !! Georgia !! Notre Dame |- |First downs ||10||17 |- |Rushing yards||52–120||50–190 |- |Passing yards||7||138 |- |Passing ||1–13–0 ||12–28–3 |- |Total offense ||65–127||78–328 |- |Punts–average ||11–38.5||5–42.0 |- |Fumbles–lost ||0–0||1–1 |- |Turnovers||0||4 |- |Penalties–yards ||6–32||8–69 |} :Source:

Note

This Sugar Bowl marked the debut of Georgia's costumed mascot Hairy Dawg.

Georgia native President Jimmy Carter was in attendance, three weeks before leaving office.

References

References

1. (January 1, 1981). "The latest line". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
2. Musick, Phil. (January 2, 1981). "Georgia stakes claim to No. 1". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
3. Looney, Douglas S.. (January 12, 1981). "The ball bounces Georgia's way".
4. (January 2, 1981). "'How 'bout them Dawgs?'". Toledo Blade.
5. "Georgia's convince Dawgs are No. 1". Eugene Register-Guard.
6. (January 1, 1981). "Sports menu: television". Spokesman-Review.