Wikipedia

1980 Minnesota–Duluth Bulldogs football team

The 1980 Minnesota–Duluth Bulldogs football team was an American football team that represented the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) as a member of the Northern Intercollegiate Conference during the 1980 NCAA Division II football season. In its 23rd year under head coach Jim Malosky, UMD compiled a 10–0 record (8–0 in NIC games) and won the NIC championship. It was the first perfect season in the history of the UMD football program[1] and its first outright conference championship since 1938.[2]

1980 Minnesota–Duluth Bulldogs football
NIC champion
ConferenceNorthern Intercollegiate Conference
Record10–0 (8–0 NIC)
Head coach
Seasons
← 1979
1981 →
1980 Northern Intercollegiate Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Minnesota Duluth $ 8 – 0 – 0 10 – 0 – 0
Minnesota Morris ^ 7 – 1 – 0 9 – 2 – 1
No. 11 Moorhead State 6 – 2 – 0 8 – 2 – 0
St. Cloud State 5 – 3 – 0 6 – 4 – 0
Mankato State 3 – 5 – 0 3 – 7 – 0
Southwest State (MN) 2 – 5 – 1 3 – 6 – 1
Winona State 2 – 6 – 0 3 – 7 – 0
Northern State 1 – 6 – 1 2 – 7 – 1
Bemidji State 1 – 7 – 0 1 – 9 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant
Rankings from NAIA Division I poll

UMD led Division II in both scoring offense and scoring defense and was one of only two undefeated and untied teams in Division II at the end of the 1980 season. Despite their accomplishments, the Bulldogs' strength of schedule was considered weak, and they were ranked No. 9 in the final Division II rankings and did not participate in the eight-team Division II playoffs.[1][3]

Running back Amory Bodin was the team captain and won the team's James Overlie MVP Award. He led the team in both rushing yards (1,057) and points scored (116). He was inducted into the University of Minnesota Duluth Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014.[1][4]

Offensive tackle Mike Thomas won the Glen Johnson Lineman Award and was selected as a third-team player on the Associated Press 1980 Little All-America team. Six UMD players were selected as first-team players on the 1980 All-NIC team: Bodin; Thomas; running back Tom Stoll; defensive end Craig Nasvik; defensive back Tom Lawrence; and center Tom Swanson.[5]

The team employed a run-oriented offense, gaining 3,073 rushing yards on 613 rushing attempts. The team also completed 51 of 104 passes for 1,002 passing yards.[4]

Schedule

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DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 6at Wisconsin–Superior*Superior, WIW 49–05,000[6]
September 13at Minnesota MorrisMorris, MNW 24–213,000[7]
September 20Mankato StateDuluth, MNW 38-64,067[8]
September 27at Northwestern (IA)*Orange City, IAW 24–73,000[9]
October 4at Southwest State (MN)Marshall, MNW 28–71,200[10]
October 11St. Cloud StateDuluth, MNW 35–124,035[11][12]
October 18at Bemidji StateBemidji, MNW 55–71,000[13]
October 25Winona StateDuluth, MNW 38–01,983[14]
November 1at Moorhead StateMoorhead, MNW 32–94,600[15]
November 8Northern StateDuluth, MNW 31–7856[16]
  • *Non-conference game

[17][18]

Coaching staff and administration

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  • Head coach - Jim Malosky
  • Athletic director - Ralph Romano
  • Assistant coaches - Neil Ladsten (defensive line), Scott Hanna (offensive line), Brian Bloomquist (defensive backs), Dave Kent (offensive line)

[19]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Saturday Will Be Homecoming at Malosky Stadium for Undefeated 1980 Bulldogs". University of Minnesota Duluth. October 6, 2015. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  2. ^ "UMD, Concordia capture loop titles". St. Cloud Times. Associated Press. November 10, 1980. p. 4D – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Jon Nowacki (October 9, 2015). "UMD's undefeated 1980 football team will be honored on Saturday". Duluth News Tribune.
  4. ^ a b 1981 Media Guide, pp. 11-12.
  5. ^ 1981 Media Guide, p. 10.
  6. ^ "Duluth rips Superior". Wisconsin State Journal. September 7, 1980. p. II-2 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Duluth takes win over Morris". Winona Sunday News. Associated Press. September 14, 1980. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Minnesota-Duluth 38, Mankato 6". Minneapolis Tribune. September 21, 1980. p. 10A – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Minnesota-Duluth club rolls past Northwestern". The Sioux City Journal. September 28, 1980. p. D5 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Duluth still undefeated". Winona Sunday News. October 5, 1980. p. 24 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Gary Larson (October 10, 1980). "Banged-up Huskies face Duluth's horses". St. Cloud Times. p. 1D – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "UMD beats St. Cloud 35-12". Minneapolis Tribune. October 12, 1980. p. 5C – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Bodin leads UMD past Bemidji State". Minneapolis Tribune. October 19, 1980. p. 13C – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Duluth scores 28 in second quarter, routs WSU". Winona Daily News. October 26, 1980. p. 26 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Minn.-Duluth 32, Moorhead St. 9". Minneapolis Tribune. November 2, 1980. p. 15C – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Bodin leads UMD over Northern State". Minneapolis Tribune. November 9, 1980. p. 6C – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Final 1980 Cumulative Football Statistics Report". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  18. ^ 1981 Official Media Guide. University of Minnesota Duluth. 1980. p. 2.
  19. ^ 1980 Media Guide, p. 4.
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