40-for-80 The Sweetest Season - Ole Miss Game
October 06, 2020 | Football
By: Jeff Dantzler
October 11, 1980
Sanford Stadium
Athens, Georgia
Georgia - 28, Ole Miss - 21
It was back to Southeastern Conference play, and a fourth of five straight home games at beautiful Sanford Stadium, as Georgia hosted Ole Miss between the hedges. The Bulldogs came in with a record of 4-0 and carried a lofty No. 6 national ranking. This would be the second SEC game of the season. Following the famed season-opening 16-15 toppling of Tennessee in Knoxville - that's a great way to start a year, with a road conference win - the Bulldogs blew past Texas A&M of the Southwest Conference 42-0, clipped Clemson of the Atlantic Coast Conference 20-16 and took down another SWC member, Texas Christian 34-3.
In that victory over the Horned Frogs, freshman sensation Herschel Walker suffered an injured ankle on a long 41-yard run in the first quarter and did not return.
To win it all, a lot has to fall into place. First and foremost, it's essential to have tremendous players, coaches, leadership, luck with injuries and circumstance. Well, after the win over TCU, Georgia had an open date to get ready for the Rebels and have a week off without a game to help Herschel heal.
Had South Carolina, for example, been on the docket that week, who knows? Again, with South Carolina, for example, this was the latest - November 1st - that Georgia and the Gamecocks would have played up to that point. But fortune was on the Bulldogs side.
Ole Miss headed to Athens with a record of 1-4. The Rebels had suffered a trio of losses by less than a touchdown - falling to Texas A&M in Jackson 23-20, dropping a 26-24 decision to Tulane in Oxford and losing again in Jackson 28-22 to Southern Miss, this one coming the week prior to the visit to Athens. The Rebels had blown away Memphis State 61-7 in Oxford and lost in Jackson to then top-ranked Alabama 59-35. This trip to Athens would be their first game outside of the Magnolia State.
The year prior in Oxford, Georgia edged Ole Miss 24-21. That marked the Bulldogs first win of the 1979 campaign after losing the initial three games of the season to Wake Forest (22-21), Clemson (12-7) and South Carolina (27-20) by a combined 13 points. That Bulldogs team struggled to figure out how to win the close ones.
This Georgia team mastered it.
Can He Play?
The big question in Athens was whether Herschel would be able to go? The off week was huge and the magnificent freshman - like he has always done with everything - went all in, and showed tremendous dedication for his rehabilitation training.
In the Bulldogs previous game, Georgia shared the wealth, primarily with tailbacks Barry Young and Carnie Norris and the fabulous fullback duo of Ronnie Stewart and Jimmy Womack, after Walker was injured, piling up over 300 yards on the ground against TCU.
That tremendous offensive line of Hugh Nall, Tim Morrison, Nat Hudson, Jim Blakewood, Jeff Harper, Wayne Radloff, Joe Happe and a bunch of future standout freshmen had pushed the Horned Frogs around. Lindsay Scott (who was not 100 percent early in the year due to being banged up in an automobile accident prior to the season) and Amp Arnold were arguably the SEC's best receiving duo, and Norris Brown and freshman Clarence Kay were a terrific pair at tight end. With Buck Belue at quarterback, Georgia had a first rate offense. Number 34 was the missing piece, the ultimate difference maker.
But this was the ultimate team.
First Quarter
It was a beautiful 80 degree Saturday afternoon with clear blue skies for this 1:30 kickoff. Ole Miss was led by its outstanding quarterback John Fourcade.
The Rebels took All-American Rex Robinson's opening kickoff, and Fourcade ran for a first down. But a couple of tremendous plays by the Bulldogs great All-SEC and future All-American defensive tackle Jimmy Payne stymied the Rebels.
All-American Scott Woerner returned an Ole Miss punt 45 yards from the Georgia 13 to the Ole Miss 42 yard line, and the Bulldogs were in business.
Young got the start at tailback. He, Norris and Walker, essentially on a 'pitch count,' all played tailback in the first quarter. The Bulldogs would pick up a first down, but turn the football over on a fumble at the Rebels 24.
The teams would then exchange four punts, with "Woerner The Returner" striking again, racing from the Bulldogs 44 to the Rebels 18.
But the Ole Miss defense stiffened. Walker, not at 100%, was in for a second series at tailback. The drive would bog down at the Rebels 10 yard line.
Georgia's Hall of Fame head coach Vince Dooley called timeout with five seconds to go in the quarter, giving Robinson a good and familiar look.
The 27-yard field goal was good, and as the first period ended, the Bulldogs were on top of Ole Miss 3-0.
Second Quarter
Georgia led the nation in turnover margin in 1980. Woerner averaged 15.7 yards per punt return, and gave up only eight total yards on punt returns all season. As has been mentioned throughout this trip down a most magnificent memory lane, the "hidden yardage" and added possessions accrued by the Bulldogs in 1980, well, it's impossible to definitively quantify just how vital these two statistical categories were to Georgia's magical 12-0 ride to glory.
Georgia came up with four turnovers in the quarter, which led to 14 points. However, a Bulldogs turnover would cost seven.
Bob Kelly intercepted Fourcade on the first possession of the second quarter. Kelly had a fine career, and made many memorable plays, most notably against Notre Dame.
Erk Russell's great defense, with one of his finest players, Steve Greer - 1969 All-American and team captain, called by Russell the "toughest player I ever coached" - coaching the defensive line, again made its mark. "The Meat Cleaver," Eddie Weaver, All-SEC defensive tackle, recovered a Rebels fumble on the Ole Miss 34.
The Dogs were in business.
It was a familiar connection, as Georgia immediately struck. Belue to Arnold for the touchdown.
Boom!
It was 10-0 Georgia following Robinson's Point After Touchdown.
Charlie Whittmore, one of the best ever receivers to play in Athens, coached the wideouts. Arnold and Scott were a part of so many memorable plays.
Weaver got on another fumble, but the Bulldogs could not cash in. Ole Miss took over with 6:15 to go in the half, and went from its own 31 to the Georgia 42. But the Georgia defense stiffened.
Ole Miss didn't give Woerner a shot this time, punting into the end zone.
The Georgia offense would again take flight.
It was Amp Arnold on an end around from the 20 to the 42.
Norris then ripped off a 41-yard run to the Rebels 17.
Womack went for three. Then the fantastic fullback from Warner Robins churned from the 13 to the one.
Two plays later, Norris scored and it was 17-0 Bulldogs.
Steve Kelly, Bob's brother, and Donnie McMinkens, who started the first game of the season at tailback, teamed for the tackle on Robinson's kickoff. Both had started in their careers. Both mainly played special teams in 1980. But both were great at it. This embodied the complete buy-in of this phenomenal TEAM.
Jeff Hipp, a second team All-American, came up with an interception, the fourth turnover of the quarter the Bulldogs had forced. But just when it looked like Georgia was in complete control, Ole Miss returned an interception for a 32-yard touchdown.
It was 17-7 heading to the second half.
Third Quarter
Georgia came up empty on its first possession of the third period. Ole Miss then went 72 yards in nine plays, with Fourcade sneaking over to make it 17-14 midway through the quarter.
Three and out Georgia.
Ole Miss then marched from its 34 to the Georgia 23. But Tim Bobo came in and had a big tackle for loss, pushing the Rebels to the 30. An Ole Miss field goal was no good, and Georgia still led 17-14.
The Bulldogs offense got into a groove. Norris for nine, Belue for 10, Walker for 15 and Georgia was in business again.
Fourth Quarter
With the drive continuing into the fourth quarter, things bogged down, as Belue was sacked on the 26. But Robinson hit a 43-yard field goal, and Georgia led 20-14. It was tight. It was the fourth quarter. It was Georgia, 1980.
The teams would exchange punts, and then the Bulldogs got another turnover.
Dale Williams picked off Fourcade, and Hipp was right there to recover a loose ball.
With 8:29 to go, the Bulldogs had the ball at the Ole Miss 38, leading 20-14.
Norris and Walker combined to carry five times for 37 yards to put the Bulldogs on the doorstep. Belue finished the drive, scoring from one yard out.
Buck then hit Charles Junior for the two-point conversion, and it was 28-14 Georgia with just over six minutes remaining.
Fourcade and the Rebels would not die. He led Ole Miss on a 14-play, 80 yard touchdown drive, completing a fourth down touchdown from 13 yards out to draw within 28-21 with just under two minutes to play.
It was onsides kick time.
Ole Miss touched it early, and Georgia had the ball on the Rebels 49.
Stewart ran for 13, and then Belue would "fall on the ball" to run out the clock and end the game with the Dogs on top 28-21.
The Aftermath
Georgia had done it. The Bulldogs were now 5-0, 2-0 in the SEC, and would remain No. 6 in the polls.
Norris was tremendous with 15 carries for 150 yards, while Walker had carried 11 times for 44 yards. Arnold had two catches for 51 yards and the 22 yard run. Payne led the defense with nine tackles, amassing 24 yards in losses. Frank Ros, Nate Taylor, Tommy Thurson and Will Forts combined for 25 tackles at inside linebacker. Weaver had the two fumble recoveries. Chris Welton, Tim Parks, Dale Carver and Robert Miles both had three stops. Pat McShea had four, Tim Crowe six. Bobo, Hipp and Williams had the big plays. On and on and on.
This was a deep and talented team. There were a lot of great players, all were unselfish. But all were in it for the TEAM. The focus was still game to game, and Vanderbilt waited on deck at the midpoint of the season. But the Bulldog faithful were starting to dream.
A healthy Herschel would be essential if all those dreams could possibly come true.
October 11, 1980
Sanford Stadium
Athens, Georgia
Georgia - 28, Ole Miss - 21
It was back to Southeastern Conference play, and a fourth of five straight home games at beautiful Sanford Stadium, as Georgia hosted Ole Miss between the hedges. The Bulldogs came in with a record of 4-0 and carried a lofty No. 6 national ranking. This would be the second SEC game of the season. Following the famed season-opening 16-15 toppling of Tennessee in Knoxville - that's a great way to start a year, with a road conference win - the Bulldogs blew past Texas A&M of the Southwest Conference 42-0, clipped Clemson of the Atlantic Coast Conference 20-16 and took down another SWC member, Texas Christian 34-3.
In that victory over the Horned Frogs, freshman sensation Herschel Walker suffered an injured ankle on a long 41-yard run in the first quarter and did not return.
To win it all, a lot has to fall into place. First and foremost, it's essential to have tremendous players, coaches, leadership, luck with injuries and circumstance. Well, after the win over TCU, Georgia had an open date to get ready for the Rebels and have a week off without a game to help Herschel heal.
Had South Carolina, for example, been on the docket that week, who knows? Again, with South Carolina, for example, this was the latest - November 1st - that Georgia and the Gamecocks would have played up to that point. But fortune was on the Bulldogs side.
Ole Miss headed to Athens with a record of 1-4. The Rebels had suffered a trio of losses by less than a touchdown - falling to Texas A&M in Jackson 23-20, dropping a 26-24 decision to Tulane in Oxford and losing again in Jackson 28-22 to Southern Miss, this one coming the week prior to the visit to Athens. The Rebels had blown away Memphis State 61-7 in Oxford and lost in Jackson to then top-ranked Alabama 59-35. This trip to Athens would be their first game outside of the Magnolia State.
The year prior in Oxford, Georgia edged Ole Miss 24-21. That marked the Bulldogs first win of the 1979 campaign after losing the initial three games of the season to Wake Forest (22-21), Clemson (12-7) and South Carolina (27-20) by a combined 13 points. That Bulldogs team struggled to figure out how to win the close ones.
This Georgia team mastered it.
Can He Play?
The big question in Athens was whether Herschel would be able to go? The off week was huge and the magnificent freshman - like he has always done with everything - went all in, and showed tremendous dedication for his rehabilitation training.
In the Bulldogs previous game, Georgia shared the wealth, primarily with tailbacks Barry Young and Carnie Norris and the fabulous fullback duo of Ronnie Stewart and Jimmy Womack, after Walker was injured, piling up over 300 yards on the ground against TCU.
That tremendous offensive line of Hugh Nall, Tim Morrison, Nat Hudson, Jim Blakewood, Jeff Harper, Wayne Radloff, Joe Happe and a bunch of future standout freshmen had pushed the Horned Frogs around. Lindsay Scott (who was not 100 percent early in the year due to being banged up in an automobile accident prior to the season) and Amp Arnold were arguably the SEC's best receiving duo, and Norris Brown and freshman Clarence Kay were a terrific pair at tight end. With Buck Belue at quarterback, Georgia had a first rate offense. Number 34 was the missing piece, the ultimate difference maker.
But this was the ultimate team.
First Quarter
It was a beautiful 80 degree Saturday afternoon with clear blue skies for this 1:30 kickoff. Ole Miss was led by its outstanding quarterback John Fourcade.
The Rebels took All-American Rex Robinson's opening kickoff, and Fourcade ran for a first down. But a couple of tremendous plays by the Bulldogs great All-SEC and future All-American defensive tackle Jimmy Payne stymied the Rebels.
All-American Scott Woerner returned an Ole Miss punt 45 yards from the Georgia 13 to the Ole Miss 42 yard line, and the Bulldogs were in business.
Young got the start at tailback. He, Norris and Walker, essentially on a 'pitch count,' all played tailback in the first quarter. The Bulldogs would pick up a first down, but turn the football over on a fumble at the Rebels 24.
The teams would then exchange four punts, with "Woerner The Returner" striking again, racing from the Bulldogs 44 to the Rebels 18.
But the Ole Miss defense stiffened. Walker, not at 100%, was in for a second series at tailback. The drive would bog down at the Rebels 10 yard line.
Georgia's Hall of Fame head coach Vince Dooley called timeout with five seconds to go in the quarter, giving Robinson a good and familiar look.
The 27-yard field goal was good, and as the first period ended, the Bulldogs were on top of Ole Miss 3-0.
Second Quarter
Georgia led the nation in turnover margin in 1980. Woerner averaged 15.7 yards per punt return, and gave up only eight total yards on punt returns all season. As has been mentioned throughout this trip down a most magnificent memory lane, the "hidden yardage" and added possessions accrued by the Bulldogs in 1980, well, it's impossible to definitively quantify just how vital these two statistical categories were to Georgia's magical 12-0 ride to glory.
Georgia came up with four turnovers in the quarter, which led to 14 points. However, a Bulldogs turnover would cost seven.
Bob Kelly intercepted Fourcade on the first possession of the second quarter. Kelly had a fine career, and made many memorable plays, most notably against Notre Dame.
Erk Russell's great defense, with one of his finest players, Steve Greer - 1969 All-American and team captain, called by Russell the "toughest player I ever coached" - coaching the defensive line, again made its mark. "The Meat Cleaver," Eddie Weaver, All-SEC defensive tackle, recovered a Rebels fumble on the Ole Miss 34.
The Dogs were in business.
It was a familiar connection, as Georgia immediately struck. Belue to Arnold for the touchdown.
Boom!
It was 10-0 Georgia following Robinson's Point After Touchdown.
Charlie Whittmore, one of the best ever receivers to play in Athens, coached the wideouts. Arnold and Scott were a part of so many memorable plays.
Weaver got on another fumble, but the Bulldogs could not cash in. Ole Miss took over with 6:15 to go in the half, and went from its own 31 to the Georgia 42. But the Georgia defense stiffened.
Ole Miss didn't give Woerner a shot this time, punting into the end zone.
The Georgia offense would again take flight.
It was Amp Arnold on an end around from the 20 to the 42.
Norris then ripped off a 41-yard run to the Rebels 17.
Womack went for three. Then the fantastic fullback from Warner Robins churned from the 13 to the one.
Two plays later, Norris scored and it was 17-0 Bulldogs.
Steve Kelly, Bob's brother, and Donnie McMinkens, who started the first game of the season at tailback, teamed for the tackle on Robinson's kickoff. Both had started in their careers. Both mainly played special teams in 1980. But both were great at it. This embodied the complete buy-in of this phenomenal TEAM.
Jeff Hipp, a second team All-American, came up with an interception, the fourth turnover of the quarter the Bulldogs had forced. But just when it looked like Georgia was in complete control, Ole Miss returned an interception for a 32-yard touchdown.
It was 17-7 heading to the second half.
Third Quarter
Georgia came up empty on its first possession of the third period. Ole Miss then went 72 yards in nine plays, with Fourcade sneaking over to make it 17-14 midway through the quarter.
Three and out Georgia.
Ole Miss then marched from its 34 to the Georgia 23. But Tim Bobo came in and had a big tackle for loss, pushing the Rebels to the 30. An Ole Miss field goal was no good, and Georgia still led 17-14.
The Bulldogs offense got into a groove. Norris for nine, Belue for 10, Walker for 15 and Georgia was in business again.
Fourth Quarter
With the drive continuing into the fourth quarter, things bogged down, as Belue was sacked on the 26. But Robinson hit a 43-yard field goal, and Georgia led 20-14. It was tight. It was the fourth quarter. It was Georgia, 1980.
The teams would exchange punts, and then the Bulldogs got another turnover.
Dale Williams picked off Fourcade, and Hipp was right there to recover a loose ball.
With 8:29 to go, the Bulldogs had the ball at the Ole Miss 38, leading 20-14.
Norris and Walker combined to carry five times for 37 yards to put the Bulldogs on the doorstep. Belue finished the drive, scoring from one yard out.
Buck then hit Charles Junior for the two-point conversion, and it was 28-14 Georgia with just over six minutes remaining.
Fourcade and the Rebels would not die. He led Ole Miss on a 14-play, 80 yard touchdown drive, completing a fourth down touchdown from 13 yards out to draw within 28-21 with just under two minutes to play.
It was onsides kick time.
Ole Miss touched it early, and Georgia had the ball on the Rebels 49.
Stewart ran for 13, and then Belue would "fall on the ball" to run out the clock and end the game with the Dogs on top 28-21.
The Aftermath
Georgia had done it. The Bulldogs were now 5-0, 2-0 in the SEC, and would remain No. 6 in the polls.
Norris was tremendous with 15 carries for 150 yards, while Walker had carried 11 times for 44 yards. Arnold had two catches for 51 yards and the 22 yard run. Payne led the defense with nine tackles, amassing 24 yards in losses. Frank Ros, Nate Taylor, Tommy Thurson and Will Forts combined for 25 tackles at inside linebacker. Weaver had the two fumble recoveries. Chris Welton, Tim Parks, Dale Carver and Robert Miles both had three stops. Pat McShea had four, Tim Crowe six. Bobo, Hipp and Williams had the big plays. On and on and on.
This was a deep and talented team. There were a lot of great players, all were unselfish. But all were in it for the TEAM. The focus was still game to game, and Vanderbilt waited on deck at the midpoint of the season. But the Bulldog faithful were starting to dream.
A healthy Herschel would be essential if all those dreams could possibly come true.
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