40-for-80 The Sweetest Season - Auburn Game
November 10, 2020 | Football
By: Jeff Dantzler
November 15, 1980
Jordan-Hare Stadium
Auburn, Ala.
Georgia - 31, Auburn - 21
Now Georgia was Number One.
Herschel Walker was on the cover of Sports Illustrated with that caption. Lindsay Scott had run 93 yards with Buck Belue's pass for the miraculous touchdown of all time. Mike Fisher's interception sealed it.
A 26-21 win for the ages in Jacksonville boosted Georgia to the top spot in the polls with a perfect 9-0 record, 5-0 in the Southeastern Conference.
Next up was the Auburn Tigers. With Doug Barfield nearing the end of his tenure as Auburn's head coach, the Tigers were sniffing an upset in the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry.
The Bulldogs had already clinched at least a share of the title. But Alabama, which lost to Mississippi State, and the Starkville Maroons, who fell to Florida, had just one loss each. If Bama won the Iron Bowl and State won the Egg Bowl over Ole Miss, and Georgia lost to Auburn, well then the Crimson Tide and other Bulldogs would share that title with the Red and Black.
Twice in the lore and history of this annual gridiron grappling, which began 1892, Auburn had spoiled a perfect Georgia season. Back in 1942, coming off a 21-10 victory over No. 3 Alabama, a 75-0, yes SEVENTY-FIVE to NOTHING thrashing of Florida, and 40-0 rout of Chattanooga, Georgia was ranked Number One in the country. But the perfect season was spoiled.
In Columbus, where these two used to play their rivalry at this neutral site, the Bulldogs were upset by the Tigers 27-13. The perfect season was ruined. Georgia rebounded, ranked fifth, and beat second-ranked, undefeated Tech 34-0 Between The Hedges. Charley Trippi had a smashing debut, and Frank Sinkwich added to a resume that made him the first Heisman Trophy winner from the deep south. The victory over the Yellow Jackets clinched the Bulldogs first Southeastern Conference championship and earned a berth in the Rose Bowl. Georgia beat UCLA 9-0 in the Rose Bowl. The Bulldogs went on to be crowned national champions by a majority of polls.
But it wasn't perfect.
Or undisputed.
The 1971 season was an all-time great in college football history. Nebraska won the famous 35-31 "Game of the Century" against Oklahoma in a battle of No. 1 vs. No. 2 undefeated teams. That same night, Georgia came from behind, led by the sensational Andy Johnson and "The Greek Streak," Jimmy Poulous, and beat Tech 28-24. It was Thanksgiving night.
A dozen days earlier, one of the most highly anticipated showdowns in the history of Sanford Stadium was set. Georgia, which had won every game by double digits, and shut out four opponents, was 9-0 and ranked seventh. Auburn was undefeated and ranked No. 6. Alabama, which awaited on deck for the Tigers, was also undefeated.
The Georgia-Auburn game of 1971, played on a golden Saturday, with Chamber of Commerce of weather, is still to this day, arguably the most highly anticipated game in Sanford Stadium history.
Pat Sullivan, Auburn's heralded quarterback, vaulted to the Heisman forefront, leading the Tigers to a 35-20 win in Athens.
The 11-1 season was incredibly sweet, capped with a 7-3 victory over North Carolina, coached by Vince Dooley's brother Bill. It's one of the greatest in Bulldogs lore. But the circumstance of this incredible campaign, which culminated with Nebraska beating Alabama for the national championship in the Orange Bowl, left no team no margin for error. The loss to Auburn meant no perfect season, no SEC championship, no national championship.
Now Georgia was back on the plains, aiming for the SEC title and retention of the No. 1 ranking, keeping the dream alive. Dooley and Erk Russell were Auburn standouts. Under their watch, the Bulldogs had clinched SEC titles at Auburn in 1966, 1968 and 1976. The window was open here in 1980, with an eye towards the ultimate, almost inconceivable prize.
Auburn came in with a record of 5-4, eyeing the upset. Georgia was certainly flying high after the play and subsequent victory of all time.
It was a cloudy Saturday afternoon, with a slight wind and temperature of 68 degrees, with a 2:30 Eastern/1:30 Central kickoff from Jordan Hare Stadium.
After a scoreless first quarter, Auburn struck first and grabbed a 7-0 lead with 11:05 to go in the second quarter.
Georgia answered and got on the board, as All-American Rex Robinson split the uprights from 40 yards out to pull the Bulldogs within 7-3.
Then came one of the Bulldogs of 1980 specialties. As has been pointed out several times in this series, Georgia led the nation in turnover margin. The Bulldogs gave up only eight total punt return yards all year. Not on average, not in a game, no, on the whole season, eight yards. Meanwhile, All-American Scott Woerner averaged 15.7 yards per punt return.
At that time, it was the greatest senior class in Georgia history, and the greatest freshman class in Bulldogs history. With under five minutes to go, senior Greg Bell blocked a Tigers punt, and freshman Freddie Gilbert, a future All-American, scooped up the pigskin and raced 27 yards to paydirt. With 4:32 to go in the second quarter, the top-ranked Bulldogs had taken the lead 10-7.
Things would continue to turn Georgia's way.
Auburn fed its outstanding running back James Brooks, of Warner Robins, GA, but the Bulldogs rose up. Stops by Chris Welton, Frank Ros and Nate Taylor stymied the Tigers and they were forced to punt again.
Against the gritty Tiger defense and the clock, the Bulldogs mounted a drive, moving from their own 42-yard line to the Auburn one-yard line. On the final play of the first half, Buck Belue threw a one-yard touchdown pass to Norris Brown and the Bulldogs had some breathing room. Following Robinson's point after, it was 17-7 Bulldogs at the half.
Not liking the way the officiating went at the end of the end of the first half, which included a pass interference penalty against the Tigers, Auburn was flagged for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
That meant that Georgia would kick off the second half from the Auburn 45, instead of the Bulldogs own 40.
Why not?
So good on special teams, the Bulldogs rolled the dice and hit double six, recovering an onside kick at the Tigers 33. Focusing the defense on freshman sensation Herschel Walker, the Bulldogs struck against Auburn, with Belue scrambling for 26 yards from the Auburn 30. A pair of runs by Herschel put the ball at the Auburn one. Georgia then went with Belue, who scored from one yard out. Georgia led 24-7 after Robinson's extra point.
Following a trio of punts, Georgia took over at its own 46.
Herschel ran for five. Then Belue hit another freshman, tight end Clarence Kay for 19 yards. Herschel ran for three, and then pulled in a Belue aerial for nine yards, giving Georgia a first down at the Tigers 48.
Then Number 34 made something special happen. He reversed field, Belue blocked, and as the mighty Larry Munson so perfectly described with that kid out of Johnson County extending his neck near paydirt, "Herschel smells it and scores."
An 18 yard touchdown was the big blow.
As was the case with the 1980 team, there was drama galore.
It's never, or at least rarely easy.
Brooks scored and the Tigers got the two-point conversion.
On the Tigers next possession, they scored again. But Georgia came up with a clutch stop on the two-point attempt.
It was 31-21. Big difference from 31-23.
But 9:18 still remained.
Georgia took possession and drove from its own 23 all the way to the Auburn two in 13 plays. Walker was hobbled a bit, and the Bulldogs went to Carnie Norris. He had the big play with a 45-yard run behind the Bulldogs tremendous offensive line.
The Bulldogs didn't score, throwing an interception in the end zone from the two. But the clock was eaten up. Auburn took over on its 20. Captain Ros deflected a pass and then snuffed out a fake punt attempt with just over three minutes remaining. Walker came back. He, Norris and Ronnie Stewart ran all the way to the Auburn 11 and ran the clock all the way down to zero.
Georgia had won the SEC Championship!
The Bulldogs were 10-0 and ranked No. 1.
There was an open date and then the Yellow Jackets in Athens. A win and you know what would be next.
But next up was Tech, and the biggest game of them all.
November 15, 1980
Jordan-Hare Stadium
Auburn, Ala.
Georgia - 31, Auburn - 21
Now Georgia was Number One.
Herschel Walker was on the cover of Sports Illustrated with that caption. Lindsay Scott had run 93 yards with Buck Belue's pass for the miraculous touchdown of all time. Mike Fisher's interception sealed it.
A 26-21 win for the ages in Jacksonville boosted Georgia to the top spot in the polls with a perfect 9-0 record, 5-0 in the Southeastern Conference.
Next up was the Auburn Tigers. With Doug Barfield nearing the end of his tenure as Auburn's head coach, the Tigers were sniffing an upset in the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry.
The Bulldogs had already clinched at least a share of the title. But Alabama, which lost to Mississippi State, and the Starkville Maroons, who fell to Florida, had just one loss each. If Bama won the Iron Bowl and State won the Egg Bowl over Ole Miss, and Georgia lost to Auburn, well then the Crimson Tide and other Bulldogs would share that title with the Red and Black.
Twice in the lore and history of this annual gridiron grappling, which began 1892, Auburn had spoiled a perfect Georgia season. Back in 1942, coming off a 21-10 victory over No. 3 Alabama, a 75-0, yes SEVENTY-FIVE to NOTHING thrashing of Florida, and 40-0 rout of Chattanooga, Georgia was ranked Number One in the country. But the perfect season was spoiled.
In Columbus, where these two used to play their rivalry at this neutral site, the Bulldogs were upset by the Tigers 27-13. The perfect season was ruined. Georgia rebounded, ranked fifth, and beat second-ranked, undefeated Tech 34-0 Between The Hedges. Charley Trippi had a smashing debut, and Frank Sinkwich added to a resume that made him the first Heisman Trophy winner from the deep south. The victory over the Yellow Jackets clinched the Bulldogs first Southeastern Conference championship and earned a berth in the Rose Bowl. Georgia beat UCLA 9-0 in the Rose Bowl. The Bulldogs went on to be crowned national champions by a majority of polls.
But it wasn't perfect.
Or undisputed.
The 1971 season was an all-time great in college football history. Nebraska won the famous 35-31 "Game of the Century" against Oklahoma in a battle of No. 1 vs. No. 2 undefeated teams. That same night, Georgia came from behind, led by the sensational Andy Johnson and "The Greek Streak," Jimmy Poulous, and beat Tech 28-24. It was Thanksgiving night.
A dozen days earlier, one of the most highly anticipated showdowns in the history of Sanford Stadium was set. Georgia, which had won every game by double digits, and shut out four opponents, was 9-0 and ranked seventh. Auburn was undefeated and ranked No. 6. Alabama, which awaited on deck for the Tigers, was also undefeated.
The Georgia-Auburn game of 1971, played on a golden Saturday, with Chamber of Commerce of weather, is still to this day, arguably the most highly anticipated game in Sanford Stadium history.
Pat Sullivan, Auburn's heralded quarterback, vaulted to the Heisman forefront, leading the Tigers to a 35-20 win in Athens.
The 11-1 season was incredibly sweet, capped with a 7-3 victory over North Carolina, coached by Vince Dooley's brother Bill. It's one of the greatest in Bulldogs lore. But the circumstance of this incredible campaign, which culminated with Nebraska beating Alabama for the national championship in the Orange Bowl, left no team no margin for error. The loss to Auburn meant no perfect season, no SEC championship, no national championship.
Now Georgia was back on the plains, aiming for the SEC title and retention of the No. 1 ranking, keeping the dream alive. Dooley and Erk Russell were Auburn standouts. Under their watch, the Bulldogs had clinched SEC titles at Auburn in 1966, 1968 and 1976. The window was open here in 1980, with an eye towards the ultimate, almost inconceivable prize.
Auburn came in with a record of 5-4, eyeing the upset. Georgia was certainly flying high after the play and subsequent victory of all time.
It was a cloudy Saturday afternoon, with a slight wind and temperature of 68 degrees, with a 2:30 Eastern/1:30 Central kickoff from Jordan Hare Stadium.
After a scoreless first quarter, Auburn struck first and grabbed a 7-0 lead with 11:05 to go in the second quarter.
Georgia answered and got on the board, as All-American Rex Robinson split the uprights from 40 yards out to pull the Bulldogs within 7-3.
Then came one of the Bulldogs of 1980 specialties. As has been pointed out several times in this series, Georgia led the nation in turnover margin. The Bulldogs gave up only eight total punt return yards all year. Not on average, not in a game, no, on the whole season, eight yards. Meanwhile, All-American Scott Woerner averaged 15.7 yards per punt return.
At that time, it was the greatest senior class in Georgia history, and the greatest freshman class in Bulldogs history. With under five minutes to go, senior Greg Bell blocked a Tigers punt, and freshman Freddie Gilbert, a future All-American, scooped up the pigskin and raced 27 yards to paydirt. With 4:32 to go in the second quarter, the top-ranked Bulldogs had taken the lead 10-7.
Things would continue to turn Georgia's way.
Auburn fed its outstanding running back James Brooks, of Warner Robins, GA, but the Bulldogs rose up. Stops by Chris Welton, Frank Ros and Nate Taylor stymied the Tigers and they were forced to punt again.
Against the gritty Tiger defense and the clock, the Bulldogs mounted a drive, moving from their own 42-yard line to the Auburn one-yard line. On the final play of the first half, Buck Belue threw a one-yard touchdown pass to Norris Brown and the Bulldogs had some breathing room. Following Robinson's point after, it was 17-7 Bulldogs at the half.
Not liking the way the officiating went at the end of the end of the first half, which included a pass interference penalty against the Tigers, Auburn was flagged for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
That meant that Georgia would kick off the second half from the Auburn 45, instead of the Bulldogs own 40.
Why not?
So good on special teams, the Bulldogs rolled the dice and hit double six, recovering an onside kick at the Tigers 33. Focusing the defense on freshman sensation Herschel Walker, the Bulldogs struck against Auburn, with Belue scrambling for 26 yards from the Auburn 30. A pair of runs by Herschel put the ball at the Auburn one. Georgia then went with Belue, who scored from one yard out. Georgia led 24-7 after Robinson's extra point.
Following a trio of punts, Georgia took over at its own 46.
Herschel ran for five. Then Belue hit another freshman, tight end Clarence Kay for 19 yards. Herschel ran for three, and then pulled in a Belue aerial for nine yards, giving Georgia a first down at the Tigers 48.
Then Number 34 made something special happen. He reversed field, Belue blocked, and as the mighty Larry Munson so perfectly described with that kid out of Johnson County extending his neck near paydirt, "Herschel smells it and scores."
An 18 yard touchdown was the big blow.
As was the case with the 1980 team, there was drama galore.
It's never, or at least rarely easy.
Brooks scored and the Tigers got the two-point conversion.
On the Tigers next possession, they scored again. But Georgia came up with a clutch stop on the two-point attempt.
It was 31-21. Big difference from 31-23.
But 9:18 still remained.
Georgia took possession and drove from its own 23 all the way to the Auburn two in 13 plays. Walker was hobbled a bit, and the Bulldogs went to Carnie Norris. He had the big play with a 45-yard run behind the Bulldogs tremendous offensive line.
The Bulldogs didn't score, throwing an interception in the end zone from the two. But the clock was eaten up. Auburn took over on its 20. Captain Ros deflected a pass and then snuffed out a fake punt attempt with just over three minutes remaining. Walker came back. He, Norris and Ronnie Stewart ran all the way to the Auburn 11 and ran the clock all the way down to zero.
Georgia had won the SEC Championship!
The Bulldogs were 10-0 and ranked No. 1.
There was an open date and then the Yellow Jackets in Athens. A win and you know what would be next.
But next up was Tech, and the biggest game of them all.
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