1980’s Game History

South Carolina returned to the Gator Bowl in 1980 for the first time since the inaugural game 34 years prior. The Gamecocks rode the wave of Heisman Trophy Winner George Rogers into a matchup against Pittsburgh. Once again, the Pitt Panthers, the nation’s third best team at time, put on an offensive show. They scored 17 first quarter points, to take a 17-3 lead into halftime. They would tack on 17 unanswered in the third quarter to pull ahead by a margin of 31. The Panthers cycled through three quarterbacks in the game, including future NFL great Dan Marino. George Rogers’ 22nd consecutive 100 yard rushing game was handicapped by two costly fumbles, and the Panthers thumped the Cocks for a 37-9 victory.

MVP: Rick Trocano (QB, Pittsburgh), George Rogers (RB, South Carolina)

Coaches: Jackie Sherrill (Pittsburgh), Jim Carlen (South Carolina)

Total Payout: $901,353

Attendance: 72,297

Chairman: John A. Tucker

Network: ABC

All-Americans: Jimbo Covert (OT, Pittsburgh),  Julius Dawkins (SE, Pittsburgh), Hugh Green (DE, Pittsburgh), Dan Marino (QB, Pittsburgh), Mark May (OT, Pittsburgh), Sal Sunseri (LB, Pittsburgh), George Rogers (RB, South Carolina)

Awards: Mark May (OT, Pittsburgh) Outland Trophy (Outstanding Interior Lineman), Hugh Green (DE, Pittsburgh), Vince Lombardi Trophy (Outstanding College Lineman), Hugh Green (DE, Pittsburgh) Maxwell Award (Outstanding College Football Player), George Rogers (RB, South Carolina), Heisman Trophy (Outstanding College Football Player)

Pittsburgh-37      South Carolina-14

The 1981 game will forever be affectionately known as the “Fog Bowl”. Fog filled the skies of Jacksonville making visibility hard to come by. At time the weather made it challenging to even make out player’s numbers on their jerseys. Behind tailback duo Kelvin Bryant and Ethan Horton, North Carolina held a 31-10 lead with only half a quarter to play. Arkansas was able to cross the goal line with five minutes left, and recover the onside kick that followed. They punched it in again, sending Heels fans to the edge of their seats. The Razorbacks got the ball back on a intentional safety, but were unable to capitalize on the last drive. The Heels pulled away with a 31-27 victory.

MVP: Kelvin Bryant (TB, North Carolina), Ethan Horton (TB, North Carolina), Gary Anderson (TB, Arkansas)

Coaches: Dick Crum (North Carolina), Lou Holtz (Arkansas)

Total Payout: $962,497

Attendance: 71,009

Chairman: Wilford C. Lyon Jr.

Network: ABC

All-Americans: Steve Korte (OG, Arkansas), Bruce Lahay (PK, Arkansas), Billy Ray Smith (DL, Arkansas), Brian Blados (OT, North Carolina), David Drechsler (OG, North Carolina), William Fuller (DT, North Carolina)

Arkansas-27    North Carolina -31

Rain punished both teams in the 1982 game, which would be the first appearance of Florida State legend Coach Bobby Bowden. The Mountaineers of West Virginia were heavily favored behind their quarterback Jeff Hostetler. The rain proved to be an issue for Hostetler who completed only 10 passes for 118 yards. FSU’s Blair Williams threw for 202 yards and a touchdown. He helped the Noles break open a 17-6 lead by halftime and a 31-6 lead by the start of the fourth quarter. The star of the night for the Noles was running back Greg Allen. Allen ran the ball 15 times for 138 yards and two scores. He also added on a Gator Bowl record 95 yard kickoff return for a touchdown, carrying the Noles to a 31-12 win.

MVP: Greg Allen (RB, Florida State), Paul Woodside (K, West Virginia)

Coaches: Bobby Bowden (Florida State), Don Nehlen (West Virginia)

Total Payout: $1,194,609

Attendance: 80,913

Chairman: Chris A. Verlander

Network: ABC

All-Americans: Greg Allen (RB, Florida State), Rob Bennett (TE, West Virginia), Brian Jozwiak (OT, West Virginia), Darryl Talley (LB, West Virginia)

Florida State-31       West Virginia-12

FSU-Hall, 20-yd. field goal — WVU-Woodside, 48-yd. field goal — FSU-Allen, 95-yd. kickoff return (Hall kick) — WVU- Woodside, 48-yd. field goal — FSU-McKinnon, 27-yd. pass from Williams (Hall kick) — FSU-Allen, 29-yd. run (Hall kick) — FSU- Allen, 1-yd. run (Hall kick) — WVU-Miller 26-yd. run (Hall kick) — WVU-Miller, 26-yd. pass from White (pass failed)

Gator Bowl crews flushed toilets all night before the game to prevent the pipes from freezing. The temperature was in the low 30s and a tornado warning loomed. This, however, had no effect on the near 82,000 fans who piled into the Gator Bowl to watch Florida take on Iowa. The Gators defense would prove to be the difference maker in the contest. Florida forced five total turnovers including a crucial fumble recovery inside the end zone on a dropped snap by Iowa’s punter. Tony Lilly intercepted 2 passes, helping the Gators get a 14-6 win, Coach Charley Pell’s first in 6 tries at the Gator Bowl.

MVP: Tony Lilly (DB, Florida), Owen Gill (RB, Iowa)

Coaches: Charley Pell (Florida), Hayden Fry (Iowa)

Total Payout: $1,358,898

Attendance: 81,293

Chairman: Bill Nimnicht Jr.

Network: ABC

All-Americans: Lomas Brown (OT, Florida), Wilber Marshall (LB, Florida), Chuck Long (QB, Iowa), Larry Station (LB, Iowa)

Awards: Chuck Long (QB, Iowa) Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award (Outstanding Quarterback)

Florida-14            Iowa-6

UF-Neal Anderson, 1-yd. run (Bobby Raymond kick)— UI-Tom Nichol, 32-yd. field goal— UF-Doug Drew, fumble recovery in end zone (Raymond kick)— UI-Nichol, 31-yd. field goal

The Gator Bowl upstarting South Carolina Gamecocks returned once again in 1984, seeking their first bowl win in program history. A South Carolina team that handed losses to high-ranked teams, like Georgia and Notre Dame, looked ready to take the next step. The Cowboys of Oklahoma State had something to say about that though. Behind the strong play of Rusty Hilger and Thurman Thomas, the Cowboys jumped out to a 13-0 first half lead. The Gamecocks would storm back and take the lead on touchdowns by Eric Poole and Chris Wade. Just when it looked as if South Carolina would add a mark in the win column, Oklahoma State tight end Barry Hanna scored a controversial touchdown in the final minute. The Cowboys converted on the two-point conversion and, ultimately, won the game 21-14.

MVP: Thurman Thomas (TB, Oklahoma State), Mike Hold (QB, South Carolina)

Coaches: Pat Jones (Oklahoma State), Joe Morrison (South Carolina)

Total Payout: $1,662,040

Attendance: 82,138

Chairman: J.T. Hill

Network: ABC

All-Americans: Rod Brown (DB, Oklahoma State), Leslie O’Neal (DT, Oklahoma State), James Seawright (LB, South Carolina), Del Wilkes (OG, South Carolina)

Oklahoma State-21            South Carolina-14

1985 was a year of high octane offense from both of the Gator Bowl participants. The Seminoles combined for 1,002 yards, 597 coming for FSU. This surprised some as many predicted the Noles to be constrained to the running game after three of their receivers went out with injuries and a suspension. Freshman Chip Ferguson  argued otherwise, throwing for 338 yards and two touchdowns, also picking up another on his feet. Cowboys’ Thurman Thomas produced 97 yards and a touchdown reception, but was overshadowed by Noles’ running back Tony Smith who ran for 201 yards. Florida State won convincingly 34-23.

MVP: Chip Ferguson (QB, Florida State), Thurman Thomas (RB, Oklahoma State)

Coaches: Bobby Bowden (Florida State), Pat Jones (Oklahoma State)

Total Payout: $1,551,869

Attendance: 79,417

Chairman: Henry H. Beckwith

Network: ABC

All-Americans: Jamie Dukes (OG, Florida State), Mark Moore (DB, Oklahoma State), Thurman Thomas (RB, Oklahoma State)

Florida State-34            Oklahoma State-23

In the 42nd Gator Bowl, Stanford became the first Pac-10 to make a Jacksonville appearance. The projected 40,000 South Carolinians at the game, welcomed them warmly. Clemson added onto the welcome party by tacking on 27 unanswered first half points with three different players scoring touchdowns, and Jacksonville native David Treadwell. Stanford found their footing in the second half. Brad Muster scored three touchdowns, one on the ground and two through the air. The Cardinal comeback came up just short as a fourth down pass hit the turf with less than two minutes to play. Clemson survived with a 27-21 win.

MVP: Rodney Williams (QB, Clemson), Brad Muster (FB, Stanford)

Coaches: Danny Ford (Clemson), Jack Elway (Stanford)

Total Payout: 1,800,000

Attendance: 80,104

Chairman: John T. Bell

Network: CBS

All-Americans: John Phillips (OL, Clemson), Michael Dean Perry (DT, Clemson), Stacy Long (OT, Clemson), Brad Muster (RB, Stanford)

Clemson-27            Stanford-21

In 1987 the Gator Bowl began its corporate sponsorship from Mazda, now affectionately being called the Mazda Gator Bowl. 41 years after playing in the first ever Gator Bowl, the South Carolina Gamecocks had still not won a bowl game. LSU had no plans to let that happen today either. Tiger quarterback Tommy Hodson and split end Wendell Davis connected three times for touchdowns, two coming in the first quarter. South Carolina, could not get anything going offensively, and Todd Ellis was sacked 11 times. Ellis did throw for 304 yards but was intercepted 4 times. The Gamecocks received a solid effort from Harold Green who caught for 45 yards and a score. Those efforts were nowhere near enough as LSU kept the Cocks winless in bowl games, with a 30-13 victory.

MVP: Harold Green (RB, South Carolina), Wendell Davis (SE, Louisiana State)

Coaches: Mike Archer (Louisiana State), Joe Morrison (South Carolina)

Total Payout: $2,000,000

Attendance: 82,119

Chairman: Tom McCandless

Network: CBS

All-Americans: Wendell Davis (SE, Louisiana State), Nacho Albergamo (C, Louisiana State), Sterling Sharpe (WB, South Carolina)

Louisiana State-30           South Carolina-13

LSU-Wendell Davis, 39-yd.pass from Tommy Hodson (David Browndyke kick)— LSU-Davis, 12-yd. pass from Hodson (Browndyke kick)—SC-Collin Mackie, 44-yd. field goal— LSU- Browndyke, 27-yd. field goal— SC-Mackie, 39-yd. field goal— LSU-Browndyke, 18-yd. field goal—LSU-Davis, 25-yd. pass from Hodson (Browndyke kick)— SC-Harold Green, 10-yd. run Mackie kick) — LSU-Browndyke, 23-yd. field goal

The Georgia and Michigan State New Year’s day game was an uncharacteristic passing dispaly from both teams. Georgia quarterback Wayne Johnson, and Michigan State’s Bobby McAllister were both considered running backs rather than passers. McAllister threw for 228 yards and three touchdowns while Johnson threw for 227 yards and three scores of his own. The stellar quarterbacking was almost overshadowed by Spartan split end Andre Rison who caught for a record 252 yards and three touchdowns. After Michigan State from a 17-0 start from the Bulldogs, the game was close the rest of the way. Georgia’s 34-27 victory was the final win of Vince Dooley’s historic career of 25 years. Dooley ended his coaching career in the same place he ended his playing career 34 years prior.

MVP: Andre Rison (SE, Michigan State), Wayne Johnson (QB, Georgia)

Coaches: Vince Dooley (Georgia), George Perles (Michigan State)

Total Payout: $2,000,000

Attendance: 76,236

Chairman: Don Davis

Network: ESPN

All-Americans: Troy Sadowski (TE, Georgia), Tim Worley (RB, Georgia), Bob Kula (OG, Michigan State), Tony Mandarich (OT, Michigan State), Percy Snow (LB, Michigan State)

Awards: Percy Snow (LB, Michigan State) Vince Lombardi Trophy (Outstanding College Lineman)

Georgia-34           Michigan State-27

This year’s Mazda Gator Bowl featured Heisman runner-up quarterback Major Harris of West Virginia. He lived up to all of that hype on the first drive of the game taking the Mountaineers 94 yards to pay dirt. The rest of the game was all Tigers. Joe Henderson ran for 92 yards and a score, added on to by Chris Gardocki who kicked two field goals. Wesley McFadden also punched one in from the goaline. The rest of the scoring came from Clemson’s stout defense.  They forced a fumble in the endzone and fell on it. West Virginia never scored after their first drive of the game ,and suffered a 27-7 defeat.

MVP: Levon Kirkland (LB, Clemson), Mike Fox (DT, West Virginia)

Coaches: Danny Ford (Clemson), Don Nehlen (West Virginia)

Total Payout: $2,400,000

Attendance: 82,911

Chairman: Charles E. Hughes Jr.

Network: ESPN

All-Americans: Major Harris (QB, West Virginia)

Clemson-27           West Virginia-7