1980 Cal Poly Mustangs football
NCAA Division II champion
CCAA champion
ConferenceCalifornia Collegiate Athletic Association
Ranking
APNo. 3 (NCAA Division II)
Record10–3 (2–0 CCAA)
Head coach
Home stadiumMustang Stadium
Seasons
← 1979
1981 →
1980 California Collegiate Athletic Association football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 3 Cal Poly $^ 2 – 0 – 0 10 – 3 – 0
Cal State Northridge 1 – 1 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Cal Poly Pomona 0 – 2 – 0 3 – 7 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from Associated Press poll

The 1980 Cal Poly Mustangs football team represented California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo as a member of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) during the 1980 NCAA Division II football season. Led by 13th-year head coach Joe Harper, Cal Poly compiled an overall record of 10–3 with a mark of 2–0 in conference play, winning the CCAA title for the fifth consecutive season. The Mustangs advanced to the NCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs, where they shut out Jacksonville State in the quarterfinals, beat Santa Clara in the semifinals, and upset No. 1-ranked Eastern Illinois in the title game, the Zia Bowl played in Albuquerque, New Mexico. During the regular season, two of the Mustangs three losses came at the hands of NCAA Division I-A opponents, Cal State Fullerton and Fresno State. Cal Poly also beat Boise State, the eventual NCAA Division I-AA champion. The Mustangs played home games at Mustang Stadium in San Luis Obispo, California.

Schedule

DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 13at Northern Colorado*
W 17–161,309[1]
September 20Cal State Fullerton*
L 23–307,160[2]
September 27at UC Davis*
W 28–258,900–9,000[3]
October 4at Fresno State*
L 25–3115,221[4]
October 11at No. 5 Santa Clara*No. 10
W 42–287,200
October 25Puget Sound*No. 7
  • Mustang Stadium
  • San Luis Obispo, CA
W 24–06,080[5]
November 1Cal State NorthridgeNo. 5
  • Mustang Stadium
  • San Luis Obispo, CA
W 35–68,170[6]
November 8at Cal Poly PomonaNo. 4
W 36–04,781
November 15No. 5 (I-AA) Boise State*No. 4
  • Mustang Stadium
  • San Luis Obispo, CA
W 23–208,330[7]
November 22Sacramento State*No. 3
  • Mustang Stadium
  • San Luis Obispo, CA
L 19–245,470
November 29No. 4 Jacksonville State*No. 3
W 15–04,380[8]
December 6No. 7 Santa Clara*No. 3
  • Mustang Stadium
  • San Luis Obispo, CA (NCAA Division II Semifinal)
W 38–146,650[9]
December 13No. 1 Eastern Illinois*No. 3
W 21–132,056[10]

[11][12][13]

Team players in the NFL

The following Cal Poly Mustang players were selected in the 1981 NFL Draft.[14][15]

Player Position Round Overall NFL team
Robbie Martin Wide receiver 4 100 Pittsburgh Steelers
Louis Jackson Running back 7 168 New York Giants
Mike Daum Tackle 7 179 Miami Dolphins

The following finished their college career in 1980, were not drafted, but played in the NFL.

Player Position First NFL team
LeCharls McDaniel Defensive back 1981 Washington Redskins
Mel Kaufman Linebacker 1981 Washington Redskins

References

  1. ^ "Gabriel's Team Bows in Opener". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. September 14, 1980. p. III-18. Retrieved March 31, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  2. ^ Pete Donovan (September 21, 1980). "Titans Off and Running, Win Again". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. p. III-1. Retrieved February 10, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  3. ^ "Final 1980 Cumulative Football Statistics Report". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  4. ^ "Fresno State 2016 Media Guide" (PDF). Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  5. ^ "Cal Poly Poly (sic) Pomona Buried, 93-7". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. October 26, 1980. p. 54. Retrieved March 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  6. ^ "Azusa Rolls Past Chapman, 51-7". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. November 2, 1980. p. III-1. Retrieved February 21, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  7. ^ "2015 Boise State Football Media Guide". Boise State University Athletics. 2015. p. 157. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  8. ^ "Cal Poly nails Jax". The Anniston Star. November 30, 1980. Retrieved November 29, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Cal Poly SLO Makes It to Division II Final". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. December 7, 1980. p. III-16. Retrieved February 21, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  10. ^ "Cal Poly SLO Wins Title". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. December 14, 1980. p. III-15. Retrieved February 21, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  11. ^ "Final 1980 Cumulative Football Statistics Report". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  12. ^ "Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo Yearly Results". Archived from the original on September 1, 2018. Retrieved January 12, 2017.
  13. ^ "Cal Poly Football; 2016 Media Guide". Retrieved January 12, 2017.
  14. ^ "1981 NFL Draft". Archived from the original on December 21, 2007. Retrieved January 12, 2017.
  15. ^ "Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo Players/Alumni". Retrieved January 12, 2017.
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