1980 Dayton Flyers football
NCAA Division III champion
Stagg Bowl, W 63–0 vs. Ithaca
ConferenceIndependent
Record14–0
Head coach
CaptainJim O'Hara, Mark Schmitz, Tim Schoen
Home stadiumWelcome Stadium
Seasons
← 1979
1981 →
1980 NCAA Division III independents football records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Dayton ^   –   14 – 0 – 0
Millsaps   –   9 – 0 – 0
Wabash   –   8 – 0 – 1
Hofstra   –   8 – 2 – 0
Wagner ^   –   8 – 2 – 0
DePauw   –   7 – 2 – 1
Salisbury State   –   7 – 3 – 1
Catholic University   –   6 – 3 – 0
Sonoma State   –   6 – 4 – 0
Canisius   –   5 – 4 – 0
Brockport   –   5 – 4 – 1
Buffalo   –   6 – 5 – 0
Albany   –   5 – 5 – 0
Georgetown   –   4 – 4 – 0
San Diego   –   5 – 5 – 0
UCF   –   4 – 4 – 1
Saint Mary's   –   5 – 6 – 0
Duquesne   –   4 – 5 – 0
Frostburg State   –   4 – 5 – 0
Grove City   –   4 – 5 – 0
Norwich   –   4 – 6 – 0
Rochester (NY)   –   3 – 5 – 1
St. Norbert   –   3 – 6 – 0
Cortland   –   3 – 7 – 0
Colorado College   –   2 – 7 – 0
Saint Francis (PA)   –   2 – 7 – 0
Union (NY)   –   1 – 7 – 0
Fordham   –   0 – 9 – 0
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant

The 1980 Dayton Flyers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Dayton as an independent during the 1980 NCAA Division III football season. In their fourth and final season under head coach Rick E. Carter, the Flyers compiled a 14–0 record and outscored opponents by a total of 509 to 70.[1]

They participated in the NCAA Division III playoffs, defeating Baldwin–Wallace in the quarterfinals, Widener in the semifinals, and Ithaca (63-0) in the Stagg Bowl for the national championship.[1]

Quarterback Jim O'Hara, linebacker Mark Schmitz, and strong safety Tim Schoen were the team captains.[2] The team's statistical leaders included running back Gradlin Pruitt with 1,591 rushing yards and 1,980 yards of total offense and receiver Al Laubenthal with 883 receiving yards.[3] Pruitt received the team's most valuable player award.[4]

Ten days after the championship game, Carter resigned as Dayton's head coach to accept the same position at Holy Cross.[5][6] In January 1981, he was voted as the Division III Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).[7]

The team played its home games at Welcome Stadium in Dayton, Ohio.

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 6California (PA)
W 20–09,218[8]
September 13at AshlandAshland, OHW 20–102,000[9]
September 20Butler
  • Welcome Stadium
  • Dayton, OH
W 29–010,484[10]
September 27Georgetown (KY)
  • Welcome Stadium
  • Dayton, OH
W 35–68,794[11]
October 4Slippery Rock
  • Welcome Stadium
  • Dayton, OH
W 45–1010,173[12]
October 11at Frostburg StateFrostburg, MDW 31–74,000[13]
October 18at Merchant Marine
W 35–74,800[14]
October 25Buffalo
  • Welcome Stadium
  • Dayton, OH
W 55–06,872[15]
November 1Ferris State
  • Welcome Stadium
  • Dayton, OH
W 38–09,881[16]
November 8at John CarrollCleveland, OHW 41–33,500[17]
November 15Wisconsin–Superior
  • Welcome Stadium
  • Dayton, OH
W 35–36,331[18]
November 22Baldwin–Wallace
  • Welcome Stadium
  • Dayton, OH (NCAA Division III quarterfinal)
W 34–06,500[19]
November 30at WidenerChester, PA (NCAA Division III semifinal)W 28–24[20][21]
December 6vs. IthacaPhenix City, AL (Stagg Bowl)W 63–08,701[22][23]

[24]

References

  1. ^ a b "2019 Dayton Flyers Football Media Guide" (PDF). University of Dayton. 2018. p. 16. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  2. ^ 2018 Dayton Flyers Football Media Guide, p. 13.
  3. ^ 2018 Dayton Flyers Football Media Guide, p. 6.
  4. ^ 2018 Dayton Flyers Football Media Guide, p. 10.
  5. ^ Dave Long (December 17, 1980). "Carter reportedly accepts coaching jog at Holy Cross". Dayton Daily News. pp. 1, 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Gary Nuhn (December 18, 1980). "Holy Cross found the man it wanted". Dayton Daily News. p. 37 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Carter is named top coach". The Journal Herald. Associated Press. January 9, 1981. p. 8.
  8. ^ Gary Nuhn (September 7, 1980). "Opportunistic Flyers in 20-0 getaway". Dayton Daily News. pp. 1C, 2C – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Gary Nuhn (September 14, 1980). "Flyers win 2nd, 20-10". Dayton Daily News. p. 1C – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Gary Nuhn (September 21, 1980). "Flyers blast Butler, 29-0, before 10,484". Dayton Daily News. pp. 1C, 4C – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Gary Nuhn (September 28, 1980). "UD Flyers zoom to 4th straight, 35-6". Dayton Daily News. pp. 1C, 4C – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Gary Nuhn (October 5, 1980). "Division III pollsters: attention; Dayton 45, Slippery Rock 10, now vote". Dayton Daily News. pp. 1C, 4C – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Gary Nuhn (October 12, 1980). "UD's option play frosts Frostburg". Dayton Daily News. pp. 1C, 4C – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Gary Nuhn (October 19, 1980). "Flyers give Mariners message, 35-7". Dayton Daily News. pp. 1C, 2C – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ Gary Nuhn (October 26, 1980). "Record 8th: Flyers discourage Buffalo grid reincarnation, 55-0". Dayton Daily News. pp. 1C, 3C – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ Gary Nuhn (November 2, 1980). "Record-setting 9-0 Dayton wheels past Ferris, 38-0". Dayton Daily News. pp. 1C, 4C – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ Gary Nuhn (November 9, 1980). "Make it an unprecedented 10-0 for Flyers". Dayton Daily News. pp. 1C, 10C – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ Hal McCoy (November 16, 1980). "Contented cows: Unbeaten, untied Flyers await playoffs after bullying Superior, 35-3". Dayton Daily News. pp. 1C, 8C – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ Gary Nuhn (November 23, 1980). "Widener next as UD overwhelms B-W 34-0". Dayton Daily News. pp. 1C, 2C – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ Dale Dempsey (December 1, 1980). "WOW! Select your own adjective, but any fits UD comeback". Journal Herald. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ Gary Nuhn (December 1, 1980). "Coinless Flyers good enough". Dayton Daily News. pp. 7, 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ Gary Nuhn (December 7, 1980). "Flyers roll to title, carve niche in history". Dayton Daily News. p. 1A – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ Gary Nuhn (December 7, 1980). "'The Dream' team". Dayton Daily News. p. 1C – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "Final 1980 Cumulative Football Statistics Report". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
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