1980 Dayton Flyers football team

1980 Dayton Flyers football
NCAA Division III champion
Stagg Bowl, W 63–0 vs. Ithaca
ConferenceIndependent
Record14–0
Head coach
Defensive coordinatorMike Kelly (3rd season)
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.

  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.