The 1980 team won the national championship and the SEC championship with a 12-0-0 record, defeating Tennessee 16-15 in Knoxville, Texas A&M 42-0 in Athens, Clemson 20-16 in Athens, TCU 34-3 in Athens, Ole Miss 28-21 in Athens, Vanderbilt 41-0 in Athens, Kentucky 27-0 in Lexington, South Carolina 13-10 in Athens, Florida 26-21 in Jacksonville, Auburn 31-21 in Auburn, Georgia Tech 38-20 in Athens, and Notre Dame 17-10 in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans on Jan. 1, 1981. The assistant coaching staff included Erk Russell, George Haffner, Mike Cavan, Wayne McDuffie, Charley Whittemore, John Kasay, Steve Greer, Bill Lewis, Chip Wisdom, Howard "Doc” Ayers, Mike Castronis, Bill Hartman, Rusty Russell, and Sam Mrvos. The Georgia Sugar Bowl Letterman team included captain Frank Ros, offensive captain Nat Hudson, defensive captain Jeff Hipp, Anthony Arnold, Greg Bell, Back Belue, Jim Blakewood, Tim Bobo, Keith Bouchillon, Jim Broadway, Norris Brown, Lon Buckler, Scott Campbell, Gary Cantrell, Dale Carver, Tim Case, Stan Charping, Joe Creamons, Tim Crowe, Mike Fisher, Will Forts, Freddie Gilbert, Warren Gray, Joe Happe, Jeff Harper, Jimmy Harper, Tetty Hoage, Kevin Jackson, Chuck Jones, Mike Jones, Charles Junior, Clarence Kay, Bob Kelly, Steve Kelly, Dan Leusenring, Jack Lindsey, Mark Malkiewicz, Dan Marlow, Chris McCarthy, and Donnie.