1980 McNeese State Cowboys football team

The 1980 McNeese State Cowboys football team was an American football team that represented McNeese State University in the Southland Conference during the 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season. In its second season under head coach Ernie Duplechin, the team compiled a 10–2 record (5–0 against Southland opponents), won the Southland Conference championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 318 to 154.[1][2] The team played its home games in Cowboy Stadium in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

1980 McNeese State Cowboys football
Southland champion
ConferenceSouthland Conference
1980 record10–2 (5–0 Southland)
Head coach
Defensive coordinatorHubert Boales (2nd season)
Home stadiumCowboy Stadium
1980 Southland Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L T  W L T
McNeese State $ 5 –0 –0  10 –2 –0
Southwestern Louisiana 4 –1 –0  7 –4 –0
Texas–Arlington 3 –2 –0  3 –8 –0
Louisiana Tech 2 –3 –0  5 –6 –0
Lamar 1 –4 –0  3 –8 –0
Arkansas State 0 –5 –0  2 –9 –0
  • $ – Conference champion

The team concluded an undefeated season against Southland Conference opponents and clinched the conference championship with a 14–0 shutout victory over Southwestern Louisiana on November 22, 1980.[3]

After winning the conference championship, McNeese was invited to play in the 1980 Independence Bowl, losing to Southern Miss by a 16–14 score. McNeese led by a 14–10 score late in the fourth quarter after Southern Miss recovered a fumble at the McNeese seven-yard line. McNeese kicker Don Stump also missed field goal attempts of 37 and 42 yards.[4]

The team's statistical leaders included sophomore quarterback Stephen Starring with 1,006 passing yards and 1,980 yards of total offense, Theron McClendon with 1,272 rushing yards, Mark Barousse with 308 receiving yards, and placekicker Don Stump with 62 points scored.[5] Starring went on to play seven seasons, principally as a wide receiver, in the National Football League. He was inducted into the McNeese State University Hall of Fame in 2000.[6]

Schedule
DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 6at West Texas State*
W 20–17
September 13at Toledo*
W 20–17
September 20Nicholls State*
W 21–0
September 27Northwestern State*
  • Cowboy Stadium
  • Lake Charles, LA
L 10–13
October 4Ball State*
  • Cowboy Stadium
  • Lake Charles, LA
W 24–7
October 11at Northeast Louisiana
W 48–2816,352[7]
October 25at Arkansas State
W 36–28
November 1Texas–Arlington
  • Cowboy Stadium
  • Lake Charles, LA
W 31–17
November 8at Louisiana Tech
W 45–8[8]
November 15Lamar
  • Cowboy Stadium
  • Lake Charles, LA
W 35–319,768[9]
November 22Southwestern Louisiana
  • Cowboy Stadium
  • Lake Charles, LA
W 14–023,789[3]
December 13vs. Southern Miss*
L 14–1642,600[4]
  • *Non-conference game

References
  1. "1980 McNeese State Cowboys Schedule and Results". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 31, 2019.
  2. "McNeese State - 2018FB MG (PDF)" (PDF). McNeese State Sports. Retrieved January 28, 2019. pg. 76
  3. "McNeese St. Captures SLC Championship". The Sunday Advertiser (Lafayette, Louisiana). November 23, 1980. p. 61 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Southern Miss Wins Independence Bowl". Daily Press (UPI story). December 14, 1980. p. D3 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "1980 McNeese State Cowboys Stats". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 31, 2019.
  6. "Steven Starring – Class of - Hall of Fame". McNeese State University. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  7. "McNeese blasts Northeast, 48-28". The Times. October 12, 1980. p. 4D – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "The Boss: McNeese Humiliates La. Tech". Alexandria Daily Town Talk. November 9, 1980. pp. C1, C9 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "McNeese Crushes Lamar". The Sunday Advertiser. November 16, 1980. p. 41 – via Newspapers.com.
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