1980 Holy Cross Crusaders football team

The 1980 Holy Cross Crusaders football team was an American football team that represented the College of the Holy Cross as an independent during the 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season. Neil Wheelwright returned for his fifth year as head coach. The team compiled a record of 3–8.[1]

1980 Holy Cross Crusaders football
Conference	Independent
1980 record	3–8
Head coach	Neil Wheelwright (5th season)
Captains	John Ahern Bob Ireland
Home stadium	Fitton Field

1980 NCAA Division I-A independents football records
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 2 Pittsburgh		–		–				11	–	1	–	0
No. 5 Florida State		–		–				10	–	2	–	0
No. 8 Penn State		–		–				10	–	2	–	0
No. 9 Notre Dame		–		–				9	–	2	–	1
No. 18 Miami		–		–				9	–	3	–	0
Southern Miss		–		–				9	–	3	–	0
Navy		–		–				8	–	4	–	0
South Carolina		–		–				8	–	4	–	0
Virginia Tech		–		–				8	–	4	–	0
Boston College		–		–				7	–	4	–	0
Northeast Louisiana		–		–				7	–	4	–	0
Rutgers		–		–				7	–	4	–	0
UNLV		–		–				7	–	4	–	0
Tulane		–		–				7	–	5	–	0
Colgate		–		–				5	–	4	–	1
North Texas State		–		–				6	–	5	–	0
Villanova		–		–				6	–	5	–	0
West Virginia		–		–				6	–	6	–	0
Louisville		–		–				5	–	6	–	0
Richmond		–		–				5	–	6	–	0
Syracuse		–		–				5	–	6	–	0
East Carolina		–		–				4	–	7	–	0
Illinois State		–		–				4	–	7	–	0
Temple		–		–				4	–	7	–	0
Army		–		–				3	–	7	–	1
Holy Cross		–		–				3	–	8	–	0
Cincinnati		–		–				2	–	9	–	0
Memphis State		–		–				2	–	9	–	0
William & Mary		–		–				2	–	9	–	0
Georgia Tech		–		–				1	–	9	–	1
Rankings from AP Poll

All home games were played at Fitton Field on the Holy Cross campus in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 6	Rhode Island	Fitton Field Worcester, MA	W 21–14	11,121	[2]
September 13	at Army	Michie Stadium West Point, NY	L 7–28	28,043	[3]
September 27	at Harvard	Harvard Stadium Boston, MA	L 13–14	18,000	[4]
October 4	Dartmouth	Fitton Field Worcester, MA	W 17–6	15,783	[5]
October 11	at Colgate	Andy Kerr Stadium Hamilton, NY	L 7–38	5,000	[6]
October 18	Connecticut ^	Fitton Field Worcester, MA	L 17–18	6,000	[7]
October 25	at Brown	Brown Stadium Providence, RI	L 3–21	1,400	[8]
November 1	at Columbia	Baker Field New York, NY	W 26–0	5,580	[9]
November 8	Massachusetts	Fitton Field Worcester, MA	L 13–17	7,121	[10]
November 15	Villanova	Fitton Field Worcester, MA	L 13–45	5,135	[11]
November 29	at Boston College	Alumni Stadium Chestnut Hill, MA (rivalry)	L 26–27	27,400	[12]
Homecoming ^ Family Weekend

Statistical leaders

Statistical leaders for the 1980 Crusaders included:[13]

• Rushing: Mark Covington, 516 yards and 4 touchdowns on 152 attempts
• Passing: Dave Boisture, 1,659 yards, 113 completions and 6 touchdowns on 262 attempts
• Receiving: Brian Kelley, 639 yards and 2 touchdowns on 48 receptions
• Scoring: Matt Michaud, 26 points from 14 PATs and 4 field goals
• Total offense: Dave Boisture, 1,610 yards (1,659 passing, minus-49 rushing)
• All-purpose yards: John Ahern, 813 yards (566 receiving, 198 returning, 49 rushing)
• Interceptions: Peter George, Eric Oden and Rob Porter, 2 interceptions each (yardage: George, 23; Oden, 15; Porter, 6)
• Tackles: Jim Cobb, 127 total tackles (62 solo, 65 assist)

References

1. "2019 Holy Cross Football Fact Book" (PDF). Worcester, Mass.: College of the Holy Cross. p. 124. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
2. Monahan, Bob (September 7, 1980). "Covington Runs, URI Errs -- HC Wins, 21-14". Boston Sunday Globe. Boston, Mass. p. 61 – via Newspapers.com.
3. Concannon, Joe (September 14, 1980). "Army Rolls Over HC". Boston Sunday Globe. Boston, Mass. p. 86 – via Newspapers.com.
4. Roberts, Ernie (September 28, 1980). "HC Can't Convert; Harvard Escapes". Boston Sunday Globe. Boston, Mass. p. 80 – via Newspapers.com.
5. Roberts, Ernie (October 5, 1980). "HC Downs Dartmouth". Boston Sunday Globe. Boston, Mass. p. 60 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Colgate Crushes Holy Cross". Boston Sunday Globe. Boston, Mass. October 12, 1980. p. 58 – via Newspapers.com.
7. Powers, John (October 19, 1980). "UConn March Ends HC Hex". Boston Sunday Globe. Boston, Mass. p. 55 – via Newspapers.com.
8. Powers, John (October 26, 1980). "Weather, Holy Cross No Problem for Brown". Boston Sunday Globe. Boston, Mass. p. 54 – via Newspapers.com.
9. Newman, David (November 2, 1980). "HC Tops Columbia". Boston Sunday Globe. Boston, Mass. p. 48 – via Newspapers.com.
10. Monahan, Bob (November 9, 1980). "UMass Struggles Past Holy Cross". Boston Sunday Globe. Boston, Mass. p. 79 – via Newspapers.com.
11. Singelais, Neil (November 16, 1980). "Villanova Pound HC". Boston Sunday Globe. Boston, Mass. p. 88 – via Newspapers.com.
12. Roberts, Ernie (November 30, 1980). "BC Catches HC, 27-26". Boston Sunday Globe. Boston, Mass. p. 85 – via Newspapers.com.
13. "2019 Holy Cross Football Fact Book" (PDF). Worcester, Mass.: College of the Holy Cross. pp. 68–73. Retrieved June 15, 2020.