1980 Air Force Falcons football team

{{Infobox college sports team season

| year = 1980

| team = Air Force Falcons

| sport = football

| image = Air Force Falcons logo 1963-1994.png

| image_size =

| conference = Western Athletic Conference

| short_conf = WAC

| record = 2–9–1

| conf_record = 1–3

| head_coach = Ken Hatfield

| hc_year = 2nd

| off_coach =

| oc_year =

| off_scheme = Wishbone triple option

| def_coach = Fred Goldsmith

| dc_year = 1st

| def_scheme = 3–4

| captain =

| stadium = Falcon Stadium

}}

The 1980 Air Force Falcons football team represented the United States Air Force Academy in the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season, its first as a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). Led by second-year head coach Ken Hatfield, the Falcons compiled an overall record of 2–9–1 record with a record of 1–3 in conference play, placing eighth in the WAC. Air Force played home games at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Schedule

{{CFB schedule

| rankyear = 1980

| poll = AP

| timezone = Mountain

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 6

| w/l = l

| away = y

| opponent = Colorado State

| site_stadium = Hughes Stadium

| site_cityst = Fort Collins, CO

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 9–21

| attend = 26,017

| source = {{cite news |title=CSU's Fairchild bombs Air Force |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116037861/the-billings-gazette/ |access-date=January 8, 2023 |work=The Billings Gazette |agency=Associated Press |date=September 7, 1980 |page=4G |via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 13

| w/l = l

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| opponent = Washington

| opprank = 19

| site_stadium = Husky Stadium

| site_cityst = Seattle, WA

| score = 7–50

| attend = 44,999

| source = {{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Paul |title=The Huskies provided the air show |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116037991/the-news-tribune/ |access-date=January 8, 2023 |work=The News Tribune |date=September 14, 1980 |page=B1 |via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 20

| w/l = l

| opponent = San Diego State

| site_stadium = Falcon Stadium

| site_cityst = Colorado Springs, CO

| score = 10–13

| attend = 24,594

| source = {{cite news|title=Kofler's Arm, Corral's Foot Lead Aztec Win|newspaper=The Los Angeles Times|location=Los Angeles, California|edition=San Diego County|author=Mike Granberry|date=September 21, 1980|page=III-1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8415870/koflers_arm_corrals_foot_lead_aztec/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=January 17, 2017}}{{Open access}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 27

| w/l = t

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| opponent = Illinois

| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| score = 20–20

| attend = 45,638

| source = {{cite news |title=Air Force Holds Illinois to a Tie |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116038151/the-los-angeles-times/ |access-date=January 8, 2023 |work=Los Angeles Times |agency=United Press International |date=September 28, 1980 |page=III-5 |via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 4

| w/l = l

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| opponent = Yale

| site_stadium = Yale Bowl

| site_cityst = New Haven, CT

| score = 16–17

| attend = 23,000

| source = {{cite news |title=Cozza Gets 100th |first=Tom |last=Yantz |date=October 5, 1980 |page=D1 |newspaper=Hartford Courant |location=Hartford, Conn.|via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56535201/1980-air-force-yale}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 11

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| opponent = Navy

| site_stadium = Falcon Stadium

| site_cityst = Colorado Springs, CO

| gamename = Commander-in-Chief's Trophy

| score = 21–20

| attend = 27,754

| source = {{cite news |last1=Jackson |first1=James H. |title=Air Force stuns Navy |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116038293/the-baltimore-sun/ |access-date=January 8, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=October 12, 1980 |page=C1 |via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 18

| w/l = l

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| opponent = Tulane

| site_stadium = Louisiana Superdome

| site_cityst = New Orleans, LA

| score = 7–28

| attend = 28,101

| source = {{cite news |title=Tulane Rips Air Force |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116038450/the-daily-advertiser/ |access-date=January 8, 2023 |work=The Daily Advertiser |agency=Associated Press |date=October 19, 1980 |page=41 |via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 1

| w/l = l

| nonconf = y

| opponent = Boston College

| site_stadium = Falcon Stadium

| site_cityst = Colorado Springs, CO

| score = 0–23

| attend = 16,018

| source = {{cite news|title=Boston College 23, Air Force 0|newspaper=The Orlando Sentinel|date=November 2, 1980|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17517745/boston_college_23_air_force_0/|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 8

| w/l = l

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| opponent = Army

| site_stadium = Michie Stadium

| site_cityst = West Point, NY

| gamename = Commander-in-Chief's Trophy

| score = 24–47

| attend = 37,653

| source = {{cite news |title=Air Force surrenders to Army |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116038693/the-anniston-star/ |access-date=January 8, 2023 |work=The Anniston Star |agency=Associated Press |date=November 9, 1980 |page=7B |via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 15

| w/l = w

| opponent = Wyoming

| site_stadium = Falcon Stadium

| site_cityst = Colorado Springs, CO

| score = 25–7

| attend = 15,693

| source = {{cite news |title=Air Force upsets Pokes |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116038907/the-billings-gazette/ |access-date=January 8, 2023 |work=The Billings Gazette |agency=Associated Press |date=November 16, 1980 |page=4G |via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 22

| time = 11:30 a.m.

| w/l = l

| nonconf = y

| opponent = Notre Dame

| opprank = 2

| site_stadium = Notre Dame Stadium

| site_cityst = Notre Dame, IN

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 10–24

| attend = 59,075

| source = {{cite news |last1=Mooshil |first1=Joe |title=ND whips Air Force, 24-10 after 'making a few adjustments' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116039032/the-kokomo-tribune/ |access-date=January 8, 2023 |work=The Kokomo Tribune |agency=Associated Press |date=November 23, 1980 |page=25 |via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 29

| w/l = l

| opponent = Hawaii

| site_stadium = Aloha Stadium

| site_cityst = Halawa, HI

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 12–20

| attend = 46,203

| source = {{cite news |last1=Lewis |first1=Ferd |title=Gaison, Bows end with fond aloha |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116039205/the-honolulu-advertiser/ |access-date=January 8, 2023 |work=The Honolulu Advertiser |date=November 30, 1980 |page=J1 |via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

{{cite web|title=Football Schedule/Results: 1980-1981|url=http://www.goairforcefalcons.com/sports/m-footbl/sched/afa-m-footbl-sched.html|publisher=Air Force Athletics|accessdate=May 27, 2017|archive-date=October 8, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131008194827/http://www.goairforcefalcons.com/sports/m-footbl/sched/afa-m-footbl-sched.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=1980 Air Force Falcons Schedule and Results|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/air-force/1980-schedule.html|website=College Football at Sports-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference|accessdate=May 27, 2017}}