What Is 1980 Cornell Big Red football team

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1980 Cornell Big Red football team represented Cornell University during the 1980 NCAA Division I-AA football season, finishing with a 4–6 overall record under head coach Bob Blackman, who resigned after the season.

Key Facts

The 1980 Cornell Big Red football team had a 4–6 overall record.
They competed in the Ivy League, finishing with a 3–4 conference record.
Head coach Bob Blackman resigned after the season following a 17-year tenure.
The team played home games at Schoellkopf Field in Ithaca, New York.
Cornell scored 175 points during the 1980 season, averaging 17.5 points per game.

Overview

The 1980 Cornell Big Red football team represented Cornell University in the NCAA Division I-AA football season, competing as a member of the Ivy League. Led by head coach Bob Blackman in his final year, the team finished with a 4–6 overall record and a 3–4 mark in conference play, placing fifth in the seven-team Ivy League standings.

The season marked the end of an era for Big Red football, as Blackman, who had coached the team since 1963, stepped down after 17 seasons. Despite modest results, the team showed flashes of competitiveness, particularly in conference matchups, and continued a long-standing tradition of Ivy League football excellence.

Record: The team finished with a 4–6 overall record, including three wins in Ivy League play, reflecting a mid-tier performance in the conference.
Head coach:Bob Blackman coached his final season in 1980, concluding a 17-year tenure that included three Ivy League championships (1967, 1969, 1971).
Home stadium: The Big Red played their home games at Schoellkopf Field in Ithaca, New York, a venue with a capacity of approximately 25,597.
Scoring: Cornell scored 175 total points during the season, averaging 17.5 points per game, ranking modestly among Division I-AA programs.
Notable game: A 24–21 victory over Columbia in November was one of the season's highlights, showcasing late-season resilience.

Season Performance

The 1980 season featured a mix of competitive losses and hard-fought wins, with the Big Red demonstrating inconsistency against both league and non-conference opponents. The team struggled to maintain momentum, particularly in close games, but several performances indicated potential for future improvement.

September 13 game: Cornell lost to Bucknell 21–20 in a narrow defeat, highlighting early-season offensive inefficiency.
October 4 result: A 24–14 win over Penn demonstrated improved defensive play, with the Big Red forcing two key turnovers.
November 8 matchup: The team defeated Columbia 24–21, securing one of only three Ivy League victories on the season.
Final game: The season concluded with a 31–14 loss to Yale, underscoring challenges in closing out the schedule strongly.
Offensive stats: The team averaged 17.5 points per game and struggled with consistency in the passing game throughout the season.
Defensive stats: Allowed an average of 23.4 points per game, indicating defensive vulnerabilities in high-pressure situations.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 1980 Cornell Big Red season compares to other Ivy League teams that year:

Team	Overall Record	Conference Record	Points For	Points Against
Dartmouth	6–4	5–2	198	154
Harvard	8–2	6–1	252	142
Yale	5–5	4–3	189	184
Cornell	4–6	3–4	175	234
Penn	3–7	2–5	148	217

The table shows that Cornell ranked in the middle of the Ivy League pack in both wins and scoring. While they outperformed Penn and Brown, they fell short of contending for the league title, which Harvard won outright. The data reflects a transitional year as the program prepared for new leadership following Blackman’s departure.

Why It Matters

The 1980 season is significant as a turning point in Cornell football history, marking the end of a long and successful coaching era. It set the stage for future rebuilding efforts and highlighted the competitive nature of Ivy League football during the late 20th century.

Leadership change: Bob Blackman’s retirement after 1980 opened the door for Jim Hofher, who became the next head coach in 1981.
Historical context: The season occurred during a period of declining football prominence in the Ivy League amid increasing academic focus.
Program legacy: Despite a losing record, the team maintained competitive integrity and upheld Cornell’s athletic traditions.
Recruiting impact: The transition prompted a reevaluation of recruiting strategies and player development approaches in the early 1980s.
Fan engagement: Attendance and alumni interest fluctuated, reflecting broader challenges in collegiate sports visibility at the time.
Conference dynamics: The Ivy League remained a competitive circuit, with no team receiving a bid to the I-AA playoffs, emphasizing academic-athletic balance.

The 1980 Cornell Big Red football season, while not championship-caliber, remains a notable chapter in the university’s athletic history, symbolizing both the end of an era and the beginning of new challenges.