Southern Cal Trojans ©	Tennessee Volunteers
Played September 13, 1980 at Neyland Stadium

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team	Belt Reigns	Overall Record				Home Record				Away Record				Neutral Record
		W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT
Southern Cal ©	4	31	3	2	.889	13	1	2	.875	14	2	0	.875	4	0	0	1.000
Tennessee	1	6	2	1	.722	4	0	0	1.000	0	2	1	.167	2	0	0	1.000

 

                       Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

 

With a 20-game unbeaten streak & 17-game Belt title reign, the Southern Cal Trojans of coach John Robinson opened the 1980 season ranked 5^th nationally.  The Trojans still had All-American DB Ronnie Lott & All-American OT Keith Van Horne.  Coach Johnny Majors’ Tennessee Volunteers had the first shot of the new season at unseating the champions. Tennessee had opened the season one week earlier with a 1-point loss to SEC foe Georgia.  Southern Cal PK Eric Hipp connected on a 47-yard field goal as time expired to give the Trojans a 20-17 win.  Hipp hit a 45-yard field goal for the only points of the 1^st quarter & when All-Pac 10 RB Marcus Allen scored on a 2-yard touchdown run in the 2^nd quarter, the Trojans had a 10-0 lead they held through halftime.  The Volunteers got on the board in the 3^rd quarter with a 49-yard field goal by PK Alan Duncan.  On the ensuing kick-off, Tennessee TE Avery Huffman recovered a fumble by Southern Cal WR Greg Brady at the Southern Cal 34-yard line.  Volunteers’ RB James Berry finished the 5-play scoring drive with a 1-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 10-10.  The Trojans regained a 7-point lead in the 4^th quarter when RB Michael Harper scored on a 1-yard touchdown run putting Southern Cal ahead 17-10.  Tennessee responded quickly as WR Willie Gault returned the kick-off 45 yards to the Tennessee 49-yard line then, after a holding penalty against the Volunteers, QB Steve Alatorre hit WR Anthony Hancock for a 56-yard touchdown pass with 3:57 left in the game.  With the game tied at 17-17, the Volunteers forced a Trojan punt before Southern Cal CB Jeff Fisher intercepted an Alatorre pass at the Tennessee 44-yard line with 1:18 left.  The Trojans drove to the Tennessee 30-yard line before Hipp hit the 47-yard field goal that won the game as time expired.  Southern Cal QB Gordon Adams threw for 170 yards while Allen rushed for 132 yards with his touchdown.  Alatorre threw for 90 yards with a touchdown as well as an interception while Hancock had 4 catches for 135 yards with a touchdown in the loss.  Southern Cal finished the season 8-2-1; ranked 11^th nationally while the Volunteers finished 5-6.  Tennessee would play for The Belt again in 1985.

 

 

 

South Carolina Gamecocks	Southern Cal Trojans ©
Played September 20, 1980 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team	Belt Reigns	Overall Record				Home Record				Away Record				Neutral Record
		W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT
South Carolina	0
Southern Cal ©	4	32	3	2	.892	13	1	2	.875	15	2	0	.882	4	0	0	1.000

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

 

The South Carolina Gamecocks of coach Jim Carlen came to Los Angeles with a 2-0 record, ranked 20^th nationally & having outscored their opponents 110-0.  John Robinson’s 4^th ranked Southern Cal Trojans were 1-0 with a 21-game unbeaten streak & opening their home season.  The Gamecocks featured Heisman Trophy winning, All-American RB George Rogers, who rushed for 141 yards but the Trojans got 107 yards rushing & 2 touchdowns from All-Pac 10 RB Marcus Allen as Southern Cal posted a 23-13 win over South Carolina to retain The Belt.  Allen opened the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run on the Trojans first drive.  South Carolina kept the game close when PK Eddie Leopard converted a 34-yard field goal attempt but the Gamecocks still trailed 7-3.  A 47-yard field goal from Southern Cal's PK Eric Hipp gave the Trojans a 10-3 lead entering the 2^nd quarter.  With 0:05 left in the half, Leopard hit a 25-yard field goal that sent the teams to the locker rooms with Southern Cal leading 10-6.  The Trojans took control of the game in the 3^rd quarter as QB Gordon Adams threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to WR Kevin Williams while Allen scored on a 7-yard run that put Southern Cal up 23-6.  South Carolina got a touchdown from Rogers on a 34-yard run but with just 1:29 left in the game, the outcome had already been decided.  Adams threw for just 65 yards with a touchdown.  South Carolina QB Garry Harper threw for 137 yards but the Trojans' pressure forced 2 interceptions that kept the Gamecocks from mounting a serious threat.  In spite of Rogers 141 yards rushing, South Carolina was held to 130 yards rushing as a team.  Southern Cal finished the season 8-2-1; ranked 11^th nationally while the Gamecocks finished 8-4.  South Carolina would play for The Belt again in 1988.

 

 

 

Southern Cal Trojans ©	Minnesota Golden Gophers
Played September 27, 1980 at Memorial Stadium

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team	Belt Reigns	Overall Record				Home Record				Away Record				Neutral Record
		W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT
Southern Cal ©	4	33	3	2	.895	14	1	2	.882	15	2	0	.882	4	0	0	1.000
Minnesota	0	0	3	0	.000					0	3	0	.000

 

The 5^th ranked, 2-0, Southern Cal Trojans of coach John Robinson traveled to Minneapolis to battle the 1-1 Minnesota Golden Gophers of coach Joe Salem.  Southern Cal All-Pac 10 RB Marcus Allen rushed for 2 touchdowns in the 4^th quarter & All-American S Ronnie Lott intercepted 3 passes as the Trojans posted a 24-7 win to retain The Belt.  Lott intercepted Minnesota QB Tim Salem to set-up the first Southern Cal score, a 26-yard touchdown pass from QB Gordon Adams to WR Kevin Williams giving the Trojans a 7-0 lead they held through halftime.  In the 3^rd quarter, Southern Cal PK Eric Hipp hit a 39-yard field goal for a 10-0 heading into the 4^th quarter.  Midway through the final period, Minnesota closed the gap to 3 points with a 16-yard touchdown run by All-Big Ten RB Marion Barber.  Allen’s first touchdown came on a 20-yard run with 3:30 left in the game & he helped secure the win with a 37-yard touchdown run with 1:02 remaining.  Adams finished with 92 yards passing with a touchdown while Allen added 216 yards rushing to his 2 scores.  Salem threw for just 44 yards with 3 interceptions while Barber rushed for 101 yards with his touchdown in the loss.  Southern Cal finished the season 8-2-1; ranked 11^th nationally while the Golden Gophers finished 5-6.  Minnesota would play for The Belt again in 1981.

 

 

 

Arizona State Sun Devils	Southern Cal Trojans ©
Played October 4, 1980 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team	Belt Reigns	Overall Record				Home Record				Away Record				Neutral Record
		W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT
Arizona State	1	1	2	0	.333	1	1	0	.500	0	1	0	.000
Southern Cal ©	4	34	3	2	.897	14	1	2	.882	16	2	0	.889	4	0	0	1.000

 

 

Coach Darryl Rogers, in his first season at Arizona State, brought his 2-1 Sun Devils to Los Angeles hoping to reclaim some of the glory of the previous season.  In 1979, Arizona State had to forfeit 5 games due to NCAA violations.  The 4^th ranked Southern Cal Trojans of coach John Robinson stood 3-0 as they readied for their 1980 Homecoming game.  The Sun Devils were the last team to defeat the Trojans having won the 1978 game to claim The Belt; Southern Cal had not been beaten in the 23 games since.  Southern Cal got 3 field goals from PK Eric Hipp & withstood a 2^nd half rally from the Sun Devils that included a failed 72-yard field goal attempt as time expired to retain The Belt with a 23-21 victory.  Midway through the 1^st quarter, Southern Cal’s All-Pac 10 S Dennis Smith recovered a fumble from Arizona State RB Gerald Riggs.  The Trojans took that turnover & drove 82 yards in 10 plays with All-Pac 10 RB Marcus Allen scoring the touchdown on a 2-yard run.  Arizona State tied the game at 7-7 in the 2^nd quarter after LB John Sprein recovered a fumble by Southern Cal RB Doug MacKenzie & the Sun Devils drove 79 yards in 13 plays with QB Mike Pagel throwing a 3-yard touchdown pass to WR John Mistler.  The Trojans responded with a 33-yard field goal from Hipp to take a 10-7 lead.  Southern Cal then took advantage of excellent field position following a short punt from Arizona State’s All-Pac 10 P Mike Black gave the Trojans the ball at the Sun Devils’ 32-yard line.  Southern Cal QB Gordon Adams finished the short drive with a 15-yard touchdown pass to WR Jeff Simmons giving the Trojans a 17-7 lead.  Hipp’s 43-yard field goal as time expired in the 1^st half sent the teams to their locker rooms with Southern Cal leading 20-7.  In the 3^rd quarter, Arizona State’s All-Pac 10 RB Willie Gittens slipped two tackles then exploded down the sideline for a 59-yard touchdown run to keep the Sun Devils within 6 points at 20-14.  Southern Cal’s All-Pac 10 LB Chip Banks recovered a fumble from Pagel that set-up Hipp’s third field goal, this one from 27 yards, as the Trojans took a 23-14 lead entering the final quarter.  With 4:30 to play in the game, Pagel finished a 9-play, 72-yard drive with a 14-yard touchdown pass to TE Ron Wetzel but the Sun Devils still trailed 23-21.  Southern Cal drove to the Arizona State 25-yard line before Hipp missed a 48-yard field goal attempt giving the ball back to the Sun Devils but with less than a minute to play they were forced to try a 72-yard field goal attempt.  PK Scott Lewis’ kick was well short as time expired.  Adams finished with 226 yards passing with a touchdown while Allen added 132 yards rushing with his score.  Pagel threw for 160 yards with 2 touchdowns in the loss.  Southern Cal finished the season 8-2-1; ranked 11^th nationally while the Sun Devils finished 7-4.  Arizona State would play for The Belt again in 1982.

 

 

 

 

Southern Cal Trojans ©	Arizona Wildcats
Played October 11, 1980 at Arizona Stadium

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team	Belt Reigns	Overall Record				Home Record				Away Record				Neutral Record
		W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT
Southern Cal ©	4	35	3	2	.900	15	1	2	.889	16	2	0	.889	4	0	0	1.000
Arizona	0	0	3	0	.000					0	3	0	.000

 

 

The Arizona Wildcats of first-year coach Larry Smith stood at 2-1 as they prepared to host the 2^nd ranked, 4-0 Southern Cal Trojans of coach John Robinson.  Southern Cal All-Pac 10 RB Marcus Allen rushed for 201 yards with 3 touchdowns while the Southern Cal defense led by All-American DB Ronnie Lott & All-Pac 10 LB Chip Banks held Arizona to 3 yards rushing in the 2^nd half to help lead the Trojans to a 27-10 victory.  Allen scored on runs of 2 & 10 yards in the 2^nd quarter as Southern Cal took a 13-0 halftime lead.  Arizona S Reggie Ware intercepted Southern Cal QB Gordon Adams on the first possession of the 3^rd quarter & Wildcats’ PK Brett Weber connected on a 39-yard field goal.  On their next possession, Arizona LB Ricky Hundley blocked the Southern Cal punt & two plays later RB Brian Holland found WR Bob Carter for a 20-yard touchdown on a halfback option pass.  Late in the 3^rd quarter, Allen scored his third touchdown on an 8-yard run giving the Trojans a 20-10 advantage.  When Adams found TE Vic Rakhshani early in the 4^th quarter for a 2-yard touchdown pass, Southern Cal had secured the game.  Adams finished with 209 yards passing with his touchdown.  Arizona QB Kevin Ward threw for 80 yards with 2 interceptions in the loss.  Southern Cal finished the season 8-2-1; ranked 11^th nationally while the Wildcats finished 5-6.  Arizona would play for The Belt again 1984.

 

 

 

Southern Cal Trojans ©	Oregon Ducks
Played October 18, 1980 at Autzen Stadium

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team	Belt Reigns	Overall Record				Home Record				Away Record				Neutral Record
		W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT
Southern Cal ©	4	36	3	2	.902	15	1	2	.889	17	2	0	.895	4	0	0	1.000
Oregon	0	0	2	0	.000					0	2	0	.000

 

 

The 2^nd ranked, 5-0 Southern Cal Trojans of coach John Robinson traveled to Eugene to meet the 2-2-1 Oregon Ducks of coach Rich Brooks.  An inspired Oregon team kept the Trojans close with a staunch defense led by All-Pac 10 DT Vince Goldsmith & helped by Southern Cal mistakes as the Ducks tied the Trojans 7-7 with Southern Cal retaining The Belt (“To Be The Man, You Have To Beat The Man”).  The 1^st quarter was typical of the entire game for the Trojans as All-Pac 10 RB Marcus Allen fumbled at the Oregon 24-yard line on the game’s opening drive, Allen’s 21-yard run to the Oregon 21-yard line was negated by a holding penalty, & CB Jeff Fisher fumbled during a punt return that would have given Southern Cal the ball in Oregon territory.  Even the Trojans’ touchdown came with controversy as WR Jeff Simmons bobbled the 38-yard touchdown pass from QB Gordon Adams.  Most Oregon fans felt he did not have control of the ball as he slid across the end line but it was ruled a catch & touchdown giving Southern Cal a 7-0 lead they held to halftime.  More controversy followed late in the 2^nd quarter as RB Reggie Brown thought he had scored with the ball coming loose after he had crossed the goal line.  The line judge even raised his arms to indicate touchdown but then saw the ball on the ground at the Southern Cal 1-yard line & overturned his call keeping the score at 7-0.  Oregon got on the board in the 3^rd quarter with an 80-yard drive highlighted by a 68-yard pass from QB Kevin Lusk to WR Greg Moser that got the ball to the Southern Cal 9-yard line.  RB Terrence Jones finished the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run that tied the game at 7-7.  Oregon never threatened again while the Trojans found ways to stop their own drives.  In the 3^rd quarter faced with a 3^rd & 2, Allen ran for the first down but a holding penalty nullified the play.  In the 4^th quarter, the Trojans drove to the Oregon 32-yard line & Allen was stopped short on a 4^th & 1 play.  The following series from their own 29-yard line, Adams missed a handoff to Allen & lost 3 yards forcing the Trojans to punt.  The Trojans last chance came with under a minute to play when All-American CB Ronnie Lott intercepted Oregon QB Reggie Ogburn at the Oregon 45-yard line.  Allen gained 11 yards to the Oregon 34-yard line & Adams scrambled to the Oregon 30-yard line as PK Eric Hipp was ready to try a 47-yard field goal attempt that was well within his range but a personal foul penalty called against a Trojan lineman took Southern Cal out of Hipp’s range.  Adams finished with 103 yards passing with a touchdown while Allen rushed for 159 yards.  Lusk threw for 97 yards for the Ducks & the Trojans were penalized 7 times for 85 yards.  Southern Cal finished the season 8-2-1; ranked 11^th nationally while the Ducks finished 6-3-2.  Oregon would play for The Belt again in 1984.

 

 

 

California Golden Bears	Southern Cal Trojans ©
Played November 1, 1980 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team	Belt Reigns	Overall Record				Home Record				Away Record				Neutral Record
		W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT
California	0	0	2	0	.000	0	2	0	.000
Southern Cal ©	4	36	3	3	.893	15	1	2	.889	17	2	1	.875	4	0	0	1.000

 

 

With a week off since their tie with Oregon, the 7^th ranked, 5-0-1 Southern Cal Trojans of coach John Robinson prepared to take out some of their frustrations on the 2-5 California Golden Bears coached by Roger Theder.  Southern Cal’s All-Pac 10 RB Marcus Allen led a rushing attack that amassed 311 yards with 4 touchdowns while QB Gordon Adams & QB Scott Tinsley each threw 2 touchdown pass as the Trojans retained The Belt with a 60-7 rout of the Golden Bears.  California had to play most of the game without starting QB Rich Campbell who suffered a season-ending knee injury just 7 plays into the game.  Allen & WR Kevin Williams each scored two touchdowns to led the offensive eruption.  Allen set-up one of his touchdown runs with a halfback option pass designed to be thrown to TE Vic Rakhshani.  When a California defensive back hurried Allen, he instead threw 21 yards to Adams who carried to the Golden Bears’ 2-yard line.  Allen scored on the next play.  Williams touchdown catches came on passes of 17 & 14 yards by Adams.  Tinsley’s touchdown came in his first action of the season as he connected with WR Timmy White on a 59-yard touchdown pass & with RB Michael Harper on a 10-yard touchdown pass.  California’s touchdown came after Campbell’s injury when QB J Torchio connected with WR Matt Bouza.  Adams finished with 154 yards passing with 2 touchdowns but an interception, Tinsley threw for 69 yards with 2 touchdowns, & Allen rushed for 133 yards with his scores.  Torchio threw for 217 yards with a touchdown but 2 interceptions while the Southern Cal defense held California to –28 yards rushing in the loss.  Southern Cal finished the season 8-2-1; ranked 11^th nationally while the Golden Bears finished 3-8.  California would play for The Belt again in 1984.

 

 

 

 

Southern Cal Trojans ©	Stanford Cardinal
Played November 8, 1980 at Stanford Stadium

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team	Belt Reigns	Overall Record				Home Record				Away Record				Neutral Record
		W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT
Southern Cal ©	4	37	3	3	.895	16	1	2	.895	17	2	1	.875	4	0	0	1.000
Stanford	0	0	1	1	.250					0	1	1	.250

 

 

First-year coach Paul Wiggin & his 6-3 Stanford Cardinal hosted the 4^th ranked, 6-0-1 Southern Cal Trojans with coach John Robinson.  Southern Cal had a 27-game unbeaten streak & 24-game Belt reign.  QB John Elway, the Pac-10 Player of the Year, All-Pac 10 RB Darrin Nelson, & All-American WR Ken Margerum led the Stanford offense but both Nelson & Margerum were injured in the 1^st half limiting their contributions.  Southern Cal All-Pac 10 RB Marcus Allen rushed for 195 yards with 2 touchdowns & the Trojan defense led by All-American S Ronnie Lott held the Cardinal to –13 yards rushing in a 34-9 victory.  Midway through the 1^st quarter, Allen scored on a 4-yard touchdown run & he scored on a 1-yard touchdown run in the 2^nd quarter giving the Trojans a 12-0 lead.  Elway scrambled free to find Margerum for a 46-yard touchdown pass with 6:32 left in the half as the Cardinal closed to within 6 points at 12-6.  Southern Cal QB Gordon Adams scored on a 1-yard touchdown run as the Trojans pushed the lead to 18-6 but Stanford got a 48-yard field goal from PK Ken Naber with 0:04 in the half & Stanford trailed 18-9 at the half.  In what turned out to be the most critical play of the game, Stanford RB Vincent White rushed for 6 yards on a 3^rd & 1 play but before he could be tackled, Lott stripped the ball free.  Lott ran 45 yards for a touchdown giving Southern Cal a 24-9 lead that the Cardinal could not recover from.  Southern Cal PK Eric Hipp connected on a 37-yard field goal & Southern Cal RB Bob McClanahan added a 21-yard touchdown run late in the game.  Adams finished with 182 yards passing while Elway threw for 260 yards with his touchdown but was sacked 8 times.  Southern Cal finished the season 8-2-1; ranked 11^th nationally while the Cardinal finished 6-5.  Stanford would play for The Belt again in 1982.

 

 

 

Washington Huskies	Southern Cal Trojans ©
Played November 15, 1980 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team	Belt Reigns	Overall Record				Home Record				Away Record				Neutral Record
		W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT
Washington	1	2	3	0	.400	2	2	0	.500	0	1	0	.000
Southern Cal ©	4	38	3	3	.898	16	1	2	.895	18	2	1	.881	4	0	0	1.000

 

 

Two years & 4 days earlier, the Southern Cal Trojans of coach John Robinson had ended the 1-week Belt reign of Don James’ Washington Huskies.  This game would see a reversal of fortunes for both teams.  Washington entered the game 7-2 while the Trojans were 7-0-1 & ranked 2^nd nationally.  Washington took advantage of 8 turnovers by Southern Cal & a punt returned for a touchdown by CB Ray Horton as the Huskies upset the Trojans 20-10 to claim The Belt.  The loss ended the 24-game, 2-year reign of the champions.  Washington took the lead after forcing Southern Cal to punt with a 47-yard field goal by All-Pac 10 PK Chuck Nelson.  This marked the first time in the season that the Trojans trailed in a game.  Southern Cal drove 75 yards before Washington LB Tony Caldwell intercepted a pass from Trojan QB Gordon Adams in the end zone to thwart the scoring effort.  The teams then traded fumbles to finish the quarter with Washington leading 3-0.  In the 2^nd quarter, Southern Cal’s All-Pac 10 RB Marcus Allen appeared to break free for a 67-yard touchdown run but officials ruled he had stepped out of bounds at the Southern Cal 36-yard line.  On the next play, Trojan RB Paul DiLulo fumbled & the Huskies recovered.  Late in the quarter, Adams threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to TE Hoby Brenner that was called back as the Trojans were penalized for being offsides.  More importantly, Adams was lost for the game & season when he injured his right knee before PK Eric Hipp’s 35-yard field goal tied the game at 3-3 on the last play of the 2^nd quarter.  In the 3^rd quarter, Horton’s return gave the Huskies a 10-3 advantage.  Caldwell’s second interception of the game came on a pass from Southern Cal’s QB Scott Tinsley & set-up a 10-yard touchdown pass from QB Tom Flick to WR Paul Skansi giving the Huskies a 17-3 lead.  Late in the 3^rd quarter, Allen threw a halfback option pass for a 36-yard touchdown to WR Jeff Simmons keeping the Trojans within striking distance at 17-10.  Early in the 4^th quarter, Nelson converted a 34-yard field goal attempt for the final points.  Hopes for a Trojan rally were dashed with just over 8 minutes to play when Allen left the game with numbness in his right arm & did not return.  Flick finished with 115 yards passing with a touchdown.  Adams threw for 36 yards with an interception in the 1^st half, Tinsley threw for 62 yards with 3 interceptions in the 2^nd half, while Allen rushed for 216 yards as well as throwing a touchdown pass in 3 ½ quarters of action.  Southern Cal finished the season 8-2-1; ranked 11^th nationally while the Huskies finished 9-3, Pac-10 Champions & ranked 16^th nationally.  Southern Cal would play for The Belt again in 1982.

 

 

 

 

Washington Huskies ©	Washington State Cougars
Played November 22, 1980 at Martin Stadium

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team	Belt Reigns	Overall Record				Home Record				Away Record				Neutral Record
		W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT
Washington ©	2	3	3	0	.500	2	2	0	.500	1	1	0	.500
Washington State	0	0	4	0	.000					0	4	0	.000

 

                         

 

For the first time in over 2 years, a Belt title game did not include the Southern Cal Trojans.  The 16^th ranked, 8-2 Washington Huskies of coach Don James defended The Belt & The Apple Cup against the 4-6 Washington State Cougars of coach Jim Walden.  Washington QB Tom Flick threw for 3 touchdowns to lead the Huskies to a 30-23 victory over the Cougars.  Washington State took the lead in the 1^st quarter when QB Samoa Samoa scored on a 33-yard quarterback draw giving the Cougars a 7-0 edge.  Later in the quarter, Washington State P Tim Davey completed a 56-yard pass to S John West on a fake punt to keep a drive alive & Samoa finished the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run giving the Cougars a 14-0 lead entering the 2^nd quarter.  Late in the 2^nd quarter, Washington RB Willie Rosborough got the Huskies on the board with a 3-yard touchdown run & just 1:01 before halftime, Flick connected with WR Paul Skansi on a 22-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 14-14.  In the 3^rd quarter, Flick hit WR Aaron Williams on a 41-yard touchdown pass giving the Huskies a 21-14 advantage.  Washington State PK Mike DeSanto kicked a 26-yard field goal to keep the Cougars close at 21-17 entering the final quarter.  Flick’s third touchdown pass came on a 47-yard throw to WR Anthony Allen but the blocked extra-point attempt left Washington with a 27-17 lead with 13:49 left in the game.  Samoa hit TE Pat Beach on a 33-yard touchdown pass with 5:48 left but that was as close as the Cougars could get.  Washington ran down the clock before All-Pac 10 PK Chuck Nelson hit a 29-yard field goal to finish the scoring.  Flick finished with 311 yards passing with his 3 touchdowns but 2 interceptions.  Samoa threw for 93 yards with a touchdown but was also intercepted once & RB Tim Harris added 107 yards rushing in the loss.  Washington finished the season 9-3; Pac-10 Champions, ranked 16^th nationally while Washington State finished 4-7.  Washington State would play for The Belt again in 1982.

 

 

 

Washington Huskies ©	Michigan Wolverines
The Rose Bowl Played January 1, 1981 at the Rose Bowl

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team	Belt Reigns	Overall Record				Home Record				Away Record				Neutral Record
		W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT
Washington ©	2	4	3	0	.571	2	2	0	.500	2	1	0	.667
Michigan	1	9	4	0	.692	5	1	0	.833	4	1	0	.800	0	2	0	.000

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None