A look back at when Rosalynn & Jimmy Carter attended Georgia football's 1981 Sugar Bowl win

The 1981 Sugar Bowl is famous for then-freshman star Herschel Walker leading Georgia football to a win against Notre Dame to clinch the national championship.

President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn were among the 77,224 reported in attendance at the Super Dome in New Orleans on New Year's Day, three weeks before Carter left office after losing the 1980 election to Ronald Reagan.

The Georgia Redcoat Marching Band played "Hail to the Chief" as Jimmy and Rosalynn stood and waved to the crowd.

Flagship of the fleet: This song embodies the love of Rosalynn & Jimmy Carter, former president's grandson says

A report in The New York Times referred to the trip as "one last ride on the wings of his Presidency" for Carter. He welcomed at least 20 Georgians aboard Air Force One to travel and attend the game, including Ted Turner and Governor George D. Busbee.

Sugar Bowl officials told Georgia coach Vince Dooley the game was sold out, but the White House asked for at least 250 tickets.

“There were a lot of Georgia people up there during their administration,” Dooley said.

The Bulldogs defeated The Fighting Irish 17-10, paced by Walker's 150 yards rushing and Scott Woerner's late interception.

Legendary columnist Lewis Grizzard set the celebration scene about Bulldogs' fans trampling each other, players and coaches in a mob headed to tear the goal posts down.

"It got ugly a couple times," he wrote. "Secret Service men trying to get Jimmy Carter out of the building shoved a few citizens around."

Carter opted not to visit Georgia's locker room after the game and instead called to congratulate coach Vince Dooley on the phone, according to a report by the Atlanta Constitution.

Carter told Dooley Georgians and all Americans were proud of the Bulldogs' perfect season and performance, the Atlanta Constitution report said.

Rosalynn Carter died Sunday, Nov. 19 following a dementia diagnosis and brief stay in hospice. She was 96.

Memorial services next week for Rosalynn Carter in Atlanta and Plains are for invited guests only, but the public can attend some events and are invited to line motorcade routes to pay respects to the former first lady.

President Joe Biden ordered flags to be flown half-staff starting Saturday, Nov. 25 through Wednesday, Nov. 29.

Jimmy Carter, 99, was with Rosalynn when she died, their son James "Chip" Carter III told the Washington Post.

“My Dad told her he loved her and thanked her for all the wonderful things she had done,” he said. “Then he asked us to leave so he could be alone with her.”

Jimmy Carter and wife Rosalynn watch Georgia football win the 1981 Sugar Bowl

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Jimmy Carter & Rosalynn attended UGA football's 1981 Sugar Bowl win