Far be it from me to disagree with you, Joe, but it began long before 1980. My Statistical Analysis senior project was an analysis of the changes in geographical distribution of students at the University over time to determine whether the evidence supported the claimed trend toward a statewide school rather than a commuter school, with the underlying question being whether the student distribution supported the academic progression of the University and helped solidify the evidence that the school name be changed from USL to UL. [It did.]
That was in the fall of 1973; and I am sure that the name change movement was around before then.
I have an Augie Tammariello article (from that era) that says he is The "University of Louisiana" football coach.