1936 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team

American college football season August 2023 January 2026 1936 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football Notre Dame challenges for 1936 preseason.jpg 285px Layden's challenges in assemblng his 1936 team Independent 8 6–2–1 Elmer Layden 3rd Bill Smith John Lautar Notre Dame Stadium The 1936 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team was an American football team that represented the University of Notre Dame as an independent during the 1936 college football season. In their third year under head coach Elmer Layden, the Irish compiled a 6–2–1 record, outscored opponents by a total of 128 to 69, and were ranked No. 8 in the final AP poll. Against No. 9 Pittsburgh, the Irish suffered their worst defeat (26–0) in 11 years. They also lost to Navy, but defeated Army, Ohio State, and No. 1 Northwestern.1936 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 14, 2026 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/notre-dame/1936-schedule.html Notre Dame guard John Lautar received first-team honors from the United Press on the 1936 All-America college football team.Lautar Named on U.P. All-America The South Bend Tribune George Kirksey November 24, 1936 2, 10 (sports) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-lautar-named-on-u/201636643/ Newspapers.com End Joe O'Neill received second-team honors from the Central Press.Captains Pick All-American Team The Times and Democrat Bill Braucher December 5, 1935 6 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-and-democrat-captains-pick-all/201637234/ Newspapers.com Lautar and guard Bill Smith were the team co-captains. The team played its home games at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana. Schedule 1936 AP October 3 w Carnegie Tech Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN 21–7 15,673–35,000 N.D. Downs Carnegie, 21-7: Larry Danbom Runs 60 Yards to Touchdown; Slashing Attack Is Feature of Irish Playing The South Bend Tribune Jack Ledden October 4, 1936 1 (main), 1 (sports) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-nd-downs-carneg/201645670/ Newspapers.com October 10 w Washington University Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN 14–6 9,879–22,000 N.D. Beats Washington, 14-6: Layden Uses 52 Players to Stop Visitors; Irish Cross Goal in Second and Third Quarters The South Bend Tribune Jack Ledden October 11, 1936 1 (main), 1 (sports) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-nd-beats-washin/201646535/ Newspapers.com October 17 w Wisconsin Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN 27–0 16,423–25,000 N.D. Easily Defeats Wisconsin, 27 to 0: Badgers Kept Close to Goal Most of Game; Able to Make Gains Only Against Fifth Team The South Bend Tribune Jack Ledden October 18, 1936 1 (main), 1 (sports) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-nd-easily-defea/201647106/ Newspapers.com October 24 l y 7 Pittsburgh 9 Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA rivalry 0–26 66,622–70,244 Jack Ledden Irish Suffer Worst Defeat in 11 Years The South Bend Tribune South Bend, Indiana October 25, 1936 1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103881730/irish-suffer-worst-defeat-in-11-years/ June 16, 2022 Newspapers.com October 31 w Ohio State Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN 7–2 50,017 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110317913/inspired-irish-batter-osu/ Detroit Free Press Inspired Irish batter O.S.U. November 1, 1936 September 27, 2022 Newspapers.com November 7 l y 13 Navy Municipal Stadium Baltimore, MD rivalry 0–3 51,126–57,500 Navy Defeats Notre Dame by 3-0 Count: Ingram Dropkicks Ball Across Bars in Third Quarter; Irish Threaten to Score 3 Times The Baltimore Sun Jesse A. Linthicum November 8, 1936 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/373819601/?match=1&clipping_id=201651555 Newspapers.com November 14 w y Army Yankee Stadium Bronx, NY rivalry 20–6 74,423 Irish Lash Army, 20-6 New York Daily News Jimmy Powers November 15, 1936 102, 106 https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-irish-lash-army-20-6/201650529/ Newspapers.com November 21 w 11 Northwestern 1 Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry 26–6 52,131–55,000 N.D. Upsets Purple, 26 to 6: 55,000 Watch Irish Conquer Unbeaten Foe; Running Attack and Blocking Bring Easy Victory The South Bend Tribune Jack Ledden November 22, 1936 1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-nd-upsets-purpl/201648057/ Newspapers.com December 5 t y 9 USC Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA rivalry 13–13 71,201 Irish Tied by Troy in 13-13 Thriller: Breaks Aid Trojan Cause; Notre Dame Outgains S.C., 408 Yards to 53, Before 70,000 Fans Los Angeles Times Braven Dyer December 6, 1936 1 (sports) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-irish-tied-by-troy/201649531/ Newspapers.comhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic-battling-trojans-ho/188703983/ The Arizona Republic Battling Trojans hold Ramblers to 13–13 tie December 6, 1936 January 11, 2026 Newspapers.com Personnel Players Regular players and starters on the 1936 team were: Art Dennis Cronin, left and right tackle, Detroit Larry Danbom, fullback, right halfback, Calumet, MI Frank Kopczak, right tackle, Chicago Joe Kuharich, right guard, South Bend, IN John Lautar, captain and left guard, Moundsville, WV James Martin, left guard, Concord, NH Stephen Miller, fullback, Rock Island, IL Fred Mundee, center, Youngstown, OH Joe O'Neill, left end, Phoenixville, PA Andy Puplis, quarterback Bill Smith, right guard, Hacketstown, NY Bill Steinkemper, left tackle Chuck Sweeney, right end, Chicago Bob Wilke, left halfback, Hamilton, OH Victor Wojcihovski, right halfback, fullback, Weston, WV Joe Zwers, right end, Grand Rapids, MI A full roster can be found at the cited source.The 1936 N.D. Football Squad The Notre Dame Alumnus October 19, 1936 12–14 Coaching staff Head coach: Elmer Layden Athletic director: Elmer Layden Line coach: Joe Boland "B" team coach: Bill Cerney Freshman coach: Jake Kline References Notre Dame Category:Notre Dame Fighting Irish football seasons Notre Dame Fighting Irish football