1978 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team

American college football season August 2023 January 2026 1978 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football Independent 6 7 9–3 Dan Devine 4th Merv Johnson 4th Pro set 4-3 Joe Montana Bob Golic Jerome Heavens Joe Montana Notre Dame Stadium Cotton Bowl champion Cotton Bowl Classic W Won 35–34 vs. Houston The 1978 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team was an American football team that represented the University of Notre Dame as an independent during the 1978 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their fourth year under head coach Dan Devine, the Irish compiled a 9–3 record, outscored opponents by a total of 258 to 163, and were ranked No. 7 in the final AP poll and No. 6 in the final UPI poll. Returning multiple starters from the 1977 national championship team, the Irish were ranked No. 5 in the preseason AP poll, but dropped out of the poll after losing the first two games to unranked Missouri and No. 5 Michigan. The Irish then won eight straight games and closed the season with a two-point loss to No. 3 USC and a victory over No. 9 Houston in the Cotton Bowl.1978 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Schedule and Results https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/notre-dame/1978-schedule.html Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 24, 2026 In the Cotton Bowl, quarterback Joe Montana rallied the team from a 22-point deficit in the fourth quarter. Center Dave Huffman and linebacker Bob Golic were consensus first-team picks on the 1978 All-America college football team.Football Award Winners National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) 2016 October 21, 2017 10 http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2016/awards.pdf The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Joe Montana (2,010 passing yards), running backs Vagas Ferguson (1,192 rushing yards, 48 points scored) and Jerome Heavens (728 rushing yards), and wide receiver Kris Haines (32 receptions for 699 yards).1978 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Stats https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/notre-dame/1978.html Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 24, 2026 The team played its home games at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana. Schedule 1978 AP Eastern September 9 1:30 p.m. l 5 Missouri Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN 0–3 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-tigers-too-hot/157524656/ Fort Worth Star-Telegram Tigers too hot for Notre Dame September 10, 1978 October 22, 2024 Newspapers.com September 23 11:50 a.m. l 14 Michigan 5 Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry ABC 14–28 59,075 Detroit Free Press Leach tosses 3 TDs in second half as U-M hammers Notre Dame, 28–14 Tom Henderson September 24, 1978 1E, 4E https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41844076/leach_tosses_3_tds_in_second_half_as/ October 22, 2024 Newspapers.com September 30 1:30 p.m. w Purdue Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry 10–6 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-irish-need-rally-to-stop/157581778/ Quad-City Times Irish need rally to stop Purdue October 1, 1978 October 22, 2024 Newspapers.com October 7 1:30 p.m. w y Michigan State Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI rivalry 29–25 77,087 https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-irish-hold-off-s/157582094/ St. Louis Post-Dispatch Irish hold off Spartans, 29–25 October 8, 1978 October 22, 2024 Newspapers.com October 14 12:40 p.m. w Pittsburgh 9 Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry ABC 26–17 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montana-standard-irish-overcome-pitt/157640211/ The Montana Standard Irish overcome Pittsburgh October 15, 1978 October 22, 2024 Newspapers.com October 21 2:30 p.m. w y 20 Air Force Falcon Stadium Colorado Springs, CO rivalry 38–15 35,425 https://www.newspapers.com/article/dayton-daily-news-notre-dame-stops-air-f/157635291/ Dayton Daily News Notre Dame stops Air Force, 38–15 October 22, 1978 October 22, 2024 Newspapers.com October 28 1:30 p.m. w 19 Miami (FL) Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry 20–0 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tampa-bay-times-notre-dame-and-magic-e/157639188/ St. Petersburg Times Notre Dame, and magic, eat up Miami October 29, 1978 October 22, 2024 Newspapers.com November 4 1:50 p.m. w y 15 Navy 11 Cleveland Municipal Stadium Cleveland, OH rivalry 27–7 63,780 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-notre-dame-sinks-navy/157641724/ The Plain Dealer Notre Dame sinks Navy, 27–7 November 5, 1978 October 22, 2024 Newspapers.com November 11 1:30 p.m. w 14 Tennessee Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN 31–14 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101450366/irish-display-sole/ The Indianapolis Star Irish display Sole November 12, 1978 October 22, 2024 Newspapers.com November 18 1:30 p.m. w y 10 Georgia Tech 20 Grant Field Atlanta, GA rivalry 38–21 54,526 https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-terrific-irish-sock-te/151993217/ Quad-City Times 'Terrific' Irish sock Tech November 19, 1978 July 25, 2024 Newspapers.com November 25 4:10 p.m. l y 8 USC 3 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA rivalry ABC 25–27 84,256 https://www.newspapers.com/article/ventura-county-star-jordan-provides-punc/157641826/ Ventura County Star & Free Press Jordan provides punch for Irish wake November 26, 1978 July 25, 2024 Newspapers.com January 1, 1979 2:00 p.m. w y 10 Houston 9 Cotton Bowl Dallas, TX Cotton Bowl CBS 35–34 32,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-joe-says-its-so/157504343/ The Indianapolis Star Joe says it's so, so, it's Joe, 35–34 January 2, 1979 October 20, 2024 Newspapers.com 1978 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football October 21, 2024 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/notre-dame/1978-schedule.html Game summaries Michigan 1978 Michigan Wolverines football team Michigan–Notre Dame football rivalry Notre Dame Fighting Irish 2; text-align:center collapsed Michigan Wolverines (1–0) at Notre Dame Fighting Irish (0–1) September 23 11:50 a.m. EST #5 Michigan 0 7 7 14 Notre Dame 7 7 0 0 Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Indiana 59,075 Gene Calhoun ABC Chris Schenkel and Frank Broyles Recap First quarter ND – Dennis Grindinger 6-yard pass from Joe Montana (Joe Unis kick), 14:07. Notre Dame 7–0. Drive: Second quarter MICH – Rick Leach 4-yard run (Gregg Willner kick). Tie 7–7. Drive: 59 yards. ND – Vagas Ferguson 4-yard run (Joe Unis kick). Notre Dame 14–7. Drive: Third quarter MICH – Doug Marsh 5-yard pass from Leach (Willner kick). Tie 14–14. Drive: Fourth quarter MICH – Marsh 17-yard pass from Leach (kick failed). Michigan 20–14. Drive: MICH – Ralph Clayton 40-yard pass from Leach (run failed). Michigan 26–14. Drive: MICH – Safety, Montana tackled by Curtis Greer in end zone. Michigan 28–14. Top passers MICH – Rick Leach – 8/20, 110 yards, 3 TD ND – Joe Montana – 16/29, 192 yards, TD, 2 INT Top rushers MICH – Harlan Huckleby – 96 yards ND Top receivers MICH ND The Reunion Game - first meeting between the two schools in 35 years Notre Dame wore green jerseys for the game Pittsburgh #9 Pittsburgh 0 10 0 7 Notre Dame 7 0 0 19 October 14 Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Indiana 12:40 p.m. EDT 59,075 Glenn Fortin (Big Ten) Keith Jackson and Frank Broyles ABC yes 1 ND Heavens 1-yard run (Unis kick) ND 7-0 2 PITT Trocano 3-yard run (Schubert kick) Tied 7-7 2 PITT Schubert 33-yard field goal PITT 10-7 4 PITT Trocano 3-yard run (Schubert kick) PITT 17-7 4 ND Haines 8-yard pass from Montana (pass failed) PITT 17-13 4 ND Montana 1-yard run (kick failed) ND 19-17 4 ND Ferguson 3-yard pass from Montana (Unis kick) ND 26-17 yes Notre Dame handed #9 Pittsburgh its first loss of the season.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Zn9IAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NG0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=7215%2C2164955 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Axelrod Phil Hot Montana outduels Tracano October 16, 1978 16 Jerome Heavens, who had never seen Knute Rockne, All American, surpassed George Gipp on the school's all-time rushing list. Heavens passed Gipp on his 24th carry but lost yardage on his 25th before moving past him for good on his 26th attempt. "I think the Gipper tackled me on that," Heavens said."Irish stir the echoes with 26-7 win over Pitt." Eugene Register-Guard. p. 18. 1978 Oct 15. Cotton Bowl The Cotton Bowl win over Houston on New Year's Day was Notre Dame's 600th victory.http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/nd/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2010-mg-pt8-history155-200.pdf 2010 Notre Dame football media guide. 2012-04-18 2015-12-22 https://web.archive.org/web/20151222082239/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/nd/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2010-mg-pt8-history155-200.pdf dead Roster 1978 Notre Dame Fighting Irish y 2 Fr Tyrone Barber HB Tony Belden FB Mike Boushka FL 35 Pete Buchanan FB Bob Burger C 80 Fr Dave Condeni SE 2 So Mike Courey FL y 53 Jr Jeff Crippin C Marty Detmer TE Steve Dover RB 32 Jr Vagas Ferguson HB y 73 Jr Tim Foley OT Dennis Grindinger TE 83 Kris Haines SE y Kevin Hart TE Jim Hautman OG Jerome Heavens FB C 31 So Pete Holohan FL y Ted Horansky OG y Larry Hufford OG 56 Sr Dave Huffman C y 78 So Tim Huffman OG y 13 So Greg Knaflec QB Tim Koegel QB John Leon OG Jr Rob Martinovich OT 86 Fr Dean Masztak TE Keith McCormick OT Howard Meyer OG Ron Mishler OG Dave Mitchell FB 3 Sr Joe Montana QB y C Lou Pagley E Pete Pallas FB 71 Jr Phil Pozderac OT y 57 So John Scully John Scully (American football) T y 42 So Jim Stone HB Tim Tripp E 95 So Nick Vehr TE 94 Fr Tom Bock DT Dick Boushka CB 33 Sr Jim Browner S Rick Buehner CB 77 Sr Mike Calhoun DT y Jay Case DE 40 Fr Steve Cichy S 43 Fr Bob Crable LB 20 So Angelo Fasano DB 25 Sr Tom Flynn CB 27 So Tom Gibbons CB 55 SR Bob Golic LB y C 92 Fr Joe Gramke DE John Hankred DE 10 Randy Harrison S Steve Hartwig LB 58 Sr Steve Heimkreiter LB y Pete Johnson LB Phil Johnson S 19 Fr John Krimm CB 61 Jr Bobby Leopold LB y 98 Fr Pat Kramer DE Brendan Moynihan LB Hardy Rayam DE Joe Restic S P John Thomas DT 34 Jr Dave Waymer CB y 74 Jeff Weston DT 54 Jr Mike Whittington OLB Tom Wroblewski DT 70 So Scott Zettek DE Chuck Male PK Joe Unis PK http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/nd/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2015-16/misc_non_event/15-football-media-supplement.pdf 2015-12-20 Dan Devine Brian Boulac Jim Gruden Jim Johnson Merv Johnson Ross Stephenson Ron Toman Joe Yonto References Notre Dame Category:Notre Dame Fighting Irish football seasons Category:Cotton Bowl Classic champion seasons Notre Dame Fighting Irish football