2001 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team

American college football season August 2023 January 2026 2001 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Notre Dame Fighting Irish logo.svg 150 Independent 5–6 Bob Davie 5th Kevin Rogers 3rd Option Greg Mattison 5th 4–3 Notre Dame Stadium (c. 80,795, grass) The 2001 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team was an American football team that represented the University of Notre Dame as an independent during the 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their fifth and final year under head coach Bob Davie, the Irish compiled a 5–6 record and were outscored by a total of 215 to 214. In three games against ranked opponents, they lost to No. 5 Nebraska, No. 7 Tennessee, and No. 13 Stanford.2001 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football August 5, 2026 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/notre-dame/2001-schedule.html Davie was fired as head coach one day after the final game of the season.Davie fired The South Bend Tribune Al Lesar December 3, 2001 1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-davie-fired/203208905/ Newspapers.com The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Carlyle Holiday (784 passing yards), running back Julius Jones (718 rushing yards), wide receiver Javin Hunter (37 receptions for 387 yards), and kicker Nicholas Setta (68 points scored, 23 of 23 PAT, 15 of 17 field goals).2001 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football August 5, 2026 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/notre-dame/2001.html The team played its home games at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana. Season overview With 19 recruits signed to help replace the nine players leaving for the NFL,http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/020701aaa.html Football Announces 2001 Signees UND.cstv.com February 7, 2001 September 11, 2007 there were high expectations for the Irish for the 2001 season. Three players were named to pre-season All-America teams while the team was ranked as highly as 12th in the nation.http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/061501aaa.html Notre Dame Football Gets Early Praise In Preseason Polls UND.cstv.com July 3, 2001 September 11, 2007 With former starting quarterback, Arnaz Battle, moving in the off-season to wide receiver,http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/033001aaa.html Battle Talks About Making The Switch UND.cstv.com March 30, 2001 September 11, 2007 Davie faced the decision of having to play his replacement from 2000, Matt LoVecchio, or to replace LoVecchio with fellow sophomore Carlyle Holiday. Prior to their first game, Davie hinted that he might have a surprise at quarterback,Connolly, Mike http://www.nd.edu/~observer/09052001/Sports/2.html Davie hints at QB surprise The Observer UK September 5, 2001 September 11, 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20010915220008/http://www.nd.edu/~observer/09052001/Sports/2.html 2001-09-15 dead however, LoVecchio started at the fourth-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers. Notre Dame's first play from scrimmage proved to be a harbinger when the Irish fumbled and Nebraska recovered. With LoVecchio ineffective throughout the first quarter, Holiday took over and led the Irish to a field goal. Holiday, however, was ineffective throughout the rest of the game and the only other Irish score came after Shane Walton blocked a punt and gave the Irish the ball on the 4 yard line. Unable to capitalize on Nebraska's mistakes, and having four turnovers themselves, the Irish lost the game 27–10.Rosenblatt, Richard http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/090801aaa.html No. 17 Irish Drop Season-Opener To No. 5 Nebraska, 27–10 UND.cstv.com September 8, 2001 September 12, 2007 With a small quarterback controversy, the season was interrupted by the September 11, 2001 attacks. With all Division I-A football games canceled after the attacks,http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/commentary/2001/September/15/A-day-seared-in-time.aspx A day seared in time Thoroughbred Times September 15, 2001 September 12, 2007 the September 15 game against Purdue was moved to the end of the season. With promises of heightened security,http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/091801aaa.html Football Fans Can Expect A Heightened Security Presence In And Around The Stadium This Saturday UND.cstv.com September 18, 2001 September 12, 2007 prayers, and a stadium-wide fundraiser to help the victims of the attacks,http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/091901aab.html Prayer, Song To Mark Football Home Opener UND.cstv.com September 19, 2001 September 12, 2007 the Irish returned to the field the next week to face the Michigan State Spartans. With LoVecchio getting the start, he had a better game than his first, but the Irish fell short of the Spartans for the fifth straight year.http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/092201aaa.html No. 23 Notre Dame Falls To Michigan State, 17–10 UND.cstv.com September 22, 2001 September 12, 2007 After the loss, Davie named Holiday the starting quarterback for the Texas A&M game.http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/092401aad.html Carlyle Holiday Named Starting Quarterback UND.cstv.com September 24, 2001 September 12, 2007 Though LoVecchio would play in later games, he would never start again for the Irish and eventually transferred from the school.http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/college/news/2002/05/22/notredame_transfer_ap/ https://web.archive.org/web/20060324185321/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/college/news/2002/05/22/notredame_transfer_ap/ dead March 24, 2006 Notre Dame's LoVecchio to transfer Sports Illustrated May 22, 2002 September 12, 2007 Playing in front of, at the time, the largest crowd ever to watch a football game in Texas, Holiday was knocked out of the game with a neck injury before halftime. The Irish were unable move the ball and lost 24–3, moving to 0–3 for the first time ever.Graczyk, Michael http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/092901aaa.html Irish Fall To Texas A&M, 24–3 UND.cstv.com September 29, 2001 September 12, 2007 With Holiday back the next week, he led the Irish to their first victory of the season against the Pittsburgh Panthers,http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/100601aaa.html Football Earns First Win Of The Season Over Pittsburgh, 24–7 UND.cstv.com October 6, 2001 September 12, 2007 and continued to roll with wins over West Virginia and USC to put the Irish back to a 3–3 record.Coyne, Tom http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/101301aaa.html Irish Football Puts Away West Virginia, 34–24 UND.cstv.com October 13, 2001 September 12, 2007Coyne, Tom http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/102001aab.html Irish Knock Off USC, 27–16 UND.cstv.com October 20, 2001 September 12, 2007 With a loss the next week to Boston College,Ulman, Howard http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/102701aaa.html Irish Fall To The Eagles, 21–17 UND.cstv.com October 27, 2001 September 12, 2007 however, the Irish hopes for a bowl game were dwindling and all but gone with a loss the next week to the seventh-ranked Tennessee Volunteers.Coyne, Tom http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/110301aaa.html No. 7 Tennessee Tops Notre Dame, 28–18 UND.cstv.com November 3, 2001 September 12, 2007 With a 3–5 record, the Irish would need to win all of their remaining games to avoid Davie's second losing season for the team. The Irish looked to turn it around with a dominating win over Navy that increased their record winning streak over them to 38 games,Coyne, Tom http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111701aaa.html Notre Dame Knocks Off Navy, 34–16 UND.cstv.com November 17, 2001 September 12, 2007 however, fell to Stanford the next week after both Holiday and LoVecchio completed only one pass each the entire game.Beacham, Greg http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/112401aaa.html Football Falls To No. 13 Stanford, 17–13 UND.cstv.com November 24, 2001 September 12, 2007 Assured of Notre Dame's eighth losing season ever, the Irish traveled to face the Purdue Boilermakers for the game missed after the September 11 attacks. Though the Irish defense helped secure the win and the 5–6 record,Gelston, Dan http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/120101aaa.html Irish Football Puts Away Purdue, 24–18 UND.cstv.com December 1, 2001 September 12, 2007 it wasn't enough for the Notre Dame administration who fired Davie the next day.http://static.espn.go.com/ncf/news/2001/1202/1288660.html Davie's tenure at ND ends after five seasons ESPN December 2, 2001 September 12, 2007 Schedule 2001 AP Eastern September 8 8:00 p.m. l y 18 Nebraska 4 Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE rivalry ABC 10–27 78,118 September 22 2:30 p.m. l 23 Michigan State Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry NBC 10–17 80,795 September 29 3:30 p.m. l y Texas A&M Kyle Field College Station, TX ABC 3–24 87,206 October 6 2:30 p.m. w Pittsburgh Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry NBC 24–7 80,795 October 13 2:30 p.m. w West Virginia Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN NBC 34–24 80,795 October 20 2:30 p.m. w USC rivalry Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN NBC 27–16 80,795 October 27 7:30 p.m. l y Boston College Alumni Stadium Chestnut Hill, MA Holy War ESPN 17–21 44,500 November 3 2:30 p.m. l Tennessee 7 Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN NBC 18–28 80,795 November 17 1:00 p.m. w Navy Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry NBC 34–16 80,795 November 24 8:00 p.m. l y Stanford 13 Stanford Stadium Stanford, CA rivalry ABC 13–17 51,780 December 1 3:30 p.m. w y Purdue Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN rivalry ABC 24–15 68,750 Roster 2001 Notre Dame Fighting Irish f Jared Clark 1 QB So Dan Novakov 2 QB Jr Arnaz Battle 3 WR Sr y David Givens 6 WR Sr y Carlyle Holiday 7 QB So y Lorenzo Crawford 8 WR So Matt Krueger 8 QB So Pat Dillingham 9 QB Fr y Ryan Krueger 10 QB Sr Matt LoVecchio 10 QB So y Marcus Wilson 11 RB Fr Tony Fisher 12 RB Sr y Tony Fisher (American football) Gary Godsey 14 TE Jr Ronnie Rodamer 18 WR So Javin Hunter 21 WR Sr y Julius Jones 22 RB Jr y Julius Jones (American football) Chris Yura 23 RB Jr Cory Jones 24 RB Fr Ryan Grant 25 RB Fr y Ryan Grant (running back) Mike Profeta 27 RB Fr Cole Laux 28 RB So Terrance Howard 32 RB Sr Tim O'Neill 35 RB Sr Tom Lopienski 36 FB Sr y Albert Gembara 37 RB So Eric Nelson 38 FB Sr Jason Murray 40 FB Sr Mike McNair 47 FB Sr Jonathan Gentine 48 WR Jr Jeff Faine 52 C Jr y Zachary Giles 55 C Fr Casey Robin 62 OG Sr Brennan Curtin 63 OT Jr y Casey Dunn 64 OG Fr Sean Milligan 65 OG Jr JW Jordan 66 C Sr Ryan Gillis 67 OG Jr Darin Mitchell 69 OG Fr Jim Molinaro 70 OT Jr y David Kowalski 71 OL So Ryan Scarola 72 OG Sr Mark LeVoir 73 OT Fr y Dan Stevenson 74 OT Fr y Kurt Vollers 75 OT Sr y John Teasdale 76 OT Sr Jordan Black 78 OT Sr y Jordan Black (American football) Sean Mahan 79 OG Sr y Omar Jenkins 80 WR So Bernard Akatu 82 WR Sr Matt Shelton 82 WR Fr Matt Root 83 TE Fr John Owens 84 TE Sr y John Owens (American football) Billy Palmer 85 TE So Brendan Hart 86 TE So Patrick Nally 87 TE Fr Jonathan Smith 87 WR So Carlos Campbell 88 WR Fr Chris Mahoney 97 OL Jr Carlos Pierre-Antoine 2 LB Sr Justin Smith 4 FS Sr Ron Israel 5 SS Sr y Jason Beckstrom 9 CB Jr Mike Klockner 14 DB Jr Clifford Jefferson 15 CB Sr Abram Elam 16 SS So y Glenn Earl 19 FS Jr y Gerome Sapp 20 SS Jr y Chad DeBolt 24 LB Sr Garron Bible 26 CB So Billy Small 26 SS So Lionel Bolen 27 CB Fr Donald Dykes 28 FS Sr Quentin Burrell 29 CB Fr Rocky Boiman 30 OLB Sr y Dwayne Francis 31 FS Sr Courtney Watson 33 LB Jr y Courtney Watson (American football) Vontez Duff 34 CB So y Dwight Ellick 37 CB Fr Preston Jackson 38 CB So David Bemenderfer 39 SS So Brandon Hoyte 39 LB Fr Mike Goolsby 41 LB So y Shane Walton 42 CB Sr y Rashon Powers-Neal 43 OLB Fr Grant Irons 44 DE Sr y Matt Sarb 45 SS Sr Corey Mays 46 LB Fr y Justin Tuck 48 OLB Fr y Derek Curry 49 LB So y Cedric Hilliard 50 NG Jr Tyreo Harrison 51 LB Sr y Mark Mitchell 52 OLB Sr Jason Halvorson 53 DL Jr Pat Ryan 56 LB Jr Justin Thomas 57 OLB Jr Brian Dierckman 59 LB Sr Darrell Campbell 60 DT Jr y Jesse DeSplinter 61 LB So Jeffrey Campbell 64 DE Sr Ed O'Connell 68 LB So Greg Pauly 77 DT So Jerome Collins 81 OLB So y Brian Beidatsch 90 DL Fr Jeff Thompson 91 DL Fr Kyle Budinscak 92 DE So Andy Wisne 94 NG Sr Ryan Roberts 95 DE Sr y Ryan Roberts (American football) Anthony Weaver 98 DE Sr y Jason Sapp 99 DE So Nick Setta 13 K Jr y Joey Hildbold 17 P Jr D. J. Fitzpatrick 19 P Fr y Evan Driedger 31 K So David Miller 35 K Sr John Crowther 56 LS Sr Adam Tibble 80 K Sr Josh Gentine 83 P Jr https://web.archive.org/web/20011218075650/http://und.fansonly.com:80/sports/m-footbl/mtt/nd-m-footbl-mtt-alph.html *Bob Davie 2001-12-18 2002 NFL draft The following Notre Dame players were selected in the 2002 NFL draft. 2 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Player Position Round Pick NFL club Anthony Weaver Defensive end 2 52 Baltimore Ravens Rocky Boiman Linebacker 4 133 Tennessee Titans John Owens Tight end 5 138 Detroit Lions Tyreo Harrison Linebacker 6 198 Philadelphia Eagles Javin Hunter Wide Receiver 6 206 Baltimore Ravens David Givens Wide Receiver 7 252 New England Patriots References Notre Dame Category:Notre Dame Fighting Irish football seasons Notre Dame Fighting Irish football