1971 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team

American college football season August 2023 January 2026 1971 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football Independent 15 13 8–2 Ara Parseghian 8th Tom Gatewood Walt Patulski Notre Dame Stadium The 1971 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team was an American football team that represented the University of Notre Dame as an independent during the 1971 NCAA University Division football season. In their eighth year under head coach Ara Parseghian, the Irish compiled an 8–2 record, outscored opponents by a total of 225 to 86, and were ranked No. 13 in the final AP poll and No. 15 in the final UPI poll.1969 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Schedule and Results https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/notre-dame/1969-schedule.html Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 22, 2026The Football Review (1971) The Notre Dame Scholastic November 30, 1971 https://archives.nd.edu/Football/Football-1971s.pdf Notre Dame Archives Prior to their concluding game at LSU, Notre Dame announced that they would not play in a bowl game.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6NlVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7uADAAAAIBAJ&pg=4273%2C4227251 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Associated Press Irish ready to spurn bids November 18, 1971 3Dhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6dlVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7uADAAAAIBAJ&pg=7040%2C4407357 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Associated Press Irish nix bowl bids November 19, 1971 4Bhttps://www.si.com/vault/1971/11/29/613925/irish-stew-for-lsu Sports Illustrated Reed William F. Irish Stew for LSU November 29, 1971 26 Defensive end Walt Patulski and defensive back Clarence Ellis were consensus first-team picks on the 1971 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 End Tom Gatewood and defensive tackle Mike Kadish also received first-team All-America honors from at least one selector. The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Cliff Brown (669 passing yards), Bob Minnix (337 rushing yards), and Gatewood (417 receiving yards). Minnix and Ed Gulyas led the team in scoring with 30 points each.1971 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Stats https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/notre-dame/1971.html Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 21, 2026 The team played its home games at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana. Schedule 1971 AP Eastern September 18 2:30 p.m. w 2 Northwestern Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry 50–7 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-irish-intercept-se/182030176/ The Los Angeles Times Irish intercept seven passes, smash 'Cats September 19, 1971 September 29, 2025 Newspapers.com September 25 2:30 p.m. w y 2 Purdue Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN rivalry 8–7 69,765 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kokomo-tribune-irish-luck-fells-pu/182030279/ The Kokomo Tribune Irish 'luck' fells Purdue September 26, 1971 September 29, 2025 Newspapers.com October 2 1:50 p.m. w 4 Michigan State Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry ABC regional 14–2 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-blade-notre-dame-squeaks-past-msu-1/182030368/ The Blade Notre Dame squeaks past MSU, 14–2 October 3, 1971 September 29, 2025 Newspapers.com October 9 8:15 p.m. w y 9 Miami (FL) Miami Orange Bowl Miami, FL rivalry 17–0 64,357 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tallahassee-democrat-irish-handle-hurric/181978378/ Tallahassee Democrat Irish handle Hurricanes in an easy 17–0 fashion October 10, 1971 September 29, 2025 Newspapers.com October 16 2:30 p.m. w 7 North Carolina Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry 16–0 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-irish-get-kicks-with-16/139415634/ Chicago Tribune Irish get kicks with 16–0 victory October 17, 1971 January 23, 2024 Newspapers.com October 23 2:30 p.m. l 6 USC Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry 14–28 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-terre-haute-tribune-isu-notre-dame/182030467/ The Terre Haute Tribune ISU, Notre Dame suffer losses October 24, 1971 September 29, 2025 Newspapers.com October 30 1:30 p.m. w 12 Navy Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry 21–0 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kalamazoo-gazette-irish-unimpressive/181977630/ The Kalamazoo Gazette Irish unimpressive in win October 31, 1971 September 29, 2025 Newspapers.com November 6 1:00 p.m. w y 8 Pittsburgh Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA rivalry 56–7 55,528 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-notre-dame-buries-p/181976879/ The Pittsburgh Press Notre Dame buries Pitt, 56–7 November 7, 1971 September 29, 2025 Newspapers.com November 13 1:30 p.m. w 8 Tulane Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN 21–7 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/68379080/cliff-brown-tulane-article/ Chicago Tribune Irish rally to defeat Tulane November 14, 1971 September 29, 2025 Newspapers.com November 20 8:05 p.m. l y 7 LSU 14 Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA ABC 8–28 66,936 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tallahassee-democrat-lsu-wins-288-over/133881554/ Tallahassee Democrat LSU wins 28–8 over the Irish November 21, 1971 October 22, 2023 Newspapers.com Schedule/Results (1971 Notre Dame) https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/130868 National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA Statistics September 29, 2025 Game summaries Northwestern Northwestern at Notre Dame Northwestern 7 0 0 0 Notre Dame 7 23 6 14 September 18 Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN 1:30 pm EST 59,075 Sunny, high 60s Purdue Notre Dame at Purdue Notre Dame 0 0 0 8 Purdue 0 7 0 0 September Ross–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN 1:30 pm EST 69,765 Rain/mud yes 2 PUR Armstrong 26 yard pass from Danielson (Renie kick) PUR 7-0 4 2:58 ND Swendsen recovered fumble in end zone (Steenberge to Creaney pass) ND 8-7 yes "Notre Dame Edges Past Purdue." Ocala Star-Banner. 1971 September 26. "The Genuflect Play" Michigan State Michigan State at Notre Dame Michigan St. 2 0 0 0 Notre Dame 14 0 0 0 October 2 Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN 12:50 pm EST 59,075 Hot, mid-80s Howard Wirtz (Big Ten) Chris Schenkel and Bud Wilkinson ABC yes 1 ND Minnix 1-yard run (Thomas kick) ND 7-0 1 ND Minnix 5-yard run (Thomas kick) ND 14-0 1 MSU Safety (Etter recovered Parker fumble in end zone) ND 14-2 yes Miami (Florida) Notre Dame at Miami Notre Dame 0 3 7 7 Miami 0 0 0 0 October 9 Miami Orange Bowl 8:00 p.m. EDT 64,357 84 degrees, 77% humidity Morris Harrison yes 2 ND Thomas 38-yard field goal ND 3-0 3 ND Huff 16-yard run (Thomas kick) ND 10-0 4 ND Dewan 6-yard run (Thomas kick) ND 17-0 yes North Carolina North Carolina at Notre Dame N. Carolina 0 0 0 0 Notre Dame 3 6 0 7 October 16 Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN 1:30 pm EST 59,075 Fair, mid-70s Howard Wirtz yes 1 ND Thomas 28-yard field goal ND 3-0 2 ND Thomas 27-yard field goal ND 6-0 2 ND Thomas 24-yard field goal ND 9-0 4 ND Gatewood 4-yard pass from Brown (Thomas kick) ND 16-0 yes USC Southern Cal at Notre Dame USC 14 14 0 0 Notre Dame 7 0 7 0 October 23 Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN 1:30 pm EDT 59,075 Damp, low 60s Jerry Markbreit yes 1 S. Cal. Garrison 31-yard pass from Jones (Rae Kick) S. Cal 0-7 1 ND Huff 1-yard run (Thomas kick) Tied 7-7 1 S. Cal. Garrison 24-yard pass from Rae (Rae kick) S. Cal. 7-14 2 S. Cal. Cunningham 1-yard run (Rae kick) S. Cal. 7-21 2 S. Cal. Dyer 54-yard interception return (Rae kick) S. Cal. 7-28 4 ND Cieszkowski 4-yard run (Thomas kick) S. Cal. 14-28 yes Navy Navy at Notre Dame Navy 0 0 0 0 Notre Dame 7 14 0 0 October 30 Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Indiana 1:30 pm EST 59,075 yes 1 ND Gulyas 1 yard run (Thomas kick) ND 7-0 2 ND Minnix 1 yard run (Thomas kick) ND 14-0 2 ND Minnix 10 yard run (Thomas kick) ND 21-0 yes "Notre Dame Rips Middies, 21-0." Palm Beach Post. 1971 October 31. Pittsburgh Notre Dame at Pittsburgh Notre Dame 14 14 14 14 Pittsburgh 0 7 0 0 November 6 Pitt Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA 1:30 p.m. EST Tulane Tulane at Notre Dame Tulane 0 7 0 0 Notre Dame 0 0 14 7 November 13 Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN 1:30 pm EST Upper 40s Howard Wirtz yes 2 Tulane Barrios 14-yard pass from LaChausse (Gibson Kick) Tulane 0-7 3 ND Brown 1-yard run (Thomas kick) Tied 7-7 3 ND Creaney 19-yard pass from Brown (Thomas kick) ND 14-7 4 ND Brown 5-yard run (Thomas kick) ND 21-7 yes LSU Notre Dame at LSU #7 Notre Dame 0 0 0 8 #12 LSU 7 7 7 7 November 20 Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 7:05 p.m. CST 66,936 James M. Artley (SEC) Chris Schenkel and Bud Wilkinson ABC yes 1 10:47 LSU Hamilton 36 pass from Jones (Michaelson kick) LSU 7-0 2 01:14 LSU Hamilton 32 pass from Jones (Michaelson kick) LSU 14-0 3 00:10 LSU Jones 5 run (Michaelson kick) LSU 21-0 4 02:54 ND Gatewood 7 pass from Brown (Minnix pass from Brown) LSU 21-8 4 00:20 LSU Hamilton 13 pass from Lyons (Michaelson kick) LSU 28-8 yes Roster 1971 Notre Dame Fighting Irish f 62 So Tom Bolger G 8 So Cliff Brown Cliff Brown (American football) QB y 88 So Dave Casper TE y 44 Sr Tom Gatewood WR y 22 So Greg Hill RB 50 Sr Dan Novakov C 80 Jr Willie Townsend WR 17 Sr Mike Crotty DB 23 Sr Clarence Ellis DB y 72 Sr Mike Kadish DT y 75 Jr Greg Marx DT y 81 Jr Jim O'Malley LB 45 So Eric Patton LB 85 Sr Walt Patulski DE y Tim Rudnick DB y 93 Sr Fred Swendson DE 61 Jr Mike Webb LB 98 So Bob Thomas Robert R. Thomas K y *Ara Parseghian Tom Pagna (OC) 1972 NFL draft 2 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Player Position Round Pick NFL club Walt Patulski Defensive end 1 1 Buffalo Bills Clarence Ellis Defensive back 1 15 Atlanta Falcons Mike Kadish Defensive tackle 1 25 Miami Dolphins Fred Swendson Defensive end 3 53 Buffalo Bills Eric Patton Linebacker 4 86 Green Bay Packers Tom Gatewood Running back 5 107 New York Giants Ralph Stepaniak Defensive back 7 157 Buffalo Bills Mike Zikas Defensive tackle 7 177 New York Giants References Notre Dame Category:Notre Dame Fighting Irish football seasons Notre Dame Fighting Irish football Category:Long stubs with short prose