1979 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team

American college football team season August 2023 January 2026 1979 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football Independent 7–4 Dan Devine 5th Vagas Ferguson Tim Foley Dave Waymer Notre Dame Stadium The 1979 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team was an American football team that represented the University of Notre Dame as an independent during the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their fifth year under head coach Dan Devine, the Irish compiled a 7–4 record, outscored opponents by a total of 243 to 197, and were unranked in both the AP poll and UPI polls for the first time since 1963.1979 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Schedule and Results https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/notre-dame/1979-schedule.html Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 24, 2026 Running back and team co-captain Vagas Ferguson was a consensus first-team pick on the 1979 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 Offensive tackle Tim Foley also received first-team All-America honors from multiple selectors. The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Rusty Lisch (1,781 passing yards), running back Vagas Ferguson (1,437 rushing yards, 102 points scored), and tight end Tony Hunter (27 receptions for 690 yards).1979 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Stats https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/notre-dame/1979.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 1979 AP Eastern September 15 3:20 p.m. w y 9 Michigan 6 Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI rivalry ABC 12–10 105,111 Irish upend punchless U-M, 12-10 Detroit Free Press Mick McCabe September 17, 1979 1F, 5F https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43088381/irish_upend_punchless_um_1210/ Newspapers.comIrish upend Wolverines, 12-10 The Michigan Daily Billy Neff September 16, 1979 1, 12 https://digital.bentley.umich.edu/midaily/mdp.39015071754373/205 Bentley Historical Library September 22 2:30 p.m. l y 5 Purdue 17 Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN rivalry 22–28 70,567 https://www.newspapers.com/article/gloucester-county-times-purdue-rallies-t/157857664/ The Gloucester County Times Purdue rallies to upset Notre Dame September 23, 1979 October 26, 2024 Newspapers.com September 29 2:30 p.m. w 15 Michigan State 7 Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry 27–3 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-santa-fe-new-mexican-notre-dame-rips/157857718/ The Santa Fe New Mexican Notre Dame rips Michigan State 27–3 September 30, 1979 October 26, 2024 Newspapers.com October 6 2:30 p.m. w 10 Georgia Tech Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry 21–13 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-irish-dump-ga-tech/151992021/ The Shreveport Times Irish dump Ga. Tech October 7, 1979 July 25, 2024 Newspapers.com October 13 3:30 p.m. w y 10 Air Force Falcon Stadium Colorado Springs, CO rivalry 38–13 34,881 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kokomo-tribune-notre-dame-routs-air/157839591/ The Kokomo Tribune Notre Dame routs Air Force, 38–13 October 14, 1979 October 26, 2024 Newspapers.com October 20 12:50 p.m. l 9 USC 4 Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry ABC 23–42 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-enquirer-southern-cal-att/157817862/ The Cincinnati Enquirer Southern Cal attack grinds Irish, 42–23 October 21, 1979 October 26, 2024 Newspapers.com October 27 2:30 p.m. w 14 South Carolina Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN 18–17 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-irish-escape-gamec/139716380/ The Indianapolis Star Irish escape Gamecocks October 21, 1979 January 27, 2024 Newspapers.com November 3 1:30 p.m. w 13 Navy Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry 14–0 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/great-falls-tribune-notre-dame-blanks-mi/157857779/ Great Falls Tribune Notre Dame blanks Middies November 4, 1979 October 26, 2024 Newspapers.com November 10 1:30 p.m. l y 13 Tennessee Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN 18–40 86,489 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101454406/irish-humbles-by-vols-4018/ The Indianapolis Star Irish humbles by Vols, 40–18 November 11, 1979 May 8, 2022 Newspapers.com November 17 1:30 p.m. l Clemson 14 Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN 10–16 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/dayton-daily-news-clemson-feasts-on-iris/139734998/ Dayton Daily News Clemson feasts on Irish errors November 18, 1979 October 26, 2024 Newspapers.com November 24 11:00 p.m. w y Miami (FL) Japan National Stadium Tokyo, Japan Mirage Bowl, rivalry 40–15 62,574 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116753749/irish-run-to-victory-over-miami/ The Kokomo Tribune Irish run to victory over Miami November 26, 1979 January 18, 2023 Newspapers.com 1979 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football October 26, 2024 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/notre-dame/1979-schedule.html Game summaries At Michigan 1979 Michigan Wolverines football team Notre Dame Fighting Irish 2; text-align:center collapsed Notre Dame Fighting Irish (0–0) at Michigan Wolverines (1–0) September 15 Notre Dame 3 3 6 0 Michigan 3 7 0 0 Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan 105,111 65 F C ABC Keith Jackson and Frank Broyles Recap First quarter MICH – Bryan Virgil 30-yard field goal, 7:31. Michigan 3–0. Drive: 10 plays, 84 yards. ND – Chuck Male 40-yard field goal. Tie 3–3. Drive: Second quarter MICH – Stan Edwards 1-yard run (Bryan Virgil kick), 10:48. Michigan 10–3. Drive: 13 plays, 80 yards, 6:39. ND – Chuck Male 40-yard field goal, 4:48. Michigan 10–6. Drive: Third quarter ND – Chuck Male 22–yard field goal. Michigan 10–9. Drive: ND – Chuck Male 39-yard field goal. Notre Dame 12–10. Drive: Top passers ND – Rusty Lisch – 5/10, 65 yards MICH – B. J. Dickey – 9/18, 106 yards Top rushers ND – Vagas Ferguson – 35 rushes, 118 yards MICH Top receivers ND MICH Bob Crable (10 tackles) leaped to block the potential-game winning field in the final seconds. "Irish Topple Michigan On Walk-on's Field Goals." Palm Beach Post. 1979 September 16. At Purdue December 2020 Michigan State December 2020 Georgia Tech December 2020 At Air Force 1979 Air Force Falcons football team Notre Dame 10 21 0 7 Air Force 0 7 6 0 October 13 Falcon Stadium, Colorado Springs, Colorado 34,881 yes Q1 ND Ferguson 5 yard run (Male kick) ND 7–0 Q1 ND Male 43 yard field goal ND 10–0 Q2 ND Lisch 1 yard run (Male kick) ND 17–0 Q2 AFA James 1 yard run (Sturch kick) ND 17–7 Q2 ND Vehr 2 yard pass from Lisch (Male kick) ND 24–7 Q2 ND Ferguson 23 yard run (Male kick) ND 31–7 Q3 AFA Schafer 2 yard pass from Ziebart (run failed) ND 31–13 Q4 ND Hunter 75 yard pass from Lisch (Male kick) ND 38–13 yes Palm Beach Post. 1979 October 14. USC 1979 USC Trojans football team December 2020 South Carolina thumb|right|A football gifted by the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team to President Gerald Ford, commemorating their 18–17 victory over South Carolina on October 27. Navy Navy 0 0 0 0 Notre Dame 7 0 0 7 November 3 Notre Dame Stadium 59,075 yes Q1 ND Lisch 1 yard run (Male kick) ND 7–0 Q4 ND Ferguson 3 yard run (Male kick) ND 14–0 yes ND: Ferguson 34 Rush, 155 Yds (first player in school history with 3,000 career rushing yards) Eugene Register-Guard. 1979 November 4. Retrieved 2018-December-22. At Tennessee December 2020 Clemson December 2020 Vs. Miami (FL) December 2020 Roster 1979 Notre Dame Fighting Irish f 65 Jr Bob Burger OG 80 So Dave Condeni WR 2 Jr Mike Courey QB y 53 Sr Jeff Crippin C 1 Jr Ty Dickerson WR 32 Sr Vagas Ferguson RB y 73 Sr Tim Foley OT 31 Jr Pete Holohan WR y 78 Jr Tim Huffman OG y 13 Jr Greg Knafelc QB y 6 Sr Rusty Lisch QB y 75 Sr Rob Martinovich OT 86 So Dean Masztak TE 71 So Phil Pozderac OT y 57 Jr John Scully John Scully (American football) C y 94 So Tom Bock DT 43 So Bob Crable LB y Mark Czaja DL 22 Fr Dave Duerson S y 27 Jr Tom Gibbons CB Joe Gramke DE Kevin Griffith DT John Hankerd DE Don Kidd DT Pat Kramer DT 19 So John Krimm CB y 61 Sr Bobby Leopold LB y 34 Sr Dave Waymer DB y 54 Sr Mike Whittington LB y 70 Jr Scott Zettek DE Dick Boushka P Sr Chuck Male K *Dan Devine Team players in the NFL 2 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Player Position Round Pick NFL club Vagas Ferguson Running back 1 25 New England Patriots Dave Waymer Cornerback 2 41 New Orleans Saints Tim Foley Tackle 2 51 Baltimore Colts Rusty Lisch Quarterback 4 89 St. Louis Cardinals Bobby Leopold Linebacker 8 210 San Francisco 49ers Rob Martinovich Tackle 10 261 Kansas City Chiefs References Notre Dame Category:Notre Dame Fighting Irish football seasons Notre Dame Fighting Irish football Category:Long stubs with short prose