1951 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team

The 1951 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team was an American football team that represented the University of Notre Dame as an independent during the 1951 college football season. In their ninth year under head coach Frank Leahy, the Irish compiled a 7–2–1 record, outscored opponents by a total of 241 to 122, and were ranked No. 13 in the final United Press (UP) poll. In games against ranked opponents, they lost to national champion Michigan State and defeated No. 20 USC. The Detroit game on October 6 was the first night game in the history of Notre Dame football. Tackle Bob Toneff received first-team honors from the Associated Press (and second-team honors from the UP) on the 1951 All-America college football team. End and team captain Jim Mutscheller received second-team honors from the UP. Ralph Guglielmi and Johnny Lattner emerged as offensive stars. The team played its home games at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana. == Schedule == == Personnel == === Players === Virgil Bardash, No. 79, tackle, junior, 6', 210 pounds, Gary, IN Bill Barrett, No. 37, halfback, senior, River Forest, IL Joseph R. Bush, No. 73, tackle, 6'3", 203 pounds, Oak Park, IL Walter K. Cabral, No. 88, end, freshman, Honolulu, HI Gene Carrabine, No. 20, freshman, Gary, IN David Flood, defensive halfback, junior, 5'10", 185 pounds, Pittsburgh, PA Fidel J. "Goose" Gander, senior, 6'1", 196 pounds Chicago Ralph Guglielmi, No. 3, quarterback, Columbus, OH Jim Hamby, No. 55, center, senior, Caruthersville, MO Joseph Heap, halfback, freshman, 5'11", 175 pounds, New Orleans, LA Albert Kohanowich, end, junior, 6'1", 189 pounds, Hempstead, Long Island, New York Arthur J. Hunter, center, sophomore, 6'3", 213 pounds, Akron, OH Johnny Lattner, No. 14, halfback, sophomore, Chicago Frank F. "Fred" Mangialardi, end, sophomore, 6'1", 195 pounds, Chicago Menil "Minnie" Mavraides, No. 71, placekicker, 6'1", 202 pounds, Lowell, MA John Mazur, No. 1, quarterback, senior, Plymouth, PA Jim Mutscheller, No. 85, end and captain, 6'1", 198 pounds, Beaver Falls, PA Robert M. O'Neil, end, junior, 6'1", 193 pounds, Bridgeville, PA Chet Ostrowski, No. 63, end and guard, 6'1", 197 pounds, Chicago Donald Francis Penza, end, sophomore, Kenosha, WI John Petitbon, No. 23, halfback, senior, 190 pounds Frederick C. Poehler, No. 76, sophomore, 6'4", 210 pounds, Jackson, MI Paul Reynolds, halfback, freshman, Springfield, IL Dan Shannon, No. 33, linebacker/fullback, freshman, 6'0", 190 pounds, Chicago Dick Szymanski, No. 52, linebacker, Toledo, OH Bob Toneff, No. 75, tackle, 6'1", 235 pounds, Barberton, OH Neil Worden, No. 48, fullback, sophomore, 5'11", 187 pounds, Milwaukee, WI === Coaching staff === Head coach: Frank Leahy Athletic director: Edward W. Krause Assistant coaches: Bernie Crimmins (backfield), William Joseph Earley, John F. Druze (ends), Joseph Andrew McArdle (guards), Walter John Ziemba (centers), Robert James McBride (tackles) == 1951 NFL draft == The following Notre Dame players were selected in the 1951 NFL draft. == References ==