1969 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team

American college football season August 2023 January 2026 1969 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football Independent 9 5 8–2–1 Ara Parseghian 6th Bob Olson Mike Oriard Notre Dame Stadium Cotton Bowl Classic L Lost 17–21 vs. Texas The 1969 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team was an American football team that represented the University of Notre Dame as an independent during the 1969 NCAA University Division football season. In their sixth year under head coach Ara Parseghian, the Irish compiled an 8–2–1 record, outscored opponents by a total of 334 to 113, and were ranked No. 5 in the final AP poll and No. 9 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, 2026 After 44 seasons without postseason play (1925–1968), Notre Dame ended its self-imposed bowl hiatus, losing to No. 1 Texas in the Cotton Bowl.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=I0IVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HAgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6890%2C1557902 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Associated Press Notre Dame accepts Cotton's bid November 18, 1969 12 Defensive tackle Mike McCoy was a consensus first-team pick on the 1969 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 Jim Reilly and guard Larry DiNardo also received first-team All-America honors from at least one selector.Owens, Phipps Named To Team Beckley (WV) Post-Herald November 28, 1969 2 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3369202/1969_afca_all_america_football_team/ (AFCA-Reilly)Owens, Phipps Named To Team Beckley (WV) Post-Herald November 28, 1969 2 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3369202/1969_afca_all_america_football_team/(UPI-DiNardo) The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Joe Theisman (1,531 passing yards), and split end Tom Gatewood (743 receiving yards), and halfbackDenny Allan (612 rushing yards, 54 points scored).1969 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Stats https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/notre-dame/1969.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 1969 AP Eastern September 20 1:30 pm w 11 Northwestern Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry 35–10 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-down-100-then/183358230/ The Des Moines Register Down, 10–0, then Irish grind to 35–10 victory September 21, 1969 October 20, 2025 Newspapers.com September 27 1:30 pm l y 9 Purdue 16 Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN rivalry 14–28 68,179 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=S90hAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7J8FAAAAIBAJ&pg=6537%2C8559392 Reading Eagle Pennsylvania Associated Press Phipps paces Purdue past Notre Dame October 19, 1969 57 October 4 1:30 pm w Michigan State 14 Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry 42–28 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-enquirer-wild-irish-might/183358292/ The Cincinnati Enquirer Wild Irish might rocks and shocks MSU, 42–28 October 5, 1969 October 20, 2025 Newspapers.com October 11 2:00 pm w y 15 Army Yankee Stadium Bronx, NY rivalry 45–0 63,786 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-grand-rapids-press-theismann-guides/183328435/ The Grand Rapids Press Theismann guides Irish to 45–0 win over Army October 12, 1969 October 20, 2025 Newspapers.com October 18 1:30 pm t 11 USC 3 Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry 14–14 59,075 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1BwrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6p8FAAAAIBAJ&pg=5512%2C3663277 Reading Eagle Pennsylvania Associated Press Liska Jerry Notre Dame, Southern Cal in 14–14 draw October 19, 1969 61 October 25 8:30 pm w y 12 Tulane Tulane Stadium New Orleans, LA 37–0 40,250 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86340892/notre-dame-romps-over-tulane-370/ Chicago Tribune Notre Dame romps over Tulane, 37–0 October 26, 1969 October 20, 2025 Newspapers.com November 1 1:30 pm w 10 Navy Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry 47–0 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/staten-island-advance-irish-clobber-midd/183317978/ Staten Island Advance Irish clobber Middies, 47–0 November 2, 1969 October 20, 2025 Newspapers.com November 8 1:30 pm w y 8 Pittsburgh Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA rivalry 49–7 44,084 https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-notre-dame-just-brush/183327510/ Detroit Free Press Notre Dame just brushes off Pitt, 49–7 November 9, 1969 October 20, 2025 Newspapers.com November 15 9:30 pm w y 9 Georgia Tech Grant Field Atlanta, GA rivalry ABC 38–20 41,104 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rsQtAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OaAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3512%2C2944879 Reading Eagle Pennsylvania Associated Press Bryson Mike Georgia Tech shouldn't Irish plans November 15, 1969 6https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IUIVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HAgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3616%2C927073 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Associated Press Irish build early lead, swamp Tech November 16, 1969 1, sportshttps://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-georgia-tech-bl/151967957/ Fort Worth Star-Telegram Georgia Tech blitzed 38–20 by Notre Dame November 16, 1969 July 24, 2024 Newspapers.com November 22 1:30 pm w 8 Air Force Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry 13–6 59,075 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RCMrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4J8FAAAAIBAJ&pg=4448%2C1519204 Reading Eagle Pennsylvania Associated Press Bryson Mike Irish shake 'shakes' and beat Air Force November 23, 1969 69 January 1, 1970, 1970 2:00 pm l y 9 Texas 1 Cotton Bowl Dallas, TX Cotton Bowl CBS 17–21 71,938 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hDwVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ewgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7244%2C360694 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Associated Press Texans edge Irish on big 4th downs January 2, 1970 30https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-texas-rallies-to-beat-ir/123956369/ Chicago Tribune Texas rallies to beat Irish, 21 to 17 January 2, 1970 May 2, 2023 Newspapers.com https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/notre-dame/1969-schedule.html 1969 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Schedule and Results Schedule/Results (1969 Notre Dame) https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/174791 National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA Statistics October 20, 2025 Game summaries Northwestern Northwestern 10 0 0 0 Notre Dame 14 0 0 21 September 20 Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN 1:30 pm EDT 59,075 yes yes Purdue Notre Dame 0 7 0 7 Purdue 7 7 7 7 September 27 Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN 1:30 p.m. EDT yes yes Michigan State Michigan St. 0 14 7 7 Notre Dame 7 14 14 7 October 4 Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN 1:30 pm EDT 59,075 yes yes Army Notre Dame 10 14 14 7 Army 0 0 0 0 October 11 Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY 2:00 p.m. EDT yes yes USC USC 0 0 7 7 Notre Dame 0 0 7 7 October 18 Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN 1:30 pm EDT 59,075 yes yes Tulane Notre Dame 7 17 7 6 Tulane 0 0 0 0 October 25 Tulane Stadium, New Orleans, LA 7:30 p.m. CDT yes yes Navy Navy 0 0 0 0 Notre Dame 7 26 14 0 November 1 Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN 1:30 pm EST 59,075 yes yes Pittsburgh Notre Dame 14 21 14 0 Pittsburgh 7 0 0 0 November 8 Pitt Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA 1:30 p.m. EST yes yes Georgia Tech Notre Dame 21 10 7 0 Georgia Tech 0 6 0 14 November 15 Grant Field, Atlanta, GA 9:30 p.m. EST ABC yes yes Air Force Air Force 0 3 0 3 Notre Dame 7 6 0 0 November 22 Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN 59,075 yes 1 ND Allan 39-yard run (Hempel kick) ND 7-0 2 ND Hempel 22-yard field goal ND 10-0 2 ND Hempel 25-yard field goal ND 13-0 2 AF Leuthauser 28-yard field goal ND 13-3 4 AF Leuthauser 37-yard field goal ND 13-6 yes "Irish Shaky, Nip Falcons." Palm Beach Post. 1969 Nov 23. Vs. Texas (Cotton Bowl) #9 Notre Dame vs. #1 Texas Fighting Irish 3 7 0 7 Longhorns 0 7 0 14 January 1 Cotton Bowl, Dallas, Texas 71,938 Cliff Domingue CBS 1970 Cotton Bowl Classic 1969 Texas Longhorns football team Roster 1969 Notre Dame Fighting Irish f 64 Sr Terry Brennan T 56 Jr Larry DiNardo G y 44 So Tom Gatewood WR y 7 Jr Joe Theismann QB y 17 So Mike Crotty DB 77 Sr Mike McCoy Mike McCoy (defensive tackle) DT y 85 So Walt Patulski DE y Scott Hempel K *Ara Parseghian Statistics Team statistics. Notre Dame tallied 4,489 yards of total (448.9 yards per game) offense on 868 plays, an average of 5.2 yards per play. The team's offensive output included of 2,905 rushing yards, an average of 4.4 yards per rush and 290.5 per game. The team also tallied 1,584 passing yards (158.4 yards per game), completing 113 of 205 passing attempts (.441 completion percentage) with 16 interceptions and 13 touchdown passes.1969 Year in Review, p. 35. On defense, the Irish gave up 2,187 yards of total offense (3.3 yards per attempt, 218.7 yards per game), consisting of 851 rushing yards (2.3 yards per carry, 84.1 yards per game) and 1,336 passing yards (4.6 yards per attempt, 133.6 yards per game). Total offense. Quarterback Joe Theisman - 1,909 yards on 308 plays Halfback Denny Allan - 612 yards on 149 plays Halfback Ed Ziegler - 483 yards on 94 plays Quarterback Bill Etter - 363 yards on 41 plays Fullback Bill Barz - 362 yards on 90 plays Halfback Andy Huff - 264 yards on 69 plays Passing. Joe Theisman completed 108 of 192 passes (.562 completion percentage) for 1,531 yards with 16 interceptions and 13 touchdowns Rushing Denny Allan - 612 yards on 148 carries, 4.1-yard average Ed Ziegler - 483 yards on 94 carries, 5.1-yard averag Joe Theisman - 378 yards on 116 carries, 3.2-yard average Bill Barz - 362 yards on 90 carries, 4.0-yard average Bill Etter - 310 yards on 29 carries, 10.7-yard average Andy Huff - 265 yards on 69 carries, 3.8-yard average Mike Crotty - 183 yards on 43 carries, 4.3-yard average Jim Yoder - 130 yards on 23 carries, 5.6-yard average Receiving Thom Gatewood - 47 receptions for 743 yards, 15.8-yard average, 8 touchdowns Bill Barz - 24 receptions for 262 yards, 10.9-yard average, 2 touchdowns Denny Allan - 11 receptions for 199 yards, 18.1-yard average, 0 touchdowns Dewey Poskon - 13 receptions for 175 yards, 13.5-yard average, 0 touchdowns Ed Ziegler - 7 receptions for 116 yards, 16.7-yard average, 2 touchdowns Scoring Scott Hempel - 56 points, 5 of 7 field goals, 41 of 44 PAT Denny Allan - 54 points, 9 touchdowns Thom Gatewood - 48 points, 8 touchdowns Bill Barz - 42 points, 7 touchdowns Joe Theisman - 37 points, 6 touchdowns, 1 two-point conversion Andy Huff - 36 points, 6 touchdowns Ed Ziegler - 26 points, 4 touchdowns, 1 two-point conversion Bill Etter - 18 points, 3 touchdowns Tackles. Bob Olson - 142 Mike McCoy - 88 Kelly - 71 Mike Kadish - 68 Raterman - 67 1970 NFL draft 1970 NFL draft 2 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Player Position Round Pick Franchise Mike McCoy Guard 1 2 Green Bay Packers Jim Reilly Guard 3 57 Buffalo Bills Bob Olson Linebacker 5 107 Boston Patriots Mike Oriard Center 5 130 Kansas City Chiefs Terry Brennan Tackle 7 158 Philadelphia Eagles References Notre Dame Category:Notre Dame Fighting Irish football seasons Notre Dame Fighting Irish football