1935 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team

American college football season August 2023 January 2026 1935 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football 1935 Notre Dame starting lineup vs Northwestern.png 285 Starting lineup for Northwestern Independent 7–1–1 Elmer Layden 2nd Joe Sullivan Notre Dame Stadium The 1935 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team was an American football team that represented the University of Notre Dame as an independent during the 1935 college football season. In their second season under head coach Elmer Layden, the Fighting Irish compiled a 7–1–1 record, outscored opponents by a total of 143 to 62, and were ranked No. 8 in the final United Press (UP) poll. Against ranked opponents, they defeated Big Ten co-champion Ohio State (No. 5 in the final UP poll) and Pittsburgh (No. 10 in the final UP poll), lost to Northwestern (No. 16 in the final UP poll), and tied with Army (No. 18 in the final UP poll).1935 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 11, 2026 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/notre-dame/1935-schedule.htmlSouthern Cal. Sidelights Jim Waldron The Notre Dame Scholastic November 29, 1935 18 https://archives.nd.edu/Football/Football-1935s.pdf Notre Dame Archives The victory over Ohio State, which included a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback, became known as the "Game of the Century". End Wayne Millner and halfback/punter William Shakespeare received first-team honors on the 1935 All-America college football team. The team captain Joe Sullivan died before the season began. The team played its home games at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana. Schedule September 28 w Kansas Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN 28–7 11,102–25,000 Notre Dame Whips Kansas, 28 to 7: 25,000 Watch Ramblers Win in First Game The South Bend Tribune Jack Ledden September 29, 1935 1 (section 1), 1 (section 3) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-notre-dame-whips/201544983/ Newspapers.com October 5 w y Carnegie Tech Pittsburgh, PA 14–3 27,542–40,000 Notre Dame Downs Tartans, 14 to 3: Shakespeare Is Star As Skibos Fall; Brilliant Halfback Runs 23 Yards to Score Winning Points; 40,000 See Game The Pittsburgh Press Chester L. Smith October 6, 1935 1 (sports) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-notre-dame-downs-ta/201553410/ Newspapers.com October 12 w y Wisconsin Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 27–0 19,863 Brilliant Irish Eleven Whips Wisconsin, 27 to 0: Badgers In Better Form, Get Cheers The Capital Times Hank Casserly October 13, 1935 1 (sports) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-capital-times-brilliant-irish-eleven/201554470/ Newspapers.com October 19 w Pittsburgh Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry 9–6 39,989–51,000 Notre Dame Beats Pitt, 9-6: Peters Kicks Goal to Give Irish Victory; Boots Ball 37 Yards as 51,000 Fans Cheer The South Bend Tribune Jack Ledden October 20, 1935 1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-notre-dame-beats/201549354/ Newspapers.com October 26 w y Navy Municipal Stadium Baltimore, MD rivalry 14–0 57,810–65,000 Notre Dame Defeats Naval Eleven, 14 to 0; 65,000 Witness Contest; two Aerial Attacks in Second Period Bring Football Triumph The Baltimore Sun October 27, 1935 1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-notre-dame-defeats-nav/201553974/ Newspapers.com November 2 w y Ohio State Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH 18–13 81,018 N.D. Downs Ohio State, 18-13: Irish Nose Out Buckeyes in Last Period; 80,000 Are Dazzled as Ramblers Open Passing Attack The South Bend Tribune Jack Ledden November 3, 1935 1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-nd-downs-ohio-s/201565660/ Newspapers.comRockne Never Saw One Like This, Says Rice The South Bend Tribune Grantland Rice November 3, 1935 1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-nd-downs-ohio-s/201565660/ Newspapers.com November 9 l Northwestern Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry 7–14 34,430–35,000 Notre Dame Whipped, 14 to 7: Duvall Tears Line Apart as Wildcats Win; First Victory Over Irish Team in 34 Years The South Bend Tribune Jack Ledden November 10, 1935 1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-notre-dame-whippe/201549727/ Newspapers.com November 16 t y Army Yankee Stadium Bronx, NY rivalry 6–6 78,114–78,367 N.D. Pass Ties Army, 6-6: Penalty Trips Cadets In Last 20 Seconds New York Daily News Jimmy Powers November 17, 1935 34C https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-nd-pass-ties-army-6-6-pen/201552490/ Newspapers.com November 23 w USC Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry 20–13 38,305–50,000 Irish Win Last Game, 20-13: Beat Trojans with Rally in Second Half; No Rose Bowl Clash Likely; 50,000 See Contest The South Bend Tribune Jack Ledden November 24, 1935 1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-irish-win-last-ga/201550230/ Newspapers.com https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/notre-dame/1935-schedule.html 1935 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Schedule and Results | College Football at Sports-Reference.com sports-reference.com 2015-10-08 "Game of the Century" On November 2, 1935, Notre Dame defeated a previously undefeated and favored Ohio State team, 18–13, before a crowd of 81,018 spectators in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State scored less than three minutes after the game began. Still in the first half, the Buckeyes extended their lead by intercepting a Bill Shakespeare pass and returning it 50 yards for a second touchdown. Ohio State held the lead, 13–0, at the start of the fourth quarter. Notre Dame scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter, including two in the final five minutes of the period. With less than a minute to play, and Ohio State still leading by one point, Andy Pilney ran 52 yards through "a swarm" of Ohio State tacklers, advancing the ball to the Ohio State 18-yard line. Pilney was badly hurt on the play, and his "limp body" was carried from the field on a stretcher. With only a few seconds remaining, Notre Dame had time for one more play. Shakespeare threw an accurate 30-yard pass that was caught by a leaping Wayne Millner in the end zone for the winning touchdown. In his account of the game, sports columnist Grantland Rice called it "the greatest football victory in the long and brilliant history" of Notre Dame. The game became known as the "Game of the Century".Notre Dame's First "Game of the Century," 1935 Notre Dame July 12, 2026 https://125.nd.edu/moments/notre-dames-first-game-of-the-century-1935/1935: "The Game of the Century 247 Sports December 11, 2005 https://247sports.com/college/ohio-state/article/osu-nd-1935-the-game-of-the-century-104276374/They Relived College Football's Greatest Game Los Angeles Times July 21, 1985 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-07-21-sp-7084-story.html Newsreel footage of the game was even shown in movie theaters billed as "the game of the century"Pathe Pictures Ohio-Notre Dame Portage Register-Democrat November 9, 1935 3 https://www.newspapers.com/article/portage-daily-register-game-of-the-centu/201594859/ Newspapers.com and "The Football Battle of the Century".Advertisement The Xenia Gazette November 13, 1935 8 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-xenia-daily-gazette-notre-dame-ohi/201594698/ Newspapers.com Rankings Notre Dame was ranked in the top ten in several post-season rankings for 1935. They were rated No. 6 in the 1935 Boand System rankings;Gophers Rated Tops By Boand, Cards Are 10th The Arizona Daily Star December 6, 1935 10 https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-daily-star-gophers-rated-tops-by/124824402/ Newspapers.com No. 7 in the Toledo CupMinnesota, Princeton and Mustangs Lead for the Toledo Cup St. Louis Post-Dispatch December 22, 1935 3D https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-minnesota-princ/124794651/ Newspapers.com and Houlgate System rankings;Scoopin' Em Up The Greenville NEws December 10, 1935 9 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greenville-news-scoopin-em-up/124822301/ Newspapers.com No. 8 in the United Press poll;Minnesota Is Voted Mythical National Grid Championship Buffalo Evening News United Press George Kirksey December 12, 1935 40 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-buffalo-news-minnesota-is-voted-myth/124792025/ Newspapers.com and No. 9 in the Dickinson System rankings.So. Methodist Rated No. 1 by Dickinson The Chicago Daily Tribune December 10, 1935 21 https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-so-methodist-rated-no/124790872/ Newspapers.com Personnel Players The following players started at least one game for the 1935 Notre Dame team: Harry Becker, right guard Fred Carideo, right halfback and fullback Church, left guard Don Elser, fullback Wally Fromhart, quarterback Frank Kopczak, right tackle John Lautar, left guard Mike Layden, right halfback and fullback James "Pepper" Martin, right guard John Michuta, right tackle Wayne Millner, left end Marty Peters, right end Dick Pfefferle, left tackle Henry Pojman, center William Shakespeare, left halfback Fred Solari, center Ken Stilley, left tackle Victor Wojcihovski, right halfback The identity of starters is based on box scores in sources listed in the "Schedule" table. Coaching staff thumb|left|130px|Elmer Layden Head coach: Elmer Layden Athletic director: Elmer Layden Line coach: Joe Boland Backfield coach: Donald C. Grant Ends coach: Tom Conley Chief "B" squad coach: Bill Cerney Head freshman coach: Jake Kline Chief assistant freshman coach: Tom Gorman Asssitant freshman coaches: Paul E. Schrenker and Jack Robinson Layden Names Two New Coaches: Robinson, Schrenker Added to Irish Staff The South Bend Tribune August 15, 1935 2 (section 2) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-layden-names-two/201567000/ Newspapers.com Awards and honors Three Notre Dame players received recognition on the 1935 All-America college football team. End Wayne Millner, who caught the winning touchdown pass against Ohio State and was "a constant menace in every game," was a consensus first-team pick.Football Award Winners National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) 2016 October 21, 2017 7 http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2016/awards.pdfSix Midwest Stars on U.P. All American The Hammond Times November 29, 1935 13 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-up-all-american/201539178/ Newspapers.com Halfback William Shakespeare, known as the "Merchant of Menace" and the "Bard",The 'Merchant of Menace' Shows Punting Form: Shakespeare Is Candidate for All-American Elevens; Great Irish Halfback Is Best Punter in Nation The South Bend Tribune November 20, 1935 6 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-the-merchant-of/201539474/ Newspapers.com received first-team honors from the All-America BoardChristy Walsh Nine Colleges Gain Places on All-America Board's Selections for 1935: Stanford, Notre Dame Get Two Places Apiece The Springfield Sunday Union and Republican December 8, 1935 3B https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-springfield-daily-republican-nine-co/201555237/ Newspapers.com and the Walter Camp Football FoundationWalter Camp Football Foundation http://waltercamp.org/index.php/teams_and_awards// dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090330065940/http://waltercamp.org/index.php/teams_and_awards 2009-03-30 and second-team honors from the United Press.Stuart Cameron Grayson On U.P. All-American Team Oakland Tribune November 29, 1935 Shakespeare was rated as "the great star of the team", known for accurate downfield passing, blocking, rushing, and punting—kicking the ball as far as 80 yards.Notre Dame's Top Star This Year Was BIll Shakespeare The Springfield Daily News Francis J. Powers November 25, 1935 16 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-republican-notre-dames-top-star-thi/201568720/ Newspapers.com Halfback Andy Pilney received third-team honors from the Newspaper Enterprise Association.Bernard Bierman Southern Players Get Grid Spotlight The Maryville (MO) Daily Forum December 2, 1935 8 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/14263280/southern_players_get_grid_spotlight/ Newspapers.com Death of Joe Sullivan thumb|right|130px|Captain Joe Sullivan died before the season began Tackle Joe Sullivan was elected as the 1935 team captain in January 1935.Joe Sullivan To Lead Irish: Gridders Elect Huge Tackle Captain for 1935 The South Bend Tribune January 8, 1935 2 (sports) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-joe-sullivan/201544232/ Newspapers.com A short time after his selection as captain, Sullivan became ill with a "streptococcic" infection that spread to his brain. He underwent six surgeries, but the infection resulted in his death in March 1935.Sullivan, Notre Dame Captain, Dies The South Bend Tribune March 20, 1935 1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-sullivan-notre-d/201539953/ Newspapers.com Sullivan was the latest in a series of tragic deaths impacting Notre Dame football, including George Gipp, Knute Rockne, Bernard Kirk, Johnny Weibel, and Johnny Young. The South Bend Tribune wrote following Sullivan's death that Sullivan was now playing on "heaven's team" led by Rockne.Joe Sullivan Joins Rambler Stars on Rockne's Eleven The South Bend Tribune March 21, 1935 2 (sports) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-joe-sullivan-join/201583281/ Newspapers.com The captaincy of the 1935 team was left vacant in Sullivan's honor.Tribute Paid Sullivan Will Remain Captain of Fighting Irish: No Successor to Dead Notre Dame Grid Leader The Elkhart Truth March 21, 1935 11 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-truth-sullivan-will-remain-captain/201583825/ Newspapers.com The editor of The South Bend Tribune wrote in September 1935 that "his spirit will lead the Irish into battle."Irish Ready for Battle with Kansas The South Bend Tribune September 27, 1935 1 (sport section) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-irish-ready-for-b/201582393/ Newspapers.com References Notre Dame Category:Notre Dame Fighting Irish football seasons Notre Dame Fighting Irish football