1941 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team

American college football season August 2023 January 2026 1941 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football 1941 varsity team.png 285 Black and white photo showing a group photo of the 1941 Notre Dame Varsity Team Independent 3 8–0–1 Frank Leahy 1st Paul Lillis Notre Dame Stadium The 1941 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team was an American football team that represented the University of Notre Dame as an independent during the 1941 college football season. In its first season under head coach Frank Leahy, Notre Dame compiled an 8–0–1 record, outscored opponents by a total of 189 to 64, and was ranked No. 3 in the final AP poll.1941 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football September 10, 2019 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/notre-dame/1941-schedule.html Tackle Paul Lillis was the team captain. Quarterback Angelo Bertelli led the team on offense and went on to win the Heisman Trophy in 1943. End Bob Dove was a consensus first-team player on the 1941 All-America team; he was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Guard Bernie Crimmins was also selected by Collier's and Liberty magazines as a first-team All-American. Schedule 1941 AP September 27 w Arizona Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN 38–7 30,000 Irish Conquer Arizona, 38-7 The South Bend Tribune Jack Ledden September 28, 1941 Main 1, Sports 1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35831478/irish_conquer_arizona_387/ Newspapers.com (one-third of the crowd of 30,000 was admitted free of charge) October 4 w Indiana Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN 19–6 42,000 Irish Have Too Many Backs For Indiana, 19 to 6 Chicago Tribune Wilfrid Smith October 5, 1941 II-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35812644/irish_have_too_many_backs_for_indiana/ Newspapers.com October 11 w y Georgia Tech Grant Field Atlanta, GA rivalry 20–0 31,000 Irish Score in First Three Quarters To Beat Tech, 20 to 0: Juzwik's Long Jaunt Features Irish Victory The Atlanta Constitution Jack Troy October 12, 1941 2D https://www.newspapers.com/image/384665327 October 18 w y 8 Carnegie Tech Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA 16–0 27,719 Underdog Tartans Hold Notre Dame To 16-0 The Pittsburgh Press Eddie Beachler October 19, 1941 39 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35832191/underdog_tartans_hold_notre_dame_to_160/ Newspapers.com October 25 w 7 Illinois Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN 49–14 45,000–48,000 Irish Run Up 28 Points in Last Quarter To Rout Illinois, 49-14 Chicago Tribune Edward Burns October 26, 1941 II-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35812249/irish_run_up_28_points_in_last_quarter/ Newspapers.com November 1 t y 6 Army 14 Yankee Stadium Bronx, NY rivalry 0–0 76,000 Army Deflates ND To Gain 0-0 Tie; Mazur Is Star New York Daily News Gene Ward November 2, 1941 86 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35832325/army_deflates_nd_to_gain_00_tie_mazur/ Newspapers.com November 8 w y 7 Navy 6 Municipal Stadium Baltimore, MD rivalry 20–13 64,795 Notre Dame Beats Navy, 20 to 13, as Bertelli's Passes Spark Attack The Baltimore Sun November 9, 1941 1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35832449/notre_dame_beats_navy_20_to_13_as/ Newspapers.com November 15 w y 5 Northwestern 8 Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL rivalry 7–6 48,000 Notre Dame Wins, 7 to 6; Blocks N.U.'s Kick: Strategic Play Blocks N.U.'s Extra Point Kick, Wins for Irish Chicago Tribune Edward Burns November 16, 1941 II-1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/370954842/ Newspapers.com November 22 w 4 USC Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry 20–18 56,000 Notre Dame Unbeaten: Irish Edge Out U.S.C., 20-18, In Season's Final Chicago Tribune Arch Ward November 23, 1941 II-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35832609/notre_dame_unbeaten_irish_edge_out/ Newspapers.com Rankings 1941 college football rankings AP 1 8 8 7 6 7 5 4 4 (2) 3 Roster auto #AE9142 Captain Name Position Home TownPreparatory SchoolAgeWeight (in pounds)HeightExperience (# of seasons played)Number of Monograms won prior to this seasonAshbaugh, Russell Gilman Left HalfbackYoungstown, OhioSouth High School201765′9″00Barry, Norman JohnLeft EndChicago, IllinoisFenwick, Oak Park191745′8.5″10 Bereolos, HerculesRight GuardHammond, IndianaHammond High School221935′11″21Bertelli, Angelo BortoloLeft HalfbackWest Springfield, MassachusettsCathedral High School201756′.5″00Bolger, Matthew JosephRight EndNewark, New JerseySt. Benedict's Preparatory211906′1.5″00Brock, Thomas JamesCenterColumbus, NebraskaKramer High School211906′.5″10Brosey, Henry CliffordRight TackleOzone Park, New YorkBrooklyn Tech High School222306′1.5″21Brutz, James CharlesLeft TackleNiles, OhioWarren, Ohio High School222096′0″22Creevy, Richard CassellRight HalfChicago, IllinoisMt. Carmel High School201826′1″10Creevy, Thomas EdwinQuarterbackChicago, IllinoisMt. Carmel High School191855′11″00Crimmins, Bernard AnthonyRight GuardLouisville, KentuckySt. Xavier High School221855′11″22Cunningham, Paul StanleyCenterAlbany, New YorkWilliamsport, Pennsylvania211806′1″00Dove, Robert LeoLeft EndYoungstown, OhioSouth High School201886′1.5″11Earley, William JosephQuarterbackParkersburg, West VirginiaParkersburg High School201715′10″10 Ebli, Raymond HenryLeft TackleIronwood, MichiganSt. Ambrose High School212006′2″21Ellefsen, Charles RobertRight EndIronwood, MichiganWright High School201836′1″00Evans, Fred Owen Jr.FullbackSouth Bend, IndianaRiley High School211745′11″11Filley, Patrick JosephLeft GuardSouth Bend, IndianaCentral High School191785′8″00Girolami, Anthony GregoryQuarterbackChicago, IllinoisCrane Tech High School201936′.5″10Hargrave, Robert WebbQuarterbackEvansville, IndianaReitz Memorial High School211725′11″22Hines, Michael LeoRight TackleKewanna, IndianaKewanna High School212156′3″20Hogan, Donald JohnLeft HalfbackChicago, IllinoisSt. Ignatius High School201896′2″10Juzwik, Steve RobertRight HalfbackChicago, IllinoisDePaul Academy231855′8.5″21Kovatch, John GeorgeRight EndSouth Bend, IndianaWashington High School211816′2.5″21Kudlacz, Stanley AdamCenterChicago, IllinoisDePaul Academy191875′9″00Laiber, Joseph JamesRight GuardSouth Bend, IndianaWashington High School211755′10″21Lanahan, John FrancisCenterJacksonville, FloridaImmaculate Conception201886′1.5″10Lillis, Paul BernardRight TackleMt. Vernon, New YorkBennett, Buffalo New York202106′2″22Maddock, Robert CharlesLeft GuardSanta Ana, CaliforniaSanta Ana High School212026′0″21McBride, Robert JamesLeft GuardLancaster, OhioLogan High School182056′0″00McGinnis, John JamesRight EndChicago, IllinoisSt. George, Evanston, Illinois191856′2″00McLaughlin, David TennantRight GuardSouth Orange, New JerseyColumbia High School181905′11″00McNeill, Edward CharlesFullbackMidland, PennsylvaniaLincoln High School221936′1.5″20Miller, Creighton EugeneFullbackWilmington, DelawareAlexis I. DuPont181926′1″00Miller, Thomas SeeayRight HalfbackWilmington DelawareAlexis I. DuPont201836′1″10Murphy, George EdwardsRight EndSouth Bend, IndianaCentral High School201766′0″10Neff, Robert HudkinsRight TackleBuckhannon, West VirginiaBuckhannon-Upshur High School212306′1.5″11O'Brien, Richard CharlesRight EndPeoria, IllinoisSpalding Institute201786′2″10O'Reilly, Martin GordonCenterChicago, IllinoisMt. Carmel High School201856′2″21Patten, Paul EdwardsQuarterbackCanton, New YorkCanton High School201785′8″20Peasenelli, John JosephRight HalfbackRochester, PennsylvaniaRochester High School211765′10.5″10Perko, Thomas WilliamLeft EndChisholm, MinnesotaChisholm High School201856′1.5″10Postpupack, Joseph VictorFullbackMcAdoo, PennsylvaniaMcAdoo High School211906′0″20Prokop, Joseph MichaelFullbackCleveland, OhioCatholic Latin High School211966′1″20Riordan, Wilbur EugeneRight GuardSioux City, IowaEast High School221805′10.5″10Rymkus, LouisLeft TackleChicago, IllinoisTilden High School212256′4″10Smyth, William KrantzLeft EndCincinnati, OhioRoger Bacon High School192086′3″00Sullivan, Edward JosephLeft GuardBelle Harbor, New YorkSt. John's, Brooklyn211985′9.5″20Sullivan, Lawrence PatrickLeft TackleBrockton MassachusettsTilton, New Hampshire Preparatory212106′2″10Tessaro, Ed AlexanderRight HalfbackGreensburg, PennsylvaniaFranklin & Marshall Academy211905′11.5″00Walsh, Robert MichaelRight GuardSpringfield, IllinoisCathedral High School221935′11″10Warner, John Andrew Jr.Left HalfbackNew Haven, ConnecticutCheshire Academy201816′0″10Webb, Robert BaileyRight GuardSanta Ana, CaliforniaSanta Ana High School201905′10″10Wright, Harry CharlesQuarterbackHempstead, Long Island New YorkChaminade, Mineola211886'0″10Ziemba, Walter JohnCenterHammond, IndianaHammond High School222286′2.5″11November 1941 Football Issue https://archives.nd.edu/Football/Football-1941.pdf The Notre Dame Scholastic 75 9 References Notre Dame Category:Notre Dame Fighting Irish football seasons Category:College football undefeated seasons Notre Dame Fighting Irish football