1981 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team

American college football season August 2023 January 2026 1981 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football Independent 5–6 Gerry Faust 1st Tom Lichtenberg 1st Jim Johnson Bob Crable Phil Carter Notre Dame Stadium The 1981 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team was an American football team that represented the University of Notre Dame as an independent during the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their first year under head coach Gerry Faust, the Irish compiled a 5–6 record, outscored opponents by a total of 232 to 160, and were unranked in the final AP and UPI polls. After defeating LSU in the season opener, the Irish were ranked No. 1 in the AP poll, but they lost four of the next five games and fell out of the rankings. They lost all five games against ranked opponents: No. 11 Michigan, No. 20 Florida State, No. 5 USC, No. 13 Penn State, and No. 9 Miami (FL).1981 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Schedule and Results https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/notre-dame/1981-schedule.html Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 24, 2026Irish Eye, vol. 2, No. 1 University of Notre Dame Sports Information Department March 1, 1982 https://archives.nd.edu/Football/Football-1981.pdf Notre Dame Archives It was Notre Dame's first losing season since 1963. Linebacker and co-captain Bob Crable was a consensus first-team pick on the 1981 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 Defensive back John Krimm also received first-team All-America honors from multiple selectors. The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Blair Kiel (936 passing yards), running back and co-captain Phil Carter (727 rushing yards), wide receiver Joe Howard (463 receiving yards, 27.2-yard average), kicker Harry Oliver (46 points scored, 28 of 30 PAT, 5 of 13 field goals), and Crable (167 tackles, 16 tackles for loss).1981 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Stats https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/notre-dame/1981.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 1981 AP Eastern September 12 2:30 p.m. w 4 LSU Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN 27–9 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kokomo-tribune-inspired-irish-pound/134478343/ The Kokomo Tribune Inspired Irish pound LSU, 27–9 September 13, 1981 November 1, 2023 Newspapers.com September 19 1:50 p.m. l y 1 Michigan 11 Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI rivalry ABC 7–25 105,888 https://www.newspapers.com/article/herald-and-review-michigan-smashes-notre/158212139/ Herald and Review Michigan smashes Notre Dame 25–7 September 20, 1981 October 31, 2024 Newspapers.com September 26 2:30 p.m. l y 13 Purdue Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN rivalry 14–15 70,007 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kokomo-tribune-purdue-upsets-irish/158212181/ The Kokomo Tribune Purdue upsets Irish September 27, 1981 October 31, 2024 Newspapers.com October 3 2:30 p.m. w Michigan State Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry 20–7 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-irish-bell-run-past-mic/158212252/ Chicago Tribune Irish, Bell run past Michigan St. October 4, 1981 October 31, 2024 Newspapers.com October 10 2:30 p.m. l Florida State 20 Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry 13–19 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tampa-bay-times-fsu-slays-irish-1913/158212298/ St. Petersburg Times FSU slays Irish 19–13 October 11, 1981 October 31, 2024 Newspapers.com October 24 2:30 p.m. l USC 5 Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry 7–14 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-muskegon-chronicle-trojans-defeat-ir/158212344/ The Muskegon Chronicle Trojans defeat Irish in bout of heavyweights October 25, 1981 October 31, 2024 Newspapers.com October 31 1:30 p.m. w Navy Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry 38–0 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-recorder-notre-dame-rips-midsh/158212403/ The Times Recorder Notre Dame rips Midshipmen 38–0 November 1, 1981 October 31, 2024 Newspapers.com November 7 1:30 p.m. w Georgia Tech Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry 35–3 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-vincennes-sun-commercial-notre-dame/151990299/ The Vincennes Sun-Commercial Notre Dame unveils 'Small Wonder' November 8, 1981 July 25, 2024 Newspapers.com November 14 3:00 p.m. w y Air Force Falcon Stadium Colorado Springs, CO rivalry 35–7 36,800 Irish Explode Late To Smash Air Force, 35–7 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87470092/ October 20, 2021 The Cincinnati Enquirer November 15, 1981 C9 Newspapers.com November 21 1:00 p.m. l y Penn State 13 Beaver Stadium University Park, PA rivalry 21–24 84,175 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-enquirer-notre-dame-inche/158212483/ The Cincinnati Enquirer Notre Dame inches and 3 points shy at Penn State November 22, 1981 October 31, 2024 Newspapers.com November 27 3:00 p.m. l y Miami (FL) 9 Miami Orange Bowl Miami, FL rivalry ABC 15–37 50,681 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-um-goes-out-in-style-3/158212585/ The Miami Herald UM goes out in style, 37–15 November 29, 1981 October 31, 2024 Newspapers.com 1981 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football October 31, 2024 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/notre-dame/1981-schedule.html Roster 1981 Notre Dame Fighting Irish f 82 Fr Mark Bavaro TE y 28 So Greg Bell Greg Bell (running back, born 1962) RB y Jr Phil Carter RB y Phil Carter (Canadian football) C 85 Jr Tony Hunter Tony Hunter (tight end) TE y 5 So Blair Kiel QB y 39 Jr Larry Moriarty RB y 71 Sr Phil Pozderac OT y 57 Jr Mark Fischer C n 75 Fr Larry Williams Larry Williams (American football) OG y 9 So Chris Brown Chris Brown (defensive back) DB y 91 Jr Bob Clasby DT y 43 Sr Bob Crable LB y C 22 Jr Dave Duerson S y 78 Fr Mike Gann DE y 55 Fr Mike Golic DT y 19 Sr John Krimm CB y 30 So Stacey Toran CB y 3 Sr Herry Oliver K *Gerry Faust Tom Lichtenberg (OC) Jim Johnson (DC) 2015-12-20 Statistics Passing Blair Kiel - 67 of 151 (.444 completion percentage) for 936 yards, 7 touchdowns, 10 interceptions Tim Koegel - 50 of 92 (.543 completion percentage) for 686 yards, 5 touchdowns, 4 interceptions Irish Eye, p. 48. Rushing Phil Carter - 727 yards, 4.4-yard average, 6 touchdowns Greg Bell - 512 yards, 5.6-yard average, 4 touchdowns John Sweeney - 168 yards, 4.7-yard average, 0 touchdowns Chris Smith - 161 yards, 3.9-yard average, 1 touchdown Mark Brooks - 126 yards, 5.2-yard average, 1 touchdown Receiving Tony Hunter - 28 receptions for 397 yards, 2 touchdowns Joe Howard - 17 receptions for 463 yards, 3 touchdowns Phil Carter - 14 receptions for 57 yards, 0 touchdowns Dean Masztak - 13 receptions for 163 yards, 1 touchdown Greg Bell - 11 receptions for 135 yards, 0 touchdowns John Sweeney, 9 receptions for 124 yards, 1 touchdown Scoring Harry Oliver - 46 points, 28 of 30 PAT, 6 of 13 field goals Phil Carter - 36 points, 6 touchdowns Greg Bell - 30 points, 5 touchdowns Joe Howard - 24 points, 4 touchdowns Tackles Bob Crable - 167 Mark Zavagnin - 94 Griffith - 63 Bob Clasby - 56 Dave Duerson - 55 Stacey Toran - 54 1982 NFL draft The following Notre Dame players were selected in the 1982 NFL draft: Bob Crable - 1982 / Round: 1 / Pick: 23 New York Jets John Krimm - 1982 / Round: 3 / Pick: 76 New Orleans Saints Phil Pozderac - 1982 / Round: 5 / Pick: 137 Dallas Cowboys References Notre Dame Category:Notre Dame Fighting Irish football seasons Notre Dame Fighting Irish football