Login
Login

1991 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team

{{short description|American college football season}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox college sports team season

| year = 1991

| team = Notre Dame Fighting Irish

| sport = football

| image =

| image_size =

| conference = Independent

| CoachRank = 12

| APRank = 13

| record = 10–3

| head_coach = Lou Holtz

| hc_year = 6th

| off_coach =

| oc_year =

| off_scheme =

| def_coach = Gary Darnell

| dc_year = 2nd

| def_scheme =

| captain = Rodney Culver

| stadium = Notre Dame Stadium

| champion = Sugar Bowl champion

| bowl = Sugar Bowl

| bowl_result = W 39–28 vs. Florida

}}

{{1991 NCAA Division I-A independents football records}}

The 1991 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame as an independent during the 1991 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by sixth-year head coach Lou Holtz, the Fighting Irish compiled a record of 10–3 with a win over Florida in the Sugar Bowl. The tam played home games at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana.

On September 7, NBC started televising Notre Dame's home games became the first NCAA Division I-A program to have all of its home games televised exclusively by one television network.{{cite news |last=Sandomir |first=Richard |title=College Football; Notre Dame Scored a $38 Million Touchdown on Its TV Deal |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE0D91038F936A1575BC0A967958260 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=August 25, 1991 |access-date=April 6, 2008 }}

Schedule

{{CFB schedule

| rankyear = 1991

| poll = AP

| timezone = Eastern

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 7

| time = 1:30 p.m.

| w/l = w

| rank = 7

| opponent = Indiana

| site_stadium = Notre Dame Stadium

| site_cityst = Notre Dame, IN

| tv = NBC

| score = 49–27

| attend = 59,075

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 14

| time = 3:30 p.m.

| w/l = l

| away = y

| rank = 7

| opponent = Michigan

| opprank = 3

| site_stadium = Michigan Stadium

| site_cityst = Ann Arbor, MI

| gamename = rivalry

| tv = ABC

| score = 14–24

| attend = 106,138

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 21

| time = 1:30 p.m.

| w/l = w

| rank = 11

| opponent = Michigan State

| site_stadium = Notre Dame Stadium

| site_cityst = Notre Dame, IN

| gamename = rivalry

| tv = NBC

| score = 49–10

| attend = 59,075

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 28

| time = 12:00 p.m.

| w/l = w

| away = y

| rank = 8

| opponent = Purdue

| site_stadium = Ross–Ade Stadium

| site_cityst = West Lafayette, IN

| gamename = rivalry

| tv = ABC

| score = 45–20

| attend = 67,861

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 5

| time = 11:00 p.m.

| w/l = w

| away = y

| rank = 8

| opponent = Stanford

| site_stadium = Stanford Stadium

| site_cityst = Stanford, CA

| gamename = rivalry

| tv = ESPN

| score = 42–26

| attend = 70,798

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 12

| time = 1:30 p.m.

| w/l = w

| rank = 7

| opponent = Pittsburgh

| opprank = 12

| site_stadium = Notre Dame Stadium

| site_cityst = Notre Dame, IN

| gamename = rivalry

| tv = NBC

| score = 42–7

| attend = 59,075

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 19

| time = 8:30 p.m.

| w/l = w

| away = y

| rank = 5

| opponent = Air Force

| site_stadium = Falcon Stadium

| site_cityst = Colorado Springs, CO

| gamename = rivalry

| tv = ESPN

| score = 28–15

| attend = 52,024

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 26

| time = 1:30 p.m.

| w/l = w

| rank = 5

| opponent = USC

| site_stadium = Notre Dame Stadium

| site_cityst = Notre Dame, IN

| gamename = rivalry

| tv = NBC

| score = 24–20

| attend = 59,075

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 2

| time = 4:00 p.m.

| w/l = w

| rank = 5

| opponent = Navy

| site_stadium = Notre Dame Stadium

| site_cityst = Notre Dame, IN

| gamename = rivalry

| tv = NBC

| score = 38–0

| attend = 59,075

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 9

| time = 1:30 p.m.

| w/l = l

| rank = 5

| opponent = Tennessee

| opprank = 13

| site_stadium = Notre Dame Stadium

| site_cityst = Notre Dame, IN

| tv = NBC

| score = 34–35

| attend = 59,075

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/bristol-herald-courier-vols-dance-an-iri/135099504/|work=Bristol Herald Courier|title=Vols dance an Irisg jig 35–34|date=November 10, 1991|accessdate=November 12, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 16

| time = 3:30 p.m.

| w/l = l

| away = y

| rank = 12

| opponent = Penn State

| opprank = 8

| site_stadium = Beaver Stadium

| site_cityst = University Park, PA

| gamename = rivalry

| tv = ABC

| score = 13–35

| attend = 96,672

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 30

| time = 11:00 p.m.

| w/l = w

| away = y

| rank = 18

| opponent = Hawaii

| site_stadium = Aloha Stadium

| site_cityst = Halawa, HI

| tv = ESPN

| score = 48–42

| attend = 50,000

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = {{dow tooltip|January 1, 1992}}, 1992

| time = 8:00 p.m.

| w/l = w

| neutral = y

| rank = 18

| opponent = Florida

| opprank = 3

| site_stadium = Louisiana Superdome

| site_cityst = New Orleans, LA

| gamename = Sugar Bowl

| tv = ABC

| score = 39–28

| attend = 76,447

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-irish-thwart-flo/135100487/|work=Wisconsin State Journal|title=Irish thwart Florida|date=January 2, 1992|accessdate=November 12, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

}}

Game summaries

=Indiana=

{{AFB game box start

|Title=

|Visitor=Hoosiers

|V1= 3|V2= 14|V3=3 |V4=7

|Host=Fighting Irish

|H1= 7|H2= 21|H3=14 |H4=7

|Date=September 7

|Location=Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN

|StartTime=

|TimeZone=

|ElapsedTime=

|Attendance=59,075

|Weather=

|Referee=

|TVAnnouncers=Dick Enberg, Bill Walsh, and John Dockery

|TVStation=NBC

}}

{{AFB game box scoring entry |FirstEntry=yes |Quarter=1 |Time= |Team=IND |Event=Bonnell 48 yard field goal |Score=IND 3–0 |LastEntry=}}

{{AFB game box scoring entry |FirstEntry= |Quarter=1 |Time= |Team=ND |Event= DuBose 49 yard interception return (Hentrich kick) |Score=ND 7–3 |LastEntry=}}

{{AFB game box scoring entry |FirstEntry= |Quarter=2 |Time= |Team=IND |Event= Green 5 yard run (Bonnell kick) |Score=IND 10–7 |LastEntry=}}

{{AFB game box scoring entry |FirstEntry= |Quarter=2 |Time= |Team=ND |Event=Culver 19 yard run (Hentrich kick) |Score=ND 14–10 |LastEntry=}}

{{AFB game box scoring entry |FirstEntry= |Quarter=2 |Time= |Team=IND |Event= Green 1 yard run (Bonnell kick) |Score=IND 17–14 |LastEntry=}}

{{AFB game box scoring entry |FirstEntry= |Quarter=2 |Time= |Team=ND |Event=Mirer 46 yard run (Hentrich kick) |Score=ND 21–17 |LastEntry=}}

{{AFB game box scoring entry |FirstEntry= |Quarter=2 |Time= |Team=ND |Event=T. Brooks 13 yard run (Hentrich kick) |Score=ND 28–17 |LastEntry=}}

{{AFB game box scoring entry |FirstEntry= |Quarter=3 |Time= |Team=IND |Event=Bonnell 29 yard field goal |Score= ND 28–20|LastEntry=}}

{{AFB game box scoring entry |FirstEntry= |Quarter=3 |Time= |Team=ND |Event= Mirer 6 yard run (Hentrich kick) |Score=ND 35–20 |LastEntry=}}

{{AFB game box scoring entry |FirstEntry= |Quarter=3 |Time= |Team=ND |Event= I. Smith 58 yard pass from Mirer (Hentrich kick) |Score=ND 42–20 |LastEntry=}}

{{AFB game box scoring entry |FirstEntry= |Quarter=4 |Time= |Team=IND |Event=Walker 5 yard pass from Green (Bonnell kick) |Score=ND 42–27 |LastEntry=}}

{{AFB game box scoring entry |FirstEntry= |Quarter=4 |Time= |Team=ND |Event=Mirer 1 yard run (Hentrich kick) |Score=ND 49–27|LastEntry=yes}}

{{AFB game box end}}

{{see also|1991 Indiana Hoosiers football team}}

Gainesville Sun. 1991 Sep 9. Retrieved 2018-Nov-03.

{{Clear}}

=At Michigan=

{{AFB game box start

|Title=

|Visitor=Fighting Irish

|V1=0 |V2=7 |V3=7 |V4=0

|Host=Wolverines

|H1=3 |H2=14 |H3=0 |H4=7

|Date=September 14

|Location=Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI

|StartTime=

|TimeZone=

|ElapsedTime=

|Attendance=

|Weather=

|Referee=

|TVAnnouncers=Brent Musburger, Dick Vermeil, and Cheryl Miller

|TVStation=ABC

}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |FirstEntry= yes|Quarter=1 |Time= |Team=MICH |Event= Carlson 23 yard field goal|Score= MICH 3–0}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=2 |Time= |Team=MICH |Event=Howard 29 yard run (Carlson kick) |Score= MICH 10–0}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=2 |Time= |Team=MICH |Event=Powers 16 yard run (Carlson kick) |Score=MICH 17–0}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=2 |Time= |Team=ND |Event=Bettis 3 yard pass from Mirer (Hentrich kick) |Score= MICH 17–7}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=3 |Time= |Team=ND |Event=T. Smith 35 yard pass from Mirer (Hentrich kick) |Score= MICH 17–14}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=4 |Time= |Team=MICH |Event=Howard 25 yard pass from Grbac (Carlson kick) |Score= MICH 24–14|LastEntry=yes}}

{{AFB game box end}}

{{see also|1991 Michigan Wolverines football team|Michigan–Notre Dame football rivalry}}

{{Clear}}

=Michigan State=

{{See also|1991 Michigan State Spartans football team|Michigan State–Notre Dame football rivalry}}

{{Clear}}

=At Purdue=

{{see also|1991 Purdue Boilermakers football team|Notre Dame–Purdue football rivalry}}

{{Clear}}

=At Stanford=

{{see also|1991 Stanford Cardinal football team|Notre Dame–Stanford football rivalry}}

{{Clear}}

=Pittsburgh=

{{see also|1991 Pittsburgh Panthers football team|Notre Dame–Pittsburgh football rivalry}}

{{Clear}}

=At Air Force=

{{see also|1991 Air Force Falcons football team}}

{{Clear}}

=USC=

{{see also|1991 USC Trojans football team|Notre Dame–USC football rivalry}}

{{Clear}}

=Navy=

{{see also|1991 Navy Midshipmen football team|Navy–Notre Dame football rivalry}}

{{Clear}}

=Tennessee=

=At Penn State=

{{see also|1991 Penn State Nittany Lions football team}}

{{Clear}}

=At Hawaii=

{{see also|1991 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football team}}

{{Clear}}

=Vs. Florida (Sugar Bowl)=

{{AFB game box start

|Title=

|Visitor=Fighting Irish

|V1=0 |V2=7 |V3=10 |V4=22

|Host=Gators

|H1=10 |H2=6 |H3=0 |H4=12

|Date=September 14

|Location=Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, LA

|StartTime=

|TimeZone=

|ElapsedTime=

|Attendance=76,447

|Weather=Indoors

|Referee=

|TVAnnouncers=Al Michaels, Frank Gifford, Dan Dierdorf

|TVStation=ABC

}}

{{AFB game box end}}

{{main|1992 Sugar Bowl}}

{{see also|1991 Florida Gators football team}}

{{cite news |title=Notre Dame Beats Florida, 39-28, Proves It Belongs |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-01-02-sp-7570-story.html |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=January 2, 1992 |access-date=November 10, 2019}}

{{Clear}}

Roster

{{American football roster/Header

| year = 1991

| team = Notre Dame Fighting Irish

| teamcolors = f

| offensive_players=

{{American football roster/Player|num=6|class=So|first=Jerome|last=Bettis|pos=FB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=40|class=Jr|first=Tony|last=Brooks|dab=Tony Brooks (American football)|pos=RB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=86|class=Sr|first=Derek|last=Brown|dab=Derek Brown (tight end)|pos=TE|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=5|class=Sr|first=Rodney|last=Culver|pos=RB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=87|class=So|first=Lake|last=Dawson|pos=WR|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=10|class=Jr|first=Adrian|last=Jarrell|pos=WR}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=65|class=Jr|first=Lindsay|last=Knapp|pos=T|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=80|class=So|first=Oscar|last=McBride|pos=TE|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=76|class=Sr|first=Gene|last=McGuire|pos=C|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=3|class=Jr|first=Rick|last=Mirer|pos=QB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=15|class=Sr|first=Mike|last=O'Neill|pos=FB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=61|class=So|first=Tim|last=Ruddy|pos=G|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=84|class=Jr|first=Irv|last=Smith Sr.|pos=TE|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=75|class=So|first=Aaron|last=Taylor|dab=Aaron Taylor (American football, born 1972)|pos=G|link=y}}

| defensive_players=

{{American football roster/Player|num=47|class=So|first=Pete|last=Bercich|pos=LB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=9|class=So|first=Jeff|last=Burris|pos=S|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=13|class=So|first=Tom|last=Carter|dab=Tom Carter (American football)|pos=CB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=32|class=So|first=Willie|last=Clark|dab=Willie Clark (American football)|pos=FS|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=29|class=So|first=John|last=Covington|pos=CB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=31|class=Jr|first=Demetrius|last=DuBose|pos=LB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=44|class=So|first=Jim|last=Flanigan|pos=LB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=55|class=So|first=Oliver|last=Gibson|dab=Oliver Gibson (American football)|pos=DT|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=25|class=Jr|first=Mike|last=Lalli|pos=FS}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=89|class=Jr|first=Karmeeleyah|last=McGill|pos=LB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=46|class=Jr|first=Brian|last=Ratigan|pos=LB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=21|class=Sr|first=Rod|last=Smith|dab=Rod Smith (defensive back)|pos=CB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=97|class=So|first=Bryant|last=Young|pos=DT|link=y}}

| special_teams_players=

{{American football roster/Player|num=28|class=Jr|first=Craig|last=Hentrich|pos=P|link=y}}

}}

{{American football roster/Footer

| head_coach = *Lou Holtz

| asst_coach =

| accessdate=

}}

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Notre Dame Fighting Irish football navbox}}

Notre Dame

Category:Sugar Bowl champion seasons

Category:Notre Dame Fighting Irish football seasons

Notre Dame Fighting Irish football

{{collegefootball-1991-season-stub}}