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1987 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team

American college football season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 1987 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team was an American football team that represented the University of Notre Dame as an independent during the 1987 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their second year under head coach Lou Holtz, the Irish compiled an 8–4 record, outscored opponents by a total of 329 to 183, and were ranked No. 17 in the final AP poll. They opened the season with victories over No. 9 Michigan and No. 17 Michigan State, were ranked as high as No. 4, and lost the last three games of the season to unranked Penn State, No. 2 Miami (FL), and in the Cotton Bowl to No. 13 Texas A&M.[1][2]

ConferenceIndependent
APNo. 17
Record8–4
Headcoach
Quick facts Notre Dame Fighting Irish football, Cotton Bowl Classic, L 10–35 vs. Texas A&M ...
1987 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Cotton Bowl Classic, L 10–35 vs. Texas A&M
ConferenceIndependent
Ranking
APNo. 17
Record8–4
Head coach
Offensive schemeWishbone triple option
Defensive coordinatorFoge Fazio (2nd season)
Base defense4–3
MVPTim Brown
Captains
Home stadiumNotre Dame Stadium
Seasons
← 1986
1988 →
Close
More information Conf., Overall ...
1987 NCAA Division I-A independents football records
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 1 Miami (FL) – – 12–0–0
No. 4 Syracuse – – 11–0–1
No. 2 Florida State – – 11–1–0
No. 15 South Carolina – – 8–4–0
Pittsburgh – – 8–4–0
Penn State – – 8–4–0
No. 17 Notre Dame – – 8–4–0
Southern Miss – – 6–5–0
Rutgers – – 6–5–0
Southwestern Louisiana – – 6–5–0
Memphis State – – 5–5–1
Northern Illinois – – 5–5–1
West Virginia – – 6–6–0
Tulane – – 6–6–0
Army – – 5–6–0
Boston College – – 5–6–0
East Carolina – – 5–6–0
Akron – – 4–7–0
Cincinnati – – 4–7–0
Louisville – – 3–7–1
Temple – – 3–8–0
Tulsa – – 3–8–0
Virginia Tech – – 2–9–0
Navy – – 2–9–0
Rankings from AP Poll
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Wide receiver and return specialist Tim Brown tallied 1,843 all-purpose yards (including 846 receiving and 857 on kickoff and punt returns),[3] won the Heisman Trophy, and was a consensus first-team pick on the 1987 All-America college football team.[4]

Center Chuck Lanza also received first-team All-America honors from Football News and the NEA. Linebacker Ned Bolcar was named the CBS/Chevrolet Defensive Player of the Year.[5] The team's other statistical leaders during the regular season included quarterbacks Tony Rice (663 passing yards, 104.9 passer rating) and Terry Andrysiak (480 passing yards, 122.3 passer rating), running back Mark Green (861 rushing yards), kicker Tim Gradel (75 points scored, 33 of 33 PAT, 14 of 18 field goals), and Bolcar (106 tackles).[6][7]

The team played its home games at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana.

Schedule

More information Date, Time ...
DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 123:30 p.m.at No. 9 MichiganNo. 16
ABCW 26–7106,098[8]
September 197:45 p.m.No. 17 Michigan StateNo. 9
ESPNW 31–859,075[9]
September 2612:00 p.m.at PurdueNo. 8
W 44–2068,528[10]
October 107:00 p.m.at PittsburghNo. 4
ESPNL 22–3056,400[11]
October 173:30 p.m.at Air ForceNo. 11
W 35–1451,112[12]
October 242:30 p.m.USCNo. 10
  • Notre Dame Stadium
  • Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)
CBSW 26–1559,075[13]
October 3112:00 p.m.NavyNo. 9
  • Notre Dame Stadium
  • Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)
W 56–1359,075[14]
November 712:00 p.m.Boston CollegeNo. 9
  • Notre Dame Stadium
  • Notre Dame, IN (Holy War)
W 32–2559,075[15]
November 142:30 p.m.No. 10 AlabamaNo. 7
  • Notre Dame Stadium
  • Notre Dame, IN
CBSW 37–659,075[16]
November 2112:00 p.m.at Penn StateNo. 7
CBSL 20–2184,000[17]
November 283:30 p.m.at No. 2 Miami (FL)No. 10
CBSL 0–2476,640[18]
January 1, 19881:30 p.m.vs. No. 13 Texas A&MNo. 12
CBSL 10–3573,006[19]
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Game summaries

At Michigan

#16 Notre Dame at #9 Michigan
More information Team, Total ...
Team 1 234Total
• Notre Dame 10 079 26
Michigan 0 070 7
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Scoring summary
Q1NDGradel 44 yard field goalND 3–0
Q1NDT. Brown 11 yard pass from Andrysiak (Gradel kick)ND 10–0
Q3NDBanks 1 yard run (Gradel kick)ND 17–0
Q3MICHMcMurtry 12 yard pass from D. Brown (Gillette kick)ND 17–7
Q4NDGradel 38 yard field goalND 20–7
Q4NDWatters 18 yard run (pass failed)ND 26–7
See also: 1987 Michigan Wolverines football team and Michigan–Notre Dame football rivalry

Terry Andrysiak completed 11 of 15 passes for 137 yards and a touchdown while Notre Dame converted four of Michigan's seven turnovers into scores.

[20]

Michigan State

More information Team, Total ...
Team 1 234Total
Michigan St 0 008 8
• Notre Dame 19 570 31
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Scoring summary
Q1NDEzor downed ball in end zoneND 2–0
Q1NDGradel 27 yard field goalND 5–0
Q1NDBrown 71 yard punt return (Gradel kick)ND 12–0
Q1NDBrown 66 yard punt return (Gradel kick)ND 19–0
Q2NDMcAllister tackled in end zoneND 21–0
Q2NDGradel 37 yard field goalND 24–0
Q3NDJohnson 3 yard run (Gradel kick)ND 31–0
Q4MSURison 57 yard pass from McAllister (Wilson pass from McAllister)ND 31–8
See also: 1987 Michigan State Spartans football team and Michigan State–Notre Dame football rivalry

Purdue

More information Team, Total ...
Team 1 234Total
• Notre Dame 10 71413 44
Purdue 0 1730 20
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Scoring summary
Q1NDGradel 35 yard field goalND 3–0
Q1NDJohnson 6 yard run (Gradel kick)ND 10–0
Q2PURSchumacher 4 yard pass from Downing (Briggs kick)ND 10–7
Q2PURC. Williams 20 yard pass from Downing (Briggs kick)PUR 14–10
Q2PURBriggs 18 yard field goalPUR 17–10
Q2NDJohnson 1 yard run (Gradel kick)Tie 17–17
Q3PURBriggs 50 yard field goalPUR 20–17
Q3NDJohnson 8 yard run (Gradel kick)ND 24–20
Q3NDBrown 49 yard pass from Andrysiak (Gradel kick)ND 31–20
Q4NDGradel 28 yard field goalND 34–20
Q4NDGradel 44 yard field goalND 37–20
Q4NDSouthall 57 yard interception return (Gradel kick)ND 44–20

[21]

Pittsburgh


Air Force

More information Team, Total ...
Team 1 234Total
• Notre Dame 14 0147 35
Air Force 0 707 14
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Scoring summary
Q1NDRice 1 yard run (Gradel kick)ND 7–0
Q1NDRice 4 yard run (Gradel kick)ND 14–0
Q2AFABooker 4 yard run (Yarborough kick)ND 14–7
Q3NDJohnson 1 yard run (Gradel kick)ND 21–7
Q3NDBanks 1 yard run (Gradel kick)ND 28–7
Q4AFADowis 1 yard run (Yarborough kick)ND 28–14
Q4NDBrown 74 yard punt return (Gradel kick)ND 35–14

[22]

USC

More information Team, Total ...
Team 1 234Total
USC 7 008 15
• Notre Dame 3 1760 26
Close
Scoring summary
Q1USCJackson 9 yard pass from Peete (Rodriguez kick)USC 7–0
Q1NDGradel 26 yard field goalUSC 7–3
Q2NDRice 26 yard run (Gradel kick)ND 10–7
Q2NDT. Brown 5 yard run (Gradel kick)ND 17–7
Q2NDGradel 32 yard field goalND 20–7
Q3NDGreen 11 yard run (run failed)ND 26–7
Q4USCLockwood 5 yard run (Tanner pass from Peete)ND 26–15

[23]

More information Team, Total ...
Team 1 234Total
Navy 0 607 13
• Notre Dame 14 21147 56
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Scoring summary
Q1NDJohnson 6 yard run (Gradel kick)ND 7–0
Q1NDJohnson 9 yard run (Gradel kick)ND 14–0
Q2NDGreen 21 yard run (Gradel kick)ND 21–0
Q2NAVYFundoukos 43 yard field goalND 21–3
Q2NDJohnson 1 yard run (Gradel kick)ND 28–3
Q2NAVYFundoukos 31 yard field goalND 28–6
Q2NDBrown 51 yard pass from Graham (Gradel kick)ND 35–6
Q3NDJohnson 2 yard run (Gradel kick)ND 42–6
Q3NDWatters 6 yard run (Gradel kick)ND 49–6
Q4NDBrooks 4 yard run (Gradel kick)ND 56–6
Q4NAVYSims 4 yard run (Fundoukos kick)ND 56–13

[24]

Boston College

More information Team, Total ...
Team 1 234Total
Boston College 7 1080 25
• Notre Dame 6 01214 32
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Scoring summary
Q1NDGradel 21 yard field goalND 3–0
Q1BCHudginson 3 yard pass from Power (Lowe kick)BC 7–3
Q1NDGradel 21 yard field goalBC 7–6
Q2BCLowe 31 yard field goalBC 10–6
Q2BCBell 11 yard run (Lowe kick)BC 17–6
Q3NDGreen 33 yard run (run failed)BC 17–12
Q310:02BCFlutie 31 yard pass from Parker (Power run)BC 25–12
Q3NDJohnson 1 yard run (run failed)BC 25–18
Q4NDBraxston 1 yard run (Gradel kick)Tie 25–25
Q4NDGreen 2 yard run (Gradel kick)ND 32–25
  • ND: Mark Green 152 Rush Yds
  • ND: Tim Brown 294 all-purpose Yds

[25]

Alabama

More information Team, Total ...
Team 1 234Total
Alabama 3 300 6
• Notre Dame 3 17314 37
Close
Scoring summary
Q1ALADoyle 34 yard field goalALA 3–0
Q1NDGradel 49 yard field goalTie 3–3
Q2NDRice 12 yard run (Gradel kick)ND 10–3
Q2NDHeck 3 yard pass from Rice (Gradel kick)ND 17–3
Q2NDGradel 21 yard field goalND 20–3
Q2ALADoyle 28 yard field goalND 20–6
Q3NDGradel 22 yard field goalND 23–6
Q4NDGreen 74 yard run (Gradel kick)ND 30–6
Q4NDWatters 75 yard run (Gradel kick)ND 37–6

[26]

Penn State

Miami (FL)

See also: 1987 Miami Hurricanes football team

Cotton Bowl

Roster

More information Players, Coaches ...
1987 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
WR 80 Steve Alaniz Jr
OT 72 Joe Allen
QB 2 Terry Andrysiak Sr
RB 39 Braxston Banks
QB 8 Steve Belles Jr
WR 81 Tim Brown Sr
QB 17 Kent Graham Fr
QB 11 Pete Graham Jr
RB 24 Mark Green Jr
OT 66 Andy Heck Jr
C 51 Chuck Lanza
QB 9 Tony Rice So
RB 12 Ricky Watters Fr
 Defense
Pos.#NameClass
DT 90 Jeff Alm So
LB 47 Ned Bolcar So
DT 67 Bob Dahl Fr
SS 26 Greg Davis
SS 13 Pat Eilers Jr
LB 48 Cedric Figaro Sr
DE 92 Bryan Flannery
CB 32 D’Juan Francisco Jr
LB 36 Donn Grimm
DE 38 Darrell Gordon Jr
LB 7 Andre Jones Fr
LB 37 Scott Kowalkowski Fr
CB 1 Todd Lyght Fr
LB 34 Wes Pritchett Jr
LB 40 Tim Ryan Fr
FS 15 Pat Terrell So
CB 5 Brandy Wells Sr
 Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt
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Team players drafted into the NFL

The following players were drafted into professional football following the season.

More information Player, Position ...
Player Position Round Pick Franchise
Tim BrownWide Receiver16Los Angeles Raiders
Tom RedehrTackle369New England Patriots
Chuck LanzaCenter370Pittsburgh Steelers
Cedric FigaroLinebacker6152San Diego Chargers
Brandy WellsDefensive Back9226Cincinnati Bengals
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[27]

References

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