1990 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team
American college football season
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The 1990 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team was an American football team that represented the University of Notre Dame as an independent during the 1990 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their fifth year under head coach Lou Holtz, the Irish compiled a 9–3 record, outscored opponents by a total of 350 to 249, and were ranked No. 6 in the final AP and UPI polls. Ranked No. 1 in the preseason AP poll, the Irish dropped to No. 8 after losing to unranked Stanford, but regained the No. 1 spot after defeating No. 1 Miami (FL). They then lost two of the last three games, including a loss to No. 1 Colorado in the Orange Bowl.[1][2]
| 1990 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football | |
|---|---|
| Conference | Independent |
| Ranking | |
| Coaches | No. 6 |
| AP | No. 6 |
| Record | 9–3 |
| Head coach |
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| Offensive scheme | Wishbone triple option |
| Defensive coordinator | Gary Darnell (1st season) |
| Base defense | 4–3 |
| MVP | Rocket Ismail |
| Captains |
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| Home stadium | Notre Dame Stadium |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 14 Louisville | – | 10 | – | 1 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 3 Miami (FL) | – | 10 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 4 Florida State | – | 10 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 6 Notre Dame | – | 9 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 11 Penn State | – | 9 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Louisiana Tech | – | 8 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Southern Miss | – | 8 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Temple | – | 7 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Syracuse | – | 7 | – | 4 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Army | – | 6 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northern Illinois | – | 6 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| South Carolina | – | 6 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Virginia Tech | – | 6 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| East Carolina | – | 5 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Southwestern Louisiana | – | 5 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Navy | – | 5 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Memphis State | – | 4 | – | 6 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boston College | – | 4 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tulane | – | 4 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| West Virginia | – | 4 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Akron | – | 3 | – | 7 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pittsburgh | – | 3 | – | 7 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rutgers | – | 3 | – | 8 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tulsa | – | 3 | – | 8 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cincinnati | – | 1 | – | 10 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rankings from AP Poll | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Senior nose tackle Chris Zorich won the Lombardi Award and was selected as the team's most valuable player. Wide receiver and return specialist Rocket Ismail finished second in the Heisman trophy voting. Zorich, Ismail, linebacker Michael Stonebreaker, and defensive back Todd Lyght were consensus first-team picks on the 1990 All-America college football team. The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Rick Mirer (1,824 passing yards), running back Rodney Culver (710 rushing yards), Ismail (1,723 all-purpose yards), and Stonebreaker (95 tackles).[3][4]
The team played its home games at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana.
Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 15 | 8:00 p.m. | No. 4 Michigan | No. 1 | CBS | W 28–24 | 59,075 | [5] | |
| September 22 | 2:30 p.m. | at No. 24 Michigan State | No. 1 | ABC | W 20–19 | 80,401 | [6] | |
| September 29 | 12:00 p.m. | Purdue | No. 1 |
| SportsChannel | W 37–11 | 59,075 | [7] |
| October 6 | 12:00 p.m. | Stanford | No. 1 |
| L 31–36 | 59,075 | [8] | |
| October 13 | 12:00 p.m. | Air Force | No. 8 |
| W 57–27 | 59,075 | [9] | |
| October 20 | 2:30 p.m. | No. 2 Miami (FL) | No. 6 |
| CBS | W 29–20 | 59,075 | [10] |
| October 27 | 6:45 p.m. | at Pittsburgh | No. 3 | ESPN | W 31–22 | 56,500 | [11] | |
| November 3 | 12:00 p.m. | vs. Navy | No. 2 | W 52–31 | 70,382 | [12] | ||
| November 10 | 2:30 p.m. | at No. 9 Tennessee | No. 1 | CBS | W 34–29 | 97,123 | [13] | |
| November 17 | 4:00 p.m. | No. 18 Penn State | No. 1 |
| ESPN | L 21–24 | 59,075 | [14] |
| November 24 | 8:00 p.m. | at No. 18 USC | No. 7 | ABC | W 10–6 | 91,639 | [15] | |
| January 1, 1991 | 8:00 p.m. | vs. No. 1 Colorado | No. 5 | NBC | L 9–10 | 77,062 | [16] | |
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Game summaries
Michigan
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 3 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 24 |
| Notre Dame | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 28 |
at Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Indiana
- Date: September 15
- Game time: 8:05 p.m. EST
- Game attendance: 59,075
- Box Score
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Michigan State
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Fighting Irish | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 21 |
| Spartans | 0 | 12 | 7 | 0 | 19 |
- Date: September 22
- Location: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI
- Game start: 3:30 p.m. EST
- TV announcers (ABC): Keith Jackson and Bob Griese
| 1 | ND | Watters 5 yard run (Hentrich kick) | ND 7-0 | |
| 2 | MSU | Langeloh 42 yard field goal | ND 7-3 | |
| 2 | MSU | Safety, blocked punt out of end zone | ND 7-5 | |
| 2 | MSU | Hickson 1 yard run (Langeloh kick) | MSU 12-7 | |
| 3 | MSU | Duckett 1 yard run (Langeloh kick) | MSU 19-7 | |
| 4 | 13:13 | ND | Watters 2 yard run (Hentrich kick) | MSU 19-14 |
| 4 | 0:34 | ND | Culver 1 yard run (Hentrich kick) | ND 21-19 |
The Immaculate Deflection - Rick Mirer's 24-yard completion to Adrian Jarrell, which bounced off hands of MSU LB Todd Murray up and into Jarrell's arms at MSU 2. Three plays later, Culver scored. "There's definitely somebody looking out for us. There's somebody on our side," said Mirer.
- Notre Dame's 60th victory as No. 1 ranked team & 5-0-1 vs. MSU when ranked #1
Purdue
Stanford
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Cardinal | 7 | 8 | 14 | 7 | 36 |
| Fighting Irish | 7 | 17 | 7 | 0 | 31 |
- Date: September 22
- Location: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN
- Game attendance: 59,075
| 1 | ND | Mirer 1 yard run (Hentrich kick) | ND 7-0 | |
| 1 | Sta | Milburn 9 run (Hopkins kick) | Tied 7-7 | |
| 2 | ND | Hentrich 29 yard field goal | ND 10-7 | |
| 2 | ND | T. Smith 11 yard pass from Mirer (Hentrich kick) | ND 17-7 | |
| 2 | ND | T. Smith 15 yard pass from Mirer (Hentrich kick) | ND 24-7 | |
| 2 | Sta | Vardell 1 yard run (Palumbis to McCafferty pass) | ND 24-15 | |
| 3 | Sta | Vardell 1 yard run (Hopkins kick) | ND 24-22 | |
| 3 | ND | Culver 1 yard run (Hentrich kick) | ND 31-22 | |
| 3 | Sta | Vardell 1 yard run (Hopkins kick) | ND 31-29 | |
| 4 | Sta | Vardell 1 yard run (Hopkins kick) | Sta 36-31 | |
Air Force
Miami (FL)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricanes | 10 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 20 |
| • Fighting Irish | 10 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 29 |
- Date: October 20
- Location: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN
- Game start: 2:40 p.m. EST
- Game attendance: 59,075
- Referee: Dick Burleson
- TV announcers (CBS): Jim Nantz and Tim Brant
| Q1 | 12:17 | MIA | McGuire 1-yard run (Huerta kick) | MIA 7–0 |
| 6:51 | ND | Hentrich-25 yard field goal | MIA 7–3 | |
| 1:43 | MIA | Huerta 23-yard field goal | MIA 10–3 | |
| ND | Ismail 94-yard kickoff return (Hentrich kick) | Tie 10–10 | ||
| Q2 | 11:48 | ND | Hentrich-44 yard field goal | ND 13–10 |
| 8:10 | MIA | Erickson-1 yard run (Huerta kick) | MIA 17–13 | |
| 4:16 | ND | Hentrich-34 yard field goal | MIA 17–16 | |
| Q3 | 5:24 | ND | Hentrich-36 yard field goal | ND 19–17 |
| 1:45 | ND | Hentrich 35-yard field goal | ND 22–17 | |
| Q4 | 14:01 | MIA | Huerta 25-yard field goal | ND 22–20 |
| 6:16 | ND | Culver 21-yard pass from Mirer (Hentrich kick) | ND 29–20 | |
Pittsburgh
Navy
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Fighting Irish | 7 | 3 | 21 | 21 | 52 |
| Midshipmen | 0 | 10 | 7 | 14 | 31 |
- Date: November 3
- Location: Giants Stadium
- Game attendance: 70,382
| Q1 | ND | Bettis 1 yard run (Hentrich kick) | ND 7–0 | |
| Q2 | NAVY | Pace 1 yard run (Schenk kick) | Tie 7–7 | |
| Q2 | ND | Hentrich 31 yard field goal | ND 10–7 | |
| Q2 | NAVY | Schenk 27 yard field goal | Tie 10–10 | |
| Q3 | ND | Culver 7 yard run (Hentrich kick) | ND 17–10 | |
| Q3 | ND | Watters 2 yard run (Hentrich kick) | ND 24–10 | |
| Q3 | ND | Mirer 30 yard run (Hentrich kick) | ND 31–10 | |
| Q3 | NAVY | Grizzard 6 yard run (Schenk kick) | ND 31–17 | |
| Q4 | ND | Brooks 3 yard run (Hentrich kick) | ND 38–17 | |
| Q4 | NAVY | Berghutt 19 yard pass from Grizzard (Schenk kick) | ND 38–24 | |
| Q4 | ND | Ismail 54 yard pass from Mirer (Hentrich kick) | ND 45–24 | |
| Q4 | NAVY | Mason 7 yard pass from Grizzard (Schenk kick) | ND 45–31 | |
| Q4 | ND | Lyght 53 yard kickoff return (Hentrich kick) | ND 52–31 | |
Tennessee
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Fighting Irish | 7 | 3 | 7 | 17 | 34 |
| Volunteers | 6 | 0 | 14 | 9 | 29 |
- Date: November 10
- Location: Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN
- Game start: 3:30 p.m. EST
- Referee: Jimmy Harper
- TV announcers (CBS): Jim Nantz and Tim Brant
| 1 | TEN | Burke 46 yard field goal | TEN 3-0 | |
| 1 | ND | Culver 59 yard pass from Mirer (Hentrich kick) | ND 7-3 | |
| 1 | TEN | Burke 22 yard field goal | ND 7-6 | |
| 2 | ND | Hentrich 26 yard field goal | ND 10-6 | |
| 3 | TEN | Thompson 10 yard run (Burke kick) | TEN 13-10 | |
| 3 | ND | Watters 68 yard run (Hentrich kick) | ND 17-13 | |
| 3 | TEN | Harper 32 yard pass from Kelly (Burke kick) | TEN 20-17 | |
| 4 | ND | Hentrich 20 yard field goal | Tied 20-20 | |
| 4 | TEN | Burke 45 yard field goal | TEN 23-20 | |
| 4 | ND | Watters 10 yard run (Hentrich kick) | ND 27-23 | |
| 4 | ND | Ismail 44 yard run (Hentrich kick) | ND 34-23 | |
| 4 | TEN | Harper 23 yard pass from Kelly (pass failed) | ND 34-29 | |
The Irish traveled to Knoxville and pulled off a thrilling 34–29 victory over the 9th-ranked Tennessee Vols. The Irish built a 4th quarter lead and held off a furious late comeback by Tennessee.
Penn State
USC
Colorado (Orange Bowl)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fighting Irish | 0 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 9 |
| • Buffaloes | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
- Date: January 1
- Location: Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, FL
- Game attendance: 77,062
- TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Bill Walsh
| Q2 | CU | Jim Harper 22-yard field goal | CU 3–0 | |
| 7:32 | ND | Ricky Watters 2-yard run (PAT blocked) | ND 6–3 | |
| Q3 | ND | Craig Hentrich 24-yard field goal | ND 9–3 | |
| CU | Eric Bieniemy 1-yard run (Harper kick) | 'CU 10–9 | ||
Notre Dame lost a heartbreaker to top-ranked Colorado in the Orange Bowl, 10–9. The Irish were undone by three third-quarter turnovers and a controversial penalty flag that negated a late punt return touchdown by Ismail. Colorado would go on to win a share of the national championship.
Roster
| 1990 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Offense
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Defense
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Special teams
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Awards and honors
Junior flanker Rocket Ismail received numerous awards and honors:
- Finished second in voting for the Heisman Trophy.[21]
- Received the Walter Camp Award[22]
- Named The Sporting News Player of the Year
- Voted by teammates at Notre Dame's most valuable player
- Consensus first-team All-America, with first-team honors from Associated Press (AP), Walter Camp Football Foundation (WCFF), Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Football News (FN)
Senior defensive tackle Chris Zorich also received numerous awards and honors:
- Won the Lombardi Award[24]
- Consensus first-team All-Americam with first-team honors from AP, WCFF, FWAA, AFCA, and FN
- Athlon defensive player of the year
- Outland Trophy semifinalist
- Named Notre Dame Lineman of the Year
- Orange Bowl MVP
- Invited to play in Hula Bowl and Japan Bowl
Senior inside linebacker Michael Stonebreaker was a consensus first-team All-American with first-team honors from AP, WCFF, FWAA, and AFCA. He was also a finalist (finished third) for the Butkus Award and was invited to play in the Hula Bowl and Japan Bowl.[23]
Senior cornerback Todd Lyght received first-team All-America honors from the WCFF and AFCA. He was also a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award and was invited to play in the Hula Bowl and Japan Bowl.[23]
Senior center Mike Heldt received first-team All-America honors from FN and was invited to play in the Hula Bowl.[23]
Sophomore kicker/punter Craig Hentrich received Chevrolet MVP designations for the Miami and USC games. He set a Notre Dame single-game record with five field goals in six attempts versus Miami.[23]
1991 NFL draft
- Despite being drafted by the Los Angeles Raiders, the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League signed Raghib Ismail to a four-year contract worth 18 million dollars in April 1991.[25] The Ismail signing included four million dollars upfront.[26]