1917 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team

1917 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
ConferenceIndependent
Record6–1–1
Head coach
Offensive schemeSingle-wing
CaptainJames Phelan
Home stadiumCartier Field
1917 Midwestern college football independents records
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Marquette – 8–0–1
Detroit – 8–1–0
Morningside – 5–1–0
Notre Dame – 6–1–1
Heidelberg – 5–1–1
St. Mary's (OH) – 7–2–0
St. Xavier – 4–1–2
North Dakota Agricultural – 4–2–0
Akron – 5–3–0
Haskell – 6–5–0
Western State Normal – 4–3–0
Saint Louis – 4–3–1
Michigan State Normal – 3–4–0
Iowa State Teachers – 2–3–0
South Dakota – 2–3–0
Central Michigan – 1–2–0
Lake Forest – 2–5–0
Wabash – 1–6–1
Toledo – 0–3–0
Michigan Agricultural – 0–9–0

The 1917 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team was an American football team that represented the University of Notre Dame as an independent during the 1917 college football season. In their fifth and final year under head coach Jesse Harper, the Irish compiled a 6–1–1 record, shut out six of eight opponents opponents, and outscored all opponents by a total of 141 to 9. The team played a scoreless tie with Wisconsin in its second game and lost a close road game against Nebraska the following week, giving up the only touchdown of the season to the Cornhuskers. Notre Dame ended its season on a five-game winning streak, including a road win over Army and a shut outs against Michigan Agricultural (now Michigan State) and Washington & Jefferson.[1]

With the United States entry into World War I, several Notre Dame players from 1916 were unavailable due to military service.[2] Key players on the 1917 team included team captain and quarterback James Phelan, who left the team after three games for military service, and freshman end George Gipp.

Knute Rockne was assistant coach for the fourth year. In February 1918, Harper resigned as Notre Dame's head coach and athletic director. At Harper's recommendation, Rockne succeeded him in both positions.[3]

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

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteResultSource
October 62:30 p.m.Kalamazoo
W 55–0[4][5]
October 13at Wisconsin
T 0–0[6]
October 20at Nebraska
L 0–7[7]
October 27South Dakota
  • Cartier Field
  • Notre Dame,, IN
W 40–0
November 3at Army
W 7–2[8]
November 10at Morningside
W 13–0[9]
November 17Michigan Agricultural
  • Cartier Field
  • South Bend, IN (rivalry)
W 23–0[10]
November 24at Washington & Jefferson
W 3–0[11]

[12]

Personnel

Players

  • William Allison
  • Andrews
  • Leonard Bahan
  • Joseph Brandy
  • Walter DeGree
  • George Gipp
  • David Hayes
  • Tom King
  • Slip Madigan - guard
  • Robert McGuire
  • Walter Miller
  • Dudley Pearson
  • James Phelan - captain, played first three games before being inducted into military service
  • Philbin
  • James "Big Red" Ryan
  • Frank Rydzewski
  • Maurice Smith
  • Thomas Spaulding
  • Basil Stanley
  • Raleigh "Red" Stine
  • Clyde Zoia

[13]

Coaches

References

  1. ↑ "1917 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Coaches and Fighting Spirit Create Eleven: Harper and Rockne Build Notre Dame Team". The South Bend Tribune. December 1, 1917. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "Rockne Named Athletic Director at Notre Dame: Will Succeed Jess Harper Next June". The South Bend Tribune. February 20, 1918. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Dismal Outlook For Notre Dame This Year". South Bend Tribune. South Bend, Indiana. October 5, 1917. p. 18. Retrieved March 26, 2025 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  5. ↑ Call, Chas. W. (October 7, 1917). "N. D. Wins First 55-0". South Bend News-Times. South Bend, Indiana. p. 8. Retrieved March 26, 2025 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  6. ↑ "Cardinals held to scoreless tie". Milwaukee Journal. October 21, 1917. p. 1, part 3.
  7. ↑ "Notre Dame is beaten". Milwaukee Journal. October 21, 1917. p. 1, part 3.
  8. ↑ "Notre Dame beats Army". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. November 4, 1917. p. 1, part 3.
  9. ↑ "N.D. Victory Is Costly One: Gipp Breaks Ankle After 40-yard Run in Collision With Post". The South Bend Tribune. November 11, 1917. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ Charles W. Call (November 18, 1917). "N.D. Wins Ragged Game From Aggies: Gold and Blue Work Goes to Pieces -- Old Style Wins 23-0". The South Bend Tribune. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "W. and J. Beaten by Notre Dame: Western Collegians Take Pennsylvanians in Great Battle in Snowstorm". The Washington Herald. November 25, 1917. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "1917 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Schedule and Results".
  13. ↑ Charles W. Call (December 1, 1917). "The Members of the Squad" (PDF). The Notre Dame Scholastic. pp. 149–154 – via Notre Dame Archives.
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