1969 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team

1969 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Cotton Bowl Classic, L 17–21 vs. Texas
ConferenceIndependent
Ranking
CoachesNo. 9
APNo. 5
Record8–2–1
Head coach
Captains
Home stadiumNotre Dame Stadium
1969 NCAA University Division independents football records
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 2 Penn State – 11–0–0
No. 17 West Virginia – 10–1–0
No. 12 Houston – 9–2–0
No. 5 Notre Dame – 8–2–1
Buffalo – 6–3–0
Rutgers – 6–3–0
Villanova – 6–3–0
Florida State – 6–3–1
Colgate – 5–3–1
Air Force – 6–4–0
West Texas State – 6–4–0
Boston College – 5–4–0
New Mexico State – 5–5–0
Southern Miss – 5–5–0
Syracuse – 5–5–0
Army – 4–5–1
Virginia Tech – 4–5–1
Georgia Tech – 4–6–0
Miami (FL) – 4–6–0
Pittsburgh – 4–6–0
Dayton – 3–7–0
Marshall – 3–7–0
Northern Illinois – 3–7–0
Tulane – 3–7–0
Utah State – 3–7–0
Navy – 1–9–0
Xavier – 1–9–0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1969 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team was an American football team that represented the University of Notre Dame as an independent during the 1969 NCAA University Division football season. In their sixth year under head coach Ara Parseghian, the Irish compiled an 8–2–1 record, outscored opponents by a total of 334 to 113, and were ranked No. 5 in the final AP poll and No. 9 in the final UPI poll.[1] After 44 seasons without postseason play (1925–1968), Notre Dame ended its self-imposed bowl hiatus, losing to No. 1 Texas in the Cotton Bowl.[2]

Defensive tackle Mike McCoy was a consensus first-team pick on the 1969 All-America college football team.[3] Offensive tackle Jim Reilly and guard Larry DiNardo also received first-team All-America honors from at least one selector.[4][5] The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Joe Theisman (1,531 passing yards), and split end Tom Gatewood (743 receiving yards), and halfbackDenny Allan (612 rushing yards, 54 points scored).[6]

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

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 201:30 pmNorthwesternNo. 11
W 35–1059,075[7]
September 271:30 pmat No. 16 PurdueNo. 9
L 14–2868,179[8]
October 41:30 pmNo. 14 Michigan State
  • Notre Dame Stadium
  • Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)
W 42–2859,075[9]
October 112:00 pmvs. ArmyNo. 15
W 45–063,786[10]
October 181:30 pmNo. 3 USCNo. 11
  • Notre Dame Stadium
  • Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)
T 14–1459,075[11]
October 258:30 pmat TulaneNo. 12
W 37–040,250[12]
November 11:30 pmNavyNo. 10
  • Notre Dame Stadium
  • Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)
W 47–059,075[13]
November 81:30 pmat PittsburghNo. 8
W 49–744,084[14]
November 159:30 pmat Georgia TechNo. 9
ABCW 38–2041,104[15][16][17]
November 221:30 pmAir ForceNo. 8
  • Notre Dame Stadium
  • Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)
W 13–659,075[18]
January 1, 19702:00 pmvs. No. 1 TexasNo. 9
CBSL 17–2171,938[19][20]

[21][22]

Game summaries

Northwestern

Team 1 234Total
Northwestern 10 000 10
• Notre Dame 14 0021 35
  
Scoring summary
{{{Time}}}{{{Team}}}{{{Event}}}{{{Score}}}
{{{Time}}}{{{Team}}}{{{Event}}}{{{Score}}}

Purdue

Team 1 234Total
Notre Dame 0 707 14
• Purdue 7 777 28
  
Scoring summary
{{{Time}}}{{{Team}}}{{{Event}}}{{{Score}}}
{{{Time}}}{{{Team}}}{{{Event}}}{{{Score}}}

Michigan State

Team 1 234Total
Michigan St. 0 1477 28
• Notre Dame 7 14147 42
  • Date: October 4
  • Location: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN
  • Game start: 1:30 pm EDT
  • Game attendance: 59,075
  
Scoring summary
{{{Time}}}{{{Team}}}{{{Event}}}{{{Score}}}
{{{Time}}}{{{Team}}}{{{Event}}}{{{Score}}}

Army

Team 1 234Total
• Notre Dame 10 14147 45
Army 0 000 0
  
Scoring summary
{{{Time}}}{{{Team}}}{{{Event}}}{{{Score}}}
{{{Time}}}{{{Team}}}{{{Event}}}{{{Score}}}

USC

Team 1 234Total
USC 0 077 14
Notre Dame 0 077 14
  • Date: October 18
  • Location: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN
  • Game start: 1:30 pm EDT
  • Game attendance: 59,075
  
Scoring summary
{{{Time}}}{{{Team}}}{{{Event}}}{{{Score}}}
{{{Time}}}{{{Team}}}{{{Event}}}{{{Score}}}

Tulane

Team 1 234Total
• Notre Dame 7 1776 37
Tulane 0 000 0
  
Scoring summary
{{{Time}}}{{{Team}}}{{{Event}}}{{{Score}}}
{{{Time}}}{{{Team}}}{{{Event}}}{{{Score}}}
Team 1 234Total
Navy 0 000 0
• Notre Dame 7 26140 47
  • Date: November 1
  • Location: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN
  • Game start: 1:30 pm EST
  • Game attendance: 59,075
  
Scoring summary
{{{Time}}}{{{Team}}}{{{Event}}}{{{Score}}}
{{{Time}}}{{{Team}}}{{{Event}}}{{{Score}}}

Pittsburgh

Team 1 234Total
• Notre Dame 14 21140 49
Pittsburgh 7 000 7
  
Scoring summary
{{{Time}}}{{{Team}}}{{{Event}}}{{{Score}}}
{{{Time}}}{{{Team}}}{{{Event}}}{{{Score}}}

Georgia Tech

Team 1 234Total
• Notre Dame 21 1070 38
Georgia Tech 0 6014 20
  
Scoring summary
{{{Time}}}{{{Team}}}{{{Event}}}{{{Score}}}
{{{Time}}}{{{Team}}}{{{Event}}}{{{Score}}}

Air Force

Team 1 234Total
Air Force 0 303 6
• Notre Dame 7 600 13
Scoring summary
1NDAllan 39-yard run (Hempel kick)ND 7-0
2NDHempel 22-yard field goalND 10-0
2NDHempel 25-yard field goalND 13-0
2AFLeuthauser 28-yard field goalND 13-3
4AFLeuthauser 37-yard field goalND 13-6

[23]

Vs. Texas (Cotton Bowl)

#9 Notre Dame vs. #1 Texas
Team 1 234Total
Fighting Irish 3 707 17
• Longhorns 0 7014 21

Roster

1969 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
OT 64 Terry Brennan Sr
G 56 Larry DiNardo Jr
WR 44 Tom Gatewood So
QB 7 Joe Theismann Jr
 Defense
Pos.#NameClass
DB 17 Mike Crotty So
DT 77 Mike McCoy Sr
DE 85 Walt Patulski So
 Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
K Scott Hempel
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Statistics

Team statistics. Notre Dame tallied 4,489 yards of total (448.9 yards per game) offense on 868 plays, an average of 5.2 yards per play. The team's offensive output included of 2,905 rushing yards, an average of 4.4 yards per rush and 290.5 per game. The team also tallied 1,584 passing yards (158.4 yards per game), completing 113 of 205 passing attempts (.441 completion percentage) with 16 interceptions and 13 touchdown passes.[24]

On defense, the Irish gave up 2,187 yards of total offense (3.3 yards per attempt, 218.7 yards per game), consisting of 851 rushing yards (2.3 yards per carry, 84.1 yards per game) and 1,336 passing yards (4.6 yards per attempt, 133.6 yards per game).[25]

Total offense.

  1. Quarterback Joe Theisman - 1,909 yards on 308 plays
  2. Halfback Denny Allan - 612 yards on 149 plays
  3. Halfback Ed Ziegler - 483 yards on 94 plays
  4. Quarterback Bill Etter - 363 yards on 41 plays
  5. Fullback Bill Barz - 362 yards on 90 plays
  6. Halfback Andy Huff - 264 yards on 69 plays

[25]

Passing.

  1. Joe Theisman completed 108 of 192 passes (.562 completion percentage) for 1,531 yards with 16 interceptions and 13 touchdowns

[25]

Rushing

  1. Denny Allan - 612 yards on 148 carries, 4.1-yard average
  2. Ed Ziegler - 483 yards on 94 carries, 5.1-yard averag
  3. Joe Theisman - 378 yards on 116 carries, 3.2-yard average
  4. Bill Barz - 362 yards on 90 carries, 4.0-yard average
  5. Bill Etter - 310 yards on 29 carries, 10.7-yard average
  6. Andy Huff - 265 yards on 69 carries, 3.8-yard average
  7. Mike Crotty - 183 yards on 43 carries, 4.3-yard average
  8. Jim Yoder - 130 yards on 23 carries, 5.6-yard average

[25]

Receiving

  1. Thom Gatewood - 47 receptions for 743 yards, 15.8-yard average, 8 touchdowns
  2. Bill Barz - 24 receptions for 262 yards, 10.9-yard average, 2 touchdowns
  3. Denny Allan - 11 receptions for 199 yards, 18.1-yard average, 0 touchdowns
  4. Dewey Poskon - 13 receptions for 175 yards, 13.5-yard average, 0 touchdowns
  5. Ed Ziegler - 7 receptions for 116 yards, 16.7-yard average, 2 touchdowns

[25]

Scoring

  1. Scott Hempel - 56 points, 5 of 7 field goals, 41 of 44 PAT
  2. Denny Allan - 54 points, 9 touchdowns
  3. Thom Gatewood - 48 points, 8 touchdowns
  4. Bill Barz - 42 points, 7 touchdowns
  5. Joe Theisman - 37 points, 6 touchdowns, 1 two-point conversion
  6. Andy Huff - 36 points, 6 touchdowns
  7. Ed Ziegler - 26 points, 4 touchdowns, 1 two-point conversion
  8. Bill Etter - 18 points, 3 touchdowns

[25]

Tackles.

  1. Bob Olson - 142
  2. Mike McCoy - 88
  3. Kelly - 71
  4. Mike Kadish - 68
  5. Raterman - 67

[25]

1970 NFL draft

Player Position Round Pick Franchise
Mike McCoyGuard12Green Bay Packers
Jim ReillyGuard357Buffalo Bills
Bob OlsonLinebacker5107Boston Patriots
Mike OriardCenter5130Kansas City Chiefs
Terry BrennanTackle7158Philadelphia Eagles

References

  1. ↑ "1969 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Notre Dame accepts Cotton's bid". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. November 18, 1969. p. 12.
  3. ↑ "Football Award Winners" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). 2016. p. 10. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Owens, Phipps Named To Team". Beckley (WV) Post-Herald. November 28, 1969. p. 2. (AFCA-Reilly)
  5. ↑ "Owens, Phipps Named To Team". Beckley (WV) Post-Herald. November 28, 1969. p. 2.(UPI-DiNardo)
  6. ↑ "1969 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 21, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Down, 10–0, then Irish grind to 35–10 victory". The Des Moines Register. September 21, 1969. Retrieved October 20, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "Phipps paces Purdue past Notre Dame". Reading Eagle. Pennsylvania. Associated Press. October 19, 1969. p. 57.
  9. ↑ "Wild Irish might rocks and shocks MSU, 42–28". The Cincinnati Enquirer. October 5, 1969. Retrieved October 20, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Theismann guides Irish to 45–0 win over Army". The Grand Rapids Press. October 12, 1969. Retrieved October 20, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ Liska, Jerry (October 19, 1969). "Notre Dame, Southern Cal in 14–14 draw". Reading Eagle. Pennsylvania. Associated Press. p. 61.
  12. ↑ "Notre Dame romps over Tulane, 37–0". Chicago Tribune. October 26, 1969. Retrieved October 20, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "Irish clobber Middies, 47–0". Staten Island Advance. November 2, 1969. Retrieved October 20, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ "Notre Dame just brushes off Pitt, 49–7". Detroit Free Press. November 9, 1969. Retrieved October 20, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ Bryson, Mike (November 15, 1969). "Georgia Tech shouldn't Irish plans". Reading Eagle. Pennsylvania. Associated Press. p. 6.
  16. ↑ "Irish build early lead, swamp Tech". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. November 16, 1969. p. 1, sports.
  17. ↑ "Georgia Tech blitzed 38–20 by Notre Dame". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. November 16, 1969. Retrieved July 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ Bryson, Mike (November 23, 1969). "Irish shake 'shakes' and beat Air Force". Reading Eagle. Pennsylvania. Associated Press. p. 69.
  19. ↑ "Texans edge Irish on big 4th downs". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. January 2, 1970. p. 30.
  20. ↑ "Texas rallies to beat Irish, 21 to 17". Chicago Tribune. January 2, 1970. Retrieved May 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ↑ "1969 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Schedule and Results".
  22. ↑ "Schedule/Results (1969 Notre Dame)". NCAA Statistics. National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
  23. ↑ "Irish Shaky, Nip Falcons." Palm Beach Post. 1969 Nov 23.
  24. ↑ 1969 Year in Review, p. 35.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Cite error: The named reference p36 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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