1971 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team

1971 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
ConferenceIndependent
Ranking
CoachesNo. 15
APNo. 13
Record8–2
Head coach
Captains
Home stadiumNotre Dame Stadium
1971 NCAA University Division independents football records
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 5 Penn State – 11–1–0
Boston College – 9–2–0
No. 17 Houston – 9–3–0
No. 13 Notre Dame – 8–2–0
Utah State – 8–3–0
Florida State – 8–4–0
Cincinnati – 7–4–0
West Virginia – 7–4–0
Temple – 6–2–1
Air Force – 6–4–0
Army – 6–4–0
Colgate – 6–4–0
Villanova – 6–4–1
South Carolina – 6–5–0
Southern Miss – 6–5–0
Georgia Tech – 6–6–0
Northern Illinois – 5–5–1
Syracuse – 5–5–1
Dayton – 5–6–0
Holy Cross – 4–6–0
Miami (FL) – 4–7–0
Rutgers – 4–7–0
Virginia Tech – 4–7–0
Navy – 3–8–0
Pittsburgh – 3–8–0
Tulane – 3–8–0
Marshall – 2–8–0
Xavier – 1–9–0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1971 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team was an American football team that represented the University of Notre Dame as an independent during the 1971 NCAA University Division football season. In their eighth year under head coach Ara Parseghian, the Irish compiled an 8–2 record, outscored opponents by a total of 225 to 86, and were ranked No. 13 in the final AP poll and No. 15 in the final UPI poll.[1][2] Prior to their concluding game at LSU, Notre Dame announced that they would not play in a bowl game.[3][4][5]

Defensive end Walt Patulski and defensive back Clarence Ellis were consensus first-team picks on the 1971 All-America college football team.[6] End Tom Gatewood and defensive tackle Mike Kadish also received first-team All-America honors from at least one selector. The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Cliff Brown (669 passing yards), Bob Minnix (337 rushing yards), and Gatewood (417 receiving yards). Minnix and Ed Gulyas led the team in scoring with 30 points each.[7]

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

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 182:30 p.m.NorthwesternNo. 2
W 50–759,075[8]
September 252:30 p.m.at PurdueNo. 2
W 8–769,765[9]
October 21:50 p.m.Michigan StateNo. 4
  • Notre Dame Stadium
  • Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)
ABC regionalW 14–259,075[10]
October 98:15 p.m.at Miami (FL)No. 9
W 17–064,357[11]
October 162:30 p.m.North CarolinaNo. 7
  • Notre Dame Stadium
  • Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)
W 16–059,075[12]
October 232:30 p.m.USCNo. 6
  • Notre Dame Stadium
  • Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)
L 14–2859,075[13]
October 301:30 p.m.NavyNo. 12
  • Notre Dame Stadium
  • Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)
W 21–059,075[14]
November 61:00 p.m.at PittsburghNo. 8
W 56–755,528[15]
November 131:30 p.m.TulaneNo. 8
  • Notre Dame Stadium
  • Notre Dame, IN
W 21–759,075[16]
November 208:05 p.m.at No. 14 LSUNo. 7
ABCL 8–2866,936[17]

[18]

Game summaries

Northwestern

Northwestern at Notre Dame
Team 1 234Total
Northwestern 7 000 7
• Notre Dame 7 23614 50

Purdue

Notre Dame at Purdue
Team 1 234Total
• Notre Dame 0 008 8
Purdue 0 700 7
Scoring summary
2PURArmstrong 26 yard pass from Danielson (Renie kick)PUR 7-0
42:58NDSwendsen recovered fumble in end zone (Steenberge to Creaney pass)ND 8-7

[19]

"The Genuflect Play"

Michigan State

Michigan State at Notre Dame
Team 1 234Total
Michigan St. 2 000 2
• Notre Dame 14 000 14
  • Date: October 2
  • Location: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN
  • Game start: 12:50 pm EST
  • Game attendance: 59,075
  • Game weather: Hot, mid-80s
  • Referee: Howard Wirtz (Big Ten)
  • TV announcers (ABC): Chris Schenkel and Bud Wilkinson
Scoring summary
1NDMinnix 1-yard run (Thomas kick)ND 7-0
1NDMinnix 5-yard run (Thomas kick)ND 14-0
1MSUSafety (Etter recovered Parker fumble in end zone)ND 14-2

Miami (Florida)

Notre Dame at Miami
Team 1 234Total
• Notre Dame 0 377 17
Miami 0 000 0
  • Date: October 9
  • Location: Miami Orange Bowl
  • Game start: 8:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game attendance: 64,357
  • Game weather: 84 degrees, 77% humidity
  • Referee: Morris Harrison
Scoring summary
2NDThomas 38-yard field goalND 3-0
3NDHuff 16-yard run (Thomas kick)ND 10-0
4NDDewan 6-yard run (Thomas kick)ND 17-0

North Carolina

North Carolina at Notre Dame
Team 1 234Total
N. Carolina 0 000 0
• Notre Dame 3 607 16
  • Date: October 16
  • Location: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN
  • Game start: 1:30 pm EST
  • Game attendance: 59,075
  • Game weather: Fair, mid-70s
  • Referee: Howard Wirtz
Scoring summary
1NDThomas 28-yard field goalND 3-0
2NDThomas 27-yard field goalND 6-0
2NDThomas 24-yard field goalND 9-0
4NDGatewood 4-yard pass from Brown (Thomas kick)ND 16-0

USC

Southern Cal at Notre Dame
Team 1 234Total
• USC 14 1400 28
Notre Dame 7 070 14
  • Date: October 23
  • Location: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN
  • Game start: 1:30 pm EDT
  • Game attendance: 59,075
  • Game weather: Damp, low 60s
  • Referee: Jerry Markbreit
Scoring summary
1S. Cal.Garrison 31-yard pass from Jones (Rae Kick)S. Cal 0-7
1NDHuff 1-yard run (Thomas kick)Tied 7-7
1S. Cal.Garrison 24-yard pass from Rae (Rae kick)S. Cal. 7-14
2S. Cal.Cunningham 1-yard run (Rae kick)S. Cal. 7-21
2S. Cal.Dyer 54-yard interception return (Rae kick)S. Cal. 7-28
4NDCieszkowski 4-yard run (Thomas kick)S. Cal. 14-28
Navy at Notre Dame
Team 1 234Total
Navy 0 000 0
• Notre Dame 7 1400 21
Scoring summary
1NDGulyas 1 yard run (Thomas kick)ND 7-0
2NDMinnix 1 yard run (Thomas kick)ND 14-0
2NDMinnix 10 yard run (Thomas kick)ND 21-0

[20]

Pittsburgh

Notre Dame at Pittsburgh
Team 1 234Total
• Notre Dame 14 141414 56
Pittsburgh 0 700 7

Tulane

Tulane at Notre Dame
Team 1 234Total
Tulane 0 700 7
• Notre Dame 0 0147 21
  • Date: November 13
  • Location: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN
  • Game start: 1:30 pm EST
  • Game weather: Upper 40s
  • Referee: Howard Wirtz
Scoring summary
2TulaneBarrios 14-yard pass from LaChausse (Gibson Kick)Tulane 0-7
3NDBrown 1-yard run (Thomas kick)Tied 7-7
3NDCreaney 19-yard pass from Brown (Thomas kick)ND 14-7
4NDBrown 5-yard run (Thomas kick)ND 21-7

LSU

Notre Dame at LSU
Team 1 234Total
#7 Notre Dame 0 008 8
• #12 LSU 7 777 28
Scoring summary
110:47LSUHamilton 36 pass from Jones (Michaelson kick)LSU 7-0
201:14LSUHamilton 32 pass from Jones (Michaelson kick)LSU 14-0
300:10LSUJones 5 run (Michaelson kick)LSU 21-0
402:54NDGatewood 7 pass from Brown (Minnix pass from Brown)LSU 21-8
400:20LSUHamilton 13 pass from Lyons (Michaelson kick)LSU 28-8

Roster

1971 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
G 62 Tom Bolger So
QB 8 Cliff Brown So
TE 88 Dave Casper So
WR 44 Tom Gatewood Sr
RB 22 Greg Hill So
C 50 Dan Novakov Sr
WR 80 Willie Townsend Jr
 Defense
Pos.#NameClass
DB 17 Mike Crotty Sr
DB 23 Clarence Ellis Sr
DT 72 Mike Kadish Sr
DT 75 Greg Marx Jr
LB 81 Jim O'Malley Jr
LB 45 Eric Patton So
DE 85 Walt Patulski Sr
DB Tim Rudnick
DE 93 Fred Swendson Sr
LB 61 Mike Webb Jr
 Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
K 98 Bob Thomas So
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Tom Pagna (OC)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

1972 NFL draft

Player Position Round Pick NFL club
Walt PatulskiDefensive end11Buffalo Bills
Clarence EllisDefensive back115Atlanta Falcons
Mike KadishDefensive tackle125Miami Dolphins
Fred SwendsonDefensive end353Buffalo Bills
Eric PattonLinebacker486Green Bay Packers
Tom GatewoodRunning back5107New York Giants
Ralph StepaniakDefensive back7157Buffalo Bills
Mike ZikasDefensive tackle7177New York Giants

References

  1. ↑ "1969 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  2. ↑ "The Football Review (1971)" (PDF). The Notre Dame Scholastic. November 30, 1971 – via Notre Dame Archives.
  3. ↑ "Irish ready to spurn bids". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. Associated Press. November 18, 1971. p. 3D.
  4. ↑ "Irish nix bowl bids". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. Associated Press. November 19, 1971. p. 4B.
  5. ↑ Reed, William F. (November 29, 1971). "Irish Stew for LSU". Sports Illustrated. p. 26.
  6. ↑ "Football Award Winners" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). 2016. p. 10. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  7. ↑ "1971 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 21, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Irish intercept seven passes, smash 'Cats". The Los Angeles Times. September 19, 1971. Retrieved September 29, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "Irish 'luck' fells Purdue". The Kokomo Tribune. September 26, 1971. Retrieved September 29, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Notre Dame squeaks past MSU, 14–2". The Blade. October 3, 1971. Retrieved September 29, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Irish handle Hurricanes in an easy 17–0 fashion". Tallahassee Democrat. October 10, 1971. Retrieved September 29, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "Irish get kicks with 16–0 victory". Chicago Tribune. October 17, 1971. Retrieved January 23, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "ISU, Notre Dame suffer losses". The Terre Haute Tribune. October 24, 1971. Retrieved September 29, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ "Irish unimpressive in win". The Kalamazoo Gazette. October 31, 1971. Retrieved September 29, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ "Notre Dame buries Pitt, 56–7". The Pittsburgh Press. November 7, 1971. Retrieved September 29, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ "Irish rally to defeat Tulane". Chicago Tribune. November 14, 1971. Retrieved September 29, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ↑ "LSU wins 28–8 over the Irish". Tallahassee Democrat. November 21, 1971. Retrieved October 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ "Schedule/Results (1971 Notre Dame)". NCAA Statistics. National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved September 29, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Notre Dame Edges Past Purdue." Ocala Star-Banner. 1971 September 26.
  20. ↑ "Notre Dame Rips Middies, 21-0." Palm Beach Post. 1971 October 31.


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