American college football season
The 1969 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame as an independent during the 1969 NCAA University Division football season . Led by sixth-year head coach Ara Parseghian , the Fighting Irish compiled a record of 8–2–1.
After 44 seasons without postseason play (1925 –1968 ), the school ended its self-imposed bowl hiatus.[ 1] With an 8–1–1 regular season record, the Irish were led on the field by junior quarterback Joe Theismann .[ 2] They met top-ranked Texas in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas on New Year's Day,[ 3] but lost 21–17 when the Longhorns scored a late touchdown.[ 4]
Date Time Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance Source September 20 1:30 pm Northwestern No. 11 W 35–1059,075
September 27 1:30 pm at No. 16 Purdue No. 9 L 14–2868,179 [ 5]
October 4 1:30 pm No. 14 Michigan State Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN (rivalry ) W 42–2859,075
October 11 2:00 pm vs. Army No. 15 W 45–063,786
October 18 1:30 pm No. 3 USC No. 11 Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN (rivalry ) T 14–1459,075 [ 6]
October 25 8:30 pm at Tulane No. 12 W 37–040,250
November 1 1:30 pm Navy No. 10 Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN (rivalry ) W 47–059,075
November 8 1:30 pm at Pittsburgh No. 8 W 49–744,084
November 15 9:30 pm at Georgia Tech No. 9 ABC W 38–2041,104 [ 7] [ 8] [ 9]
November 22 1:30 pm Air Force No. 8 Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN (rivalry ) W 13–659,075 [ 10]
, 1970 2:00 pm vs. No. 1 Texas No. 9 CBS L 17–2171,938 [ 4] [ 11]
[ 12]
1
2 3 4 Total
Northwestern
10
0 0 0
10
• Notre Dame
14
0 0 21
35
Scoring summary {{{Time}}} {{{Team}}} {{{Event}}} {{{Score}}}
{{{Time}}} {{{Team}}} {{{Event}}} {{{Score}}}
1
2 3 4 Total
Notre Dame
0
7 0 7
14
• Purdue
7
7 7 7
28
Scoring summary {{{Time}}} {{{Team}}} {{{Event}}} {{{Score}}}
{{{Time}}} {{{Team}}} {{{Event}}} {{{Score}}}
1
2 3 4 Total
Michigan St.
0
14 7 7
28
• Notre Dame
7
14 14 7
42
Date: October 4Location: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, INGame start: 1:30 pm EDT Game attendance: 59,075
Scoring summary {{{Time}}} {{{Team}}} {{{Event}}} {{{Score}}}
{{{Time}}} {{{Team}}} {{{Event}}} {{{Score}}}
1
2 3 4 Total
• Notre Dame
10
14 14 7
45
Army
0
0 0 0
0
Scoring summary {{{Time}}} {{{Team}}} {{{Event}}} {{{Score}}}
{{{Time}}} {{{Team}}} {{{Event}}} {{{Score}}}
1
2 3 4 Total
USC
0
0 7 7
14
Notre Dame
0
0 7 7
14
Date: October 18Location: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, INGame start: 1:30 pm EDT Game attendance: 59,075
Scoring summary {{{Time}}} {{{Team}}} {{{Event}}} {{{Score}}}
{{{Time}}} {{{Team}}} {{{Event}}} {{{Score}}}
1
2 3 4 Total
• Notre Dame
7
17 7 6
37
Tulane
0
0 0 0
0
Scoring summary {{{Time}}} {{{Team}}} {{{Event}}} {{{Score}}}
{{{Time}}} {{{Team}}} {{{Event}}} {{{Score}}}
1
2 3 4 Total
Navy
0
0 0 0
0
• Notre Dame
7
26 14 0
47
Date: November 1Location: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, INGame start: 1:30 pm EST Game attendance: 59,075
Scoring summary {{{Time}}} {{{Team}}} {{{Event}}} {{{Score}}}
{{{Time}}} {{{Team}}} {{{Event}}} {{{Score}}}
1
2 3 4 Total
• Notre Dame
14
21 14 0
49
Pittsburgh
7
0 0 0
7
Scoring summary {{{Time}}} {{{Team}}} {{{Event}}} {{{Score}}}
{{{Time}}} {{{Team}}} {{{Event}}} {{{Score}}}
1
2 3 4 Total
• Notre Dame
21
10 7 0
38
Georgia Tech
0
6 0 14
20
Scoring summary {{{Time}}} {{{Team}}} {{{Event}}} {{{Score}}}
{{{Time}}} {{{Team}}} {{{Event}}} {{{Score}}}
1
2 3 4 Total
Air Force
0
3 0 3
6
• Notre Dame
7
6 0 0
13
Scoring summary 1 ND Allan 39-yard run (Hempel kick) ND 7-0
2 ND Hempel 22-yard field goal ND 10-0
2 ND Hempel 25-yard field goal ND 13-0
2 AF Leuthauser 28-yard field goal ND 13-3
4 AF Leuthauser 37-yard field goal ND 13-6
[ 13]
Vs. Texas (Cotton Bowl)[ edit ]
#9 Notre Dame vs. #1 Texas
1
2 3 4 Total
Fighting Irish
3
7 0 7
17
• Longhorns
0
7 0 14
21
1969 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team roster
Players
Coaches
Offense
Defense
Special teams
Pos.
#
Name
Class
K
Scott Hempel
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
Injured
Redshirt
^ "Notre Dame accepts Cotton's bid" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. November 18, 1969. p. 12.
^ "Irish test Texas rank" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. January 1, 1970. p. 13.
^ Fite, Ed (January 1, 1970). "Irish test Longhorns in Dallas" . Reading Eagle . (Pennsylvania). UPI. p. 44.
^ a b "Texans edge Irish on big 4th downs" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. January 2, 1970. p. 30.
^ "Phipps paces Purdue past Notre Dame" . Reading Eagle . (Pennsylvania). Associated Press. October 19, 1969. p. 57.
^ Liska, Jerry (October 19, 1969). "Notre Dame, Southern Cal in 14-14 draw" . Reading Eagle . (Pennsylvania). Associated Press. p. 61.
^ Bryson, Mike (November 15, 1969). "Georgia Tech shouldn't Irish plans" . Reading Eagle . (Pennsylvania). Associated Press. p. 6.
^ "Irish build early lead, swamp Tech" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. November 16, 1969. p. 1, sports.
^ "Georgia Tech blitzed 38–20 by Notre Dame" . Fort Worth Star-Telegram . November 16, 1969. Retrieved July 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ Bryson, Mike (November 23, 1969). "Irish shake 'shakes' and beat Air Force" . Reading Eagle . (Pennsylvania). Associated Press. p. 69.
^ "Texas rallies to beat Irish, 21 to 17" . Chicago Tribune . January 2, 1970. Retrieved May 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "1969 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Schedule and Results" .
^ "Irish Shaky, Nip Falcons." Palm Beach Post. 1969 Nov 23.
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