1969 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team

American college football season

1969 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football

Cotton Bowl Classic, L 17–21 vs. Texas

Conference| Independent
Ranking
Coaches| No. 9
AP| No. 5
Record| 8–2–1
Head coach|

* Ara Parseghian (6th season)

Captains|

* Bob Olson
* Mike Oriard

Home stadium| Notre Dame Stadium

Seasons

← 1968

1970 →

1969 NCAA University Division independents football records

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| Conf. |  |  | Overall

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Team | W |   | L |   | T |  |  | W |   | 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
Idaho |   |  | – |  |   |  |  | 2  | – | 8  | – | 0
Navy |   |  | – |  |   |  |  | 1  | – | 9  | – | 0
Xavier |   |  | – |  |   |  |  | 1  | – | 9  | – | 0
Rankings from AP Poll

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]

## Schedule

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Date| Time| Opponent| Rank| Site| TV| Result| Attendance| Source

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September 20| 1:30 pm| Northwestern| No. 11|

* Notre Dame Stadium
* Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)

| | W 35–10| 59,075|
September 27| 1:30 pm| at No. 16 Purdue| No. 9|

* Ross–Ade Stadium
* West Lafayette, IN (rivalry)

| | L 14–28| 68,179| [5]
October 4| 1:30 pm| No. 14 Michigan State| |

* Notre Dame Stadium
* Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)

| | W 42–28| 59,075|
October 11| 2:00 pm| vs. Army| No. 15|

* Yankee Stadium
* Bronx, NY (rivalry)

| | W 45–0| 63,786|
October 18| 1:30 pm| No. 3 USC| No. 11|

* Notre Dame Stadium
* Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)

| | T 14–14| 59,075| [6]
October 25| 8:30 pm| at Tulane| No. 12|

* Tulane Stadium
* New Orleans, LA

| | W 37–0| 40,250|
November 1| 1:30 pm| Navy| No. 10|

* Notre Dame Stadium
* Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)

| | W 47–0| 59,075|
November 8| 1:30 pm| at Pittsburgh| No. 8|

* Pitt Stadium
* Pittsburgh, PA (rivalry)

| | W 49–7| 44,084|
November 15| 9:30 pm| at Georgia Tech| No. 9|

* Grant Field
* Atlanta, GA (rivalry)

| ABC| W 38–20| 41,104| [7][8][9]
November 22| 1:30 pm| Air Force| No. 8|

* Notre Dame Stadium
* Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)

| | W 13–6| 59,075| [10]
January 1, 1970| 2:00 pm| vs. No. 1 Texas| No. 9|

* Cotton Bowl
* Dallas, TX (Cotton Bowl)

| CBS| L 17–21| 71,938| [4][11]

* Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
* All times are in Eastern time

[12]

## Game summaries

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### Northwestern

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Team | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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Northwestern | 10 | 0| 0| 0 | 10
• Notre Dame | 14 | 0| 0| 21 | 35

* Date: September 20
* Location: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN
* Game start: 1:30 pm EDT
* Game attendance: 59,075

Scoring summary{{{Time}}}| {{{Team}}}| {{{Event}}}| {{{Score}}}

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{{{Time}}}| {{{Team}}}| {{{Event}}}| {{{Score}}}

### Purdue

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Team | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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Notre Dame | 0 | 7| 0| 7 | 14
• Purdue | 7 | 7| 7| 7 | 28

* Date: September 27
* Location: Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN
* Game start: 1:30 p.m. EDT

Scoring summary{{{Time}}}| {{{Team}}}| {{{Event}}}| {{{Score}}}

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{{{Time}}}| {{{Team}}}| {{{Event}}}| {{{Score}}}

### Michigan State

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Team | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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Michigan St. | 0 | 14| 7| 7 | 28
• Notre Dame | 7 | 14| 14| 7 | 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}}}

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{{{Time}}}| {{{Team}}}| {{{Event}}}| {{{Score}}}

### Army

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Team | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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• Notre Dame | 10 | 14| 14| 7 | 45
Army | 0 | 0| 0| 0 | 0

* Date: October 11
* Location: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
* Game start: 2:00 p.m. EDT

Scoring summary{{{Time}}}| {{{Team}}}| {{{Event}}}| {{{Score}}}

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{{{Time}}}| {{{Team}}}| {{{Event}}}| {{{Score}}}

### USC

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Team | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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USC | 0 | 0| 7| 7 | 14
Notre Dame | 0 | 0| 7| 7 | 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}}}

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{{{Time}}}| {{{Team}}}| {{{Event}}}| {{{Score}}}

### Tulane

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Team | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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• Notre Dame | 7 | 17| 7| 6 | 37
Tulane | 0 | 0| 0| 0 | 0

* Date: October 25
* Location: Tulane Stadium, New Orleans, LA
* Game start: 7:30 p.m. CDT

Scoring summary{{{Time}}}| {{{Team}}}| {{{Event}}}| {{{Score}}}

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{{{Time}}}| {{{Team}}}| {{{Event}}}| {{{Score}}}

### Navy

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Team | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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Navy | 0 | 0| 0| 0 | 0
• Notre Dame | 7 | 26| 14| 0 | 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}}}

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{{{Time}}}| {{{Team}}}| {{{Event}}}| {{{Score}}}

### Pittsburgh

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Team | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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• Notre Dame | 14 | 21| 14| 0 | 49
Pittsburgh | 7 | 0| 0| 0 | 7

* Date: November 8
* Location: Pitt Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA
* Game start: 1:30 p.m. EST

Scoring summary{{{Time}}}| {{{Team}}}| {{{Event}}}| {{{Score}}}

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{{{Time}}}| {{{Team}}}| {{{Event}}}| {{{Score}}}

### Georgia Tech

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Team | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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• Notre Dame | 21 | 10| 7| 0 | 38
Georgia Tech | 0 | 6| 0| 14 | 20

* Date: November 15
* Location: Grant Field, Atlanta, GA
* Game start: 9:30 p.m. EST
* Television network: ABC

Scoring summary{{{Time}}}| {{{Team}}}| {{{Event}}}| {{{Score}}}

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{{{Time}}}| {{{Team}}}| {{{Event}}}| {{{Score}}}

### Air Force

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Team | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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Air Force | 0 | 3| 0| 3 | 6
• Notre Dame | 7 | 6| 0| 0 | 13

* Date: November 22
* Location: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN
* Game attendance: 59,075

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

Team | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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Fighting Irish | 3 | 7| 0| 7 | 17
• Longhorns | 0 | 7| 0| 14 | 21

* Date: January 1
* Location: Cotton Bowl, Dallas, Texas
* Game attendance: 71,938
* Referee: Cliff Domingue
* Television network: CBS

Main article: 1970 Cotton Bowl Classic

See also: 1969 Texas Longhorns football team

## Roster

[edit]

1969 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team roster

Players  | Coaches
Offense | Pos. | # | Name | Class

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OT | `64` | Terry Brennan | Sr
G | `56` | Larry DiNardo | Jr
WR | `44` | Tom Gatewood | So
QB | `7` | Joe Theismann | Jr
Defense | Pos. | # | Name | Class

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DB | `17` | Mike Crotty | So
DT | `77` | Mike McCoy | Sr
DE | `85` | Walt Patulski | So
Special teams | Pos. | # | Name | Class

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K | `` | Scott Hempel

Head coach

* Ara Parseghian

Coordinators/assistant coaches

* * *

Legend

* (C) Team captain
* (S) Suspended
* (I) Ineligible

* Injured
* Redshirt

## 1970 NFL draft

[edit]

Main article: 1970 NFL draft

Player | Position | Round | Pick | Franchise

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Mike McCoy | Guard | 1 | 2 | Green Bay Packers
Jim Reilly | Guard | 3 | 57 | Buffalo Bills
Bob Olson | Linebacker | 5 | 107 | Boston Patriots
Mike Oriard | Center | 5 | 130 | Kansas City Chiefs
Terry Brennan | Tackle | 7 | 158 | Philadelphia Eagles

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Notre Dame accepts Cotton's bid". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. November 18, 1969. p. 12.
2. ^ "Irish test Texas rank". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. January 1, 1970. p. 13.
3. ^ Fite, Ed (January 1, 1970). "Irish test Longhorns in Dallas". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). UPI. p. 44.
4. ^ a b "Texans edge Irish on big 4th downs". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. January 2, 1970. p. 30.
5. ^ "Phipps paces Purdue past Notre Dame". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). Associated Press. October 19, 1969. p. 57.
6. ^ Liska, Jerry (October 19, 1969). "Notre Dame, Southern Cal in 14-14 draw". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). Associated Press. p. 61.
7. ^ Bryson, Mike (November 15, 1969). "Georgia Tech shouldn't Irish plans". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). Associated Press. p. 6.
8. ^ "Irish build early lead, swamp Tech". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. November 16, 1969. p. 1, sports.
9. ^ "Georgia Tech blitzed 38–20 by Notre Dame". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. November 16, 1969. Retrieved July 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
10. ^ Bryson, Mike (November 23, 1969). "Irish shake 'shakes' and beat Air Force". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). Associated Press. p. 69.
11. ^ "Texas rallies to beat Irish, 21 to 17". Chicago Tribune. January 2, 1970. Retrieved May 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
12. ^ "1969 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Schedule and Results".
13. ^ "Irish Shaky, Nip Falcons." Palm Beach Post. 1969 Nov 23.

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Notre Dame Fighting Irish football

Venues|

* Brownson Hall field (1892?–1899)
* Cartier Field (1899–1928)
* Soldier Field (1929)
* Notre Dame Stadium (1930–present)

Bowls and rivalries|

* Bowl games
* Emerald Isle Classic
* Army
* Boston College
* Michigan
* Michigan State
* Navy
* Northwestern
* Pittsburgh
* Purdue
* Stanford
* USC

Culture and lore|

* History
* Band of the Fighting Irish
* Irish Guard
* Notre Dame Box
* Notre Dame Leprechaun
* "Notre Dame, Our Mother"
* "Notre Dame Victory March"
* Play Like a Champion Today
* Subway Alumni
* T formation
* Tall Grass Game
* 1946 "Game of the Century"
* 1966 "Game of the Century"
* Catholics vs. Convicts
* 30 for 30 film
* 1993 "Game of the Century"
* Bush Push
* Navy ends the drought
* Death of Lizzy Seeberg
* 2020 ACC Championship Game
* The Spirit of Notre Dame
* Knute Rockne, All American
* Notre Dame Football on NBC
* Rudy

People|

* Head coaches
* Starting quarterbacks
* Four Horsemen
* NFL draftees
* Statistical leaders
* Team captains

Seasons|

* 1887
* 1888
* 1889
* 1890
* 1891
* 1892
* 1893
* 1894
* 1895
* 1896
* 1897
* 1898
* 1899
* 1900
* 1901
* 1902
* 1903
* 1904
* 1905
* 1906
* 1907
* 1908
* 1909
* 1910
* 1911
* 1912
* 1913
* 1914
* 1915
* 1916
* 1917
* 1918
* 1919
* 1920
* 1921
* 1922
* 1923
* 1924
* 1925
* 1926
* 1927
* 1928
* 1929
* 1930
* 1931
* 1932
* 1933
* 1934
* 1935
* 1936
* 1937
* 1938
* 1939
* 1940
* 1941
* 1942
* 1943
* 1944
* 1945
* 1946
* 1947
* 1948
* 1949
* 1950
* 1951
* 1952
* 1953
* 1954
* 1955
* 1956
* 1957
* 1958
* 1959
* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
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*[Conf.]: Conference record
*[W]: Wins
*[L]: Losses
*[T]: Ties
*[No.]: Number