1984 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team

American college football season

1984 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football

Aloha Bowl, L 20–27 vs. SMU

Conference| Independent
Record| 7–5
Head coach|

* Gerry Faust (4th season)

Defensive coordinator| A. J. Christoff (1st season)
Captains|

* Mike Golic
* Joe Johnson
* Larry Williams

Home stadium| Notre Dame Stadium

Seasons

<- 1983

1985 ->

1984 NCAA Division I-A independents football records

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

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Team | W |  | L |  | T |  |  | W |  | L |  | T
No. 5 Boston College |  | - |  | - |  |  |  | 10  | - | 2  | - | 0
No. 11 South Carolina |  | - |  | - |  |  |  | 10  | - | 2  | - | 0
Army |  | - |  | - |  |  |  | 8  | - | 3  | - | 1
Rutgers |  | - |  | - |  |  |  | 7  | - | 3  | - | 0
No. 17 Florida State |  | - |  | - |  |  |  | 7  | - | 3  | - | 2
Virginia Tech |  | - |  | - |  |  |  | 8  | - | 4  | - | 0
West Virginia |  | - |  | - |  |  |  | 8  | - | 4  | - | 0
No. 18 Miami (FL) |  | - |  | - |  |  |  | 8  | - | 5  | - | 0
Notre Dame |  | - |  | - |  |  |  | 7  | - | 5  | - | 0
Temple |  | - |  | - |  |  |  | 6  | - | 5  | - | 0
Southwestern Louisiana |  | - |  | - |  |  |  | 6  | - | 5  | - | 0
Penn State |  | - |  | - |  |  |  | 6  | - | 5  | - | 0
Syracuse |  | - |  | - |  |  |  | 6  | - | 5  | - | 0
Memphis State |  | - |  | - |  |  |  | 5  | - | 5  | - | 1
Navy |  | - |  | - |  |  |  | 4  | - | 6  | - | 1
Southern Miss |  | - |  | - |  |  |  | 4  | - | 7  | - | 0
Pittsburgh |  | - |  | - |  |  |  | 3  | - | 7  | - | 1
Tulane |  | - |  | - |  |  |  | 3  | - | 8  | - | 0
Cincinnati |  | - |  | - |  |  |  | 2  | - | 9  | - | 0
East Carolina |  | - |  | - |  |  |  | 2  | - | 9  | - | 0
Louisville |  | - |  | - |  |  |  | 2  | - | 9  | - | 0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1984 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame as an independent during the 1984 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Gerry Faust, the Fighting Irish compiled a record of 7–5. Notre Dame was invited to the Aloha Bowl, where the Fighting Irish lost to SMU. The team played home games at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana.

## Schedule

[edit]

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

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September 8| 1:30 p.m.| vs. Purdue| No. 8|

* Hoosier Dome
* Indianapolis, IN (rivalry)

| | L 21–23| 60,672| [1]
September 15| 1:00 p.m.| at Michigan State| |

* Spartan Stadium
* East Lansing, MI (rivalry)

| | W 20–17| 76,919| [2]
September 22| 2:30 p.m.| Colorado| |

* Notre Dame Stadium
* Notre Dame, IN

| | W 55–14| 59,075| [3]
September 29| 3:50 p.m.| at Missouri| No. 19|

* Memorial Stadium
* Columbia, MO

| ABC| W 16–14| 70,915| [4]
October 6| 7:45 p.m.| No. 14 Miami (FL)| No. 17|

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

| ESPN| L 13–31| 59,075| [5]
October 13| 12:20 p.m.| Air Force| |

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

| ESPN| L 7–21| 59,075| [6]
October 20| 12:20 p.m.| No. 11 South Carolina| |

* Notre Dame Stadium
* Notre Dame, IN

| ESPN| L 32–36| 59,075| [7]
October 27| 3:50 p.m.| at No. 6 LSU| |

* Tiger Stadium
* Baton Rouge, LA

| ABC| W 30–22| 78,033| [8]
November 3| 12:10 p.m.| vs. Navy| |

* Giants Stadium
* East Rutherford, NJ (rivalry)

| ESPN| W 18–17| 61,795| [9]
November 17| 12:20 p.m.| Penn State| |

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

| ESPN| W 44–7| 59,075| [10]
November 24| 3:40 p.m.| at No. 14 USC| |

* Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
* Los Angeles, CA (rivalry)

| CBS| W 19–7| 66,342| [11]
December 29| 8:00 p.m.| vs. No. 10 SMU| No. 17|

* Aloha Stadium
* Halawa, HI (Aloha Bowl)

| ESPN| L 20–27| 41,777| [12]

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

## Game summaries

[edit]

### vs Purdue

[edit]

See also: Notre Dame–Purdue football rivalry

#8 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (0–0) vs. Purdue Boilermakers (0–0)

Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3| 4| Total

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Purdue | 3 | 10 | 3| 7| 23
Notre Dame | 14 | 0 | 0| 7| 21

at Hoosier Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana

* Date: September 8, 1984
* Game weather: Indoors (dome)
* Game attendance: 60,672
* Recap/Box Score

Game information

First quarter

* PUR – Mike Rendina 31-yard field goal, 13:16. Purdue 3–0. Drive: 3 plays, -1 yard, 1:38.
* ND – Allen Pinkett 11-yard run (John Carney kick), 7:55. Notre Dame 7–3. Drive: 10 plays, 77 yards, 5:21.
* ND – Mark Brooks 3-yard run (John Carney kick), 1:39. Notre Dame 14–3. Drive: 10 plays, 70 yards, 4:12.

Second quarter

* PUR – Jeff Price 6-yard pass from Jim Everett, 10:11. Notre Dame 14–10. Drive: 14 plays, 86 yards, 6:28.
* PUR – Mike Rendina 18-yard field goal, 0:00. Notre Dame 14–13. Drive: 13 plays, 62 yards, 5:59.

Third quarter

* PUR – Mike Rendina 20-yard field goal, 3:47. Purdue 16–14. Drive: 13 plays, 92 yards, 5:54.

Fourth quarter

* PUR – Jeff Price 14-yard pass from Jim Everett (Mike Rendina kick), 13:57. Purdue 23–14. Drive: 6 plays, 88 yards, 2:32.
* ND – Allen Pinkett 6-yard run (John Carney kick), 4:21. Purdue 23–21. Drive: 11 plays, 66 yards, 4:16.

Top passers

* PUR – Jim Everett – 20/28, 255 yards, 2 TD, INT
* ND – Steve Beuerlein – 13/20, 233 yards, 3 INT

Top rushers

* PUR – Rodney Carter – 22 rushes, 58 yards
* ND – Allen Pinkett – 22 rushes, 69 yards, 2 TD

Top receivers

* PUR – Steve Griffin – 5 receptions, 79 yards
* ND – Joe Howard – 3 receptions, 61 yards

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[13]

External videos

Television broadcast

### At Michigan State

[edit]

Team | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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• Fighting Irish | 0 | 3| 7| 14 | 24
Spartans | 17 | 0| 3| 0 | 20

* Date: September 15
* Location: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan
* Game attendance: 76,919

Scoring summary

Q1| | MSU| Butler 15 yard run (kick failed)| MSU 6–0
Q1| | MSU| Butler 23 yard run (Ingram pass from Yarema)| MSU 14–0
Q1| | MSU| Mojsiejenko 24 yard field goal| MSU 17–0
Q2| | ND| Carney 42 yard field goal| MSU 17–3
Q3| | ND| Pinkett 40 yard pass from Beuerlein (Carney kick)| MSU 17–10
Q3| | MSU| Mojsiejenko 43 yard field goal| MSU 20–10
Q4| | ND| Jackson 8 yard pass from Beuerlein (Carney kick)| MSU 20–17
Q4| | ND| Pinkett 5 yard run (Carney kick)| ND 24–20

See also: 1984 Michigan State Spartans football team

[14]

### Colorado

[edit]

See also: 1984 Colorado Buffaloes football team

### At Missouri

[edit]

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (November 2022)

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### Miami (FL)

[edit]

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (November 2022)

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### Air Force

[edit]

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (November 2022)

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### South Carolina

[edit]

Team | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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• Gamecocks | 7 | 7| 0| 22 | 36
Fighting Irish | 0 | 17| 9| 6 | 32

* Date: October 20
* Location: Notre Dame Stadium
* Game attendance: 59,075

Scoring summary

Q1| | SCAR| Mitchell 1 yard run (Hogler kick)| SCAR 7–0
Q2| | ND| Pinkett 4 yard run (Carney kick)| Tie 7–7
Q2| | ND| Bavaro 5 yard pass from Beuerlein (Carney kick)| ND 14–7
Q2| | SCAR| Hagood 2 yard run (Hogler kick)| Tie 14–14
Q2| | ND| Carney 48 yard field goal| ND 17–14
Q3| | ND| Carney 47 yard field goal| ND 20–14
Q3| | ND| Beuerlein 6 yard pass from Pinkett (pass failed)| ND 26–14
Q4| | SCAR| Hold 1 yard run (Hagood run)| ND 26–22
Q4| | SCAR| Hold 33 yard run (Hogler kick)| SCAR 29–26
Q4| | SCAR| Lewis 4 yard run (Hogler kick)| SCAR 36–26
Q4| | ND| Pinkett 1 yard run (pass failed)| SCAR 36–32

See also: 1984 South Carolina Gamecocks football team

ND: Third straight home loss (first time since 1956) [15]

### At LSU

[edit]

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (November 2022)

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### vs Navy

[edit]

Team | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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• Fighting Irish | 7 | 0| 0| 11 | 18
Midshipmen | 0 | 7| 7| 3 | 17

* Date: November 3

* Source: [1]

Scoring summary

1| | ND| Pinkett 1-yard run (Carney kick)| ND 7-0
2| | NAVY| Berner 6-yard run (Solomon kick)| Tied 7-7
3| | NAVY| Byrne 2-yard pass from Lauletta (Solomon kick)| NAVY 14-7
4| | NAVY| Solomon 32-yard field goal| NAVY 17-7
4| | ND| Pinkett 1-yard run (Beuerlein to Howard pass)| NAVY 17-15
4| | ND| Carney 44-yard field goal| ND 18-17

See also: 1984 Navy Midshipmen football team

### Penn State

[edit]

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (November 2022)

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### At USC

[edit]

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (November 2022)

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### Aloha Bowl (vs SMU)

[edit]

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (November 2022)

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## Roster

[edit]

1984 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team roster

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

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QB | `2` | Terry Andrysiak | Fr
OL | `` | John Askin
TE | `82` | Mark Bavaro | Sr
QB | `7` | Steve Beuerlein | So
RB | `` | Mark Brooks
WR | `81` | Tim Brown | Fr
RB | `` | Ray Carter
WR | `` | Pat Cusack
RB | `` | Ian DeHueck
OL | `` | Tom Doerger
RB | `` | Lester Flemons
TE | `` | Ricky Gray
QB | `` | Scott Grooms
WR | `24` | Joe Howard | Sr
WR | `` | Milt Jackson
RB | `` | Alonzo Jefferson
OL | `` | Mike Kelley
RB | `` | Dave Matcholf
WR | `` | Alvin Miller
RB | `` | Tom Monohan
RB | `` | Jeff O'Neill
OL | `` | Mike Perrino
RB | `20` | Allen Pinkett | Jr
OT | `62` | Ron Plantz | Jr
OL | `` | Tim Scannell
RB | `` | Chris Smith
RB | `` | Frank Stams
WR | `` | Reggie Ward
TE | `` | Joel Williams
G | `75` | Larry Williams | Sr
Defense | Pos. | # | Name | Class

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CB | `40` | Pat Ballage | Jr
LB | `` | Robert Banks
DB | `13` | Pat Cummings | Sr
LB | `43` | Rick DiBernardo | Jr
DE | `71` | Eric Dorsey | Jr
DB | `` | Hiwatha Francisco
LB | `58` | Tony Furjanic | Jr
DE | `78` | Mike Gann | Sr
LB | `55` | Mike Golic | Sr
DL | `` | Mike Griffin
DB | `` | Mike Haywood
S | `27` | Joe Johnson | Sr
DL | `` | Wally Kleine
LB | `` | Mike Kovaleski
LB | `` | Mike Larkin
DB | `` | Steve Lawrence
LB | `` | John McCabe
LB | `48` | John Wackowski | Sr
LB | `` | Ron Weissenhofer | So
DB | `` | Troy Wilson | So
Special teams | Pos. | # | Name | Class

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K | `18` | John Carney | So
K | `` | Pat Chura
P | `` | Mike Viracola
K | `` | Hal Von Wyl

Head coach

* Gerry Faust

Coordinators/assistant coaches

* * *

Legend

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

* Injured
* Redshirt

## Awards and honors

[edit]

* Former Fighting Irish player Red Sitko was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Purdue shocks Irish, 23–21". The Miami Herald. September 9, 1984. Retrieved February 28, 2025 - via Newspapers.com.
2. ^ "Notre Dame nips Spartans". The Kalamazoo Gazette. September 16, 1984. Retrieved February 28, 2025 - via Newspapers.com.
3. ^ "Notre Dame wins a mercy killing, 55–14". The Grand Rapids Press. September 23, 1984. Retrieved February 28, 2025 - via Newspapers.com.
4. ^ "Notre Dame holds off Mizzou with FGs, 16–14". Tulsa World. September 30, 1984. Retrieved February 28, 2025 - via Newspapers.com.
5. ^ "Irish accosted by Kosar, Miami". The Indianapolis Star. October 7, 1984. Retrieved February 28, 2025 - via Newspapers.com.
6. ^ "Air Force flattend Notre Dame 21–7". St. Petersburg Times. October 14, 1984. Retrieved February 28, 2025 - via Newspapers.com.
7. ^ "Late burst lifts South Carolina by Notre Dame". St. Petersburg Times. October 21, 1984. Retrieved January 29, 2024 - via Newspapers.com.
8. ^ "Upset of No. 6 LSU pulls Irish from ashes". The Indianapolis Star. October 28, 1984. Retrieved February 28, 2025 - via Newspapers.com.
9. ^ "Late field goal lifts Notre Dame to disputed win". The Philadelphia Inquirer. November 4, 1984. Retrieved February 28, 2025 - via Newspapers.com.
10. ^ "Pinkett's motivation carries surging Irish over Penn State 44–7". The Courier-Journal. November 18, 1984. Retrieved February 28, 2025 - via Newspapers.com.
11. ^ "Irish trade mud for sand". Chicago Tribune. November 25, 1984. Retrieved February 28, 2025 - via Newspapers.com.
12. ^ "SMU holds off Notre Dame". The Post-Crescent. December 30, 1984. Retrieved February 28, 2025 - via Newspapers.com.
13. ^ Gainesville Sun. 1984-Sep-09. Retrieved 2022-Nov-19.
14. ^ Gainesville Sun. 1984 September 16.
15. ^ Eugene Register-Guard. 1984 October 21. Retrieved 2016 September 11.

* v
* t
* e

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
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

National championship seasons in bold
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Conf.]: Conference record
*[W]: Wins
*[L]: Losses
*[T]: Ties
*[No.]: Number