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Notre Dame Football Team History

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

University of Notre Dame
South Bend, IN
Founded: 1842
Stadium: Notre Dame Stadium
Capacity: 80,225
Colors: Blue & Gold
Coach: Gerry Faust
Conference: Independent-

Select Year:

1887 <-- 1980 <- 1981 -> 1982 --> 2024

1981 Season Highlights

Gerry Faust enters his 1st season as Head Coach at Notre Dame.

1981 Season

Date	Opponent	Score
Sat., Sep. 12	vs. Louisiana State	27	9	W
Sat., Sep. 19	@ Michigan	7	25	L
Sat., Sep. 26	@ Purdue	14	15	L
Sat., Oct. 3	vs. Michigan State	20	7	W
Sat., Oct. 10	vs. Florida State	13	19	L
Sat., Oct. 24	vs. Southern California	7	14	L
Sat., Oct. 31	vs. Navy	38	0	W
Sat., Nov. 7	vs. Georgia Tech	35	3	W
Sat., Nov. 14	@ Air Force	35	7	W
Sat., Nov. 21	@ Penn State	21	24	L
Fri., Nov. 27	@ Miami	15	37	L

1981 Season Totals
Record	5-6
Points Scored	232
Scoring Average	21.1
Points Allowed	160
Defense Average	14.5
Opponents Record	68-55
Conference Record	0-0
Home Record	4-2
Away Record	1-4

1981 NCAA Final Rankings
Rank	Record	Source
was not ranked.

1981 Independent- Standings
	Season			Bowls	Conference
Team	W/L/T	PF	PA		W/L/T	PF	PA	Coach
Louisiana Monroe	5-6	309	251					Pat Collins
Pittsburgh	11-1	385	160	Won 24-20				Jackie Sherrill
Penn State	10-2	371	162	Won 26-10				Joe Paterno
Southern Mississippi	9-2-1	305	108	Lost 17-19				Bobby Collins
West Virginia	9-3	284	155	Won 26-6				Don Nehlen
Navy	7-4-1	244	183	Lost 28-31				George Welsh
Virginia Tech	7-4	232	128					Bill Dooley
Cincinnati	6-5	171	187					Mike Gottfried
Florida State	6-5	240	286					Bobby Bowden
Nevada Las Vegas	6-6	326	433					Tony Knap
South Carolina	6-6	225	222					Jim Carlen
Tulane	6-5	213	144					Vince Gibson
Akron	5-5	132	183					Jim Dennison
Boston College	5-6	243	298					Jack Bicknell, Sr.
Buffalo	5-5	187	168					Bill Dando
East Carolina	5-6	242	290					Ed Emory
Louisville	5-6	180	212					Bob Weber
Notre Dame	5-6	232	160					Gerry Faust
Rutgers	5-6	139	208					Frank R. Burns
Temple	5-5	181	195					Wayne Hardin
Central Florida	4-6	142	130					Don Jonas
Syracuse	4-6-1	248	265					Dick MacPherson
Army	3-7-1	126	212					Ed Cavanaugh
James Madison	3-8	198	265					Challace McMillin
North Texas	2-9	111	235					Bob Tyler
Liberty	1-9	135	308					Tom Dowling
Memphis	1-10	82	209					Rex Dockery

1981 All American Awards
Player	Position	Class	Ht.	Wt.	Award	Team	Source
Coming Someday

1981 All Independent Conference Players
Player	Position	Class	Ht.	Wt.	Team	Source
Coming Someday

Some records may be incomplete.

Great Moments in College Football History

The first bowl game, later known as The Rose Bowl, was played on January 1st, 1902 between the Michigan Wolverines and Stanford Cardinals. Michigan won 49-0.