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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-

Team Home Summary  Coaches Games by Year Opponents Rankings Bowls Conference


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
  Record5-6
  Points Scored232
  Scoring Average21.1
  Points Allowed160
  Defense Average14.5
  Opponents Record68-55
  Conference Record0-0
  Home Record4-2
  Away Record1-4
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 5-6309251   Pat Collins
Pittsburgh 11-1385160Won  24-20  Jackie Sherrill
Penn State 10-2371162Won  26-10  Joe Paterno
Southern Mississippi 9-2-1305108Lost  17-19  Bobby Collins
West Virginia 9-3284155Won  26-6  Don Nehlen
Navy 7-4-1244183Lost  28-31  George Welsh
Virginia Tech 7-4232128   Bill Dooley
Cincinnati 6-5171187   Mike Gottfried
Florida State 6-5240286   Bobby Bowden
Nevada Las Vegas 6-6326433   Tony Knap
South Carolina 6-6225222   Jim Carlen
Tulane 6-5213144   Vince Gibson
Akron 5-5132183   Jim Dennison
Boston College 5-6243298   Jack Bicknell, Sr.
Buffalo 5-5187168   Bill Dando
East Carolina 5-6242290   Ed Emory
Louisville 5-6180212   Bob Weber
Notre Dame 5-6232160   Gerry Faust
Rutgers 5-6139208   Frank R. Burns
Temple 5-5181195   Wayne Hardin
Central Florida 4-6142130   Don Jonas
Syracuse 4-6-1248265   Dick MacPherson
Army 3-7-1126212   Ed Cavanaugh
James Madison 3-8198265   Challace McMillin
North Texas 2-9111235   Bob Tyler
Liberty 1-9135308   Tom Dowling
Memphis 1-1082209   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 Orange Bowl was played between Manhattan College and the University of Miami on New Year's Day in 1935.