The 1971 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame during the 1971 NCAA University Division football season.
Prior to their concluding game at LSU, seventh-ranked Notre Dame (8–1) announced that they would not play in a bowl game this season.[1][2][3]
Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|
| September 18 | 2:30 p.m. | Northwestern | No. 2 | | | W 50–7 | 59,075 | |
| September 25 | 2:30 p.m. | at Purdue | No. 2 | | | W 8–7 | 69,765 | |
| October 2 | 1:50 p.m. | Michigan State | No. 4 | - Notre Dame Stadium
- Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)
| ABC regional | W 14–2 | 59,075 | |
| October 9 | 8:15 p.m. | at Miami (FL) | No. 9 | | | W 17–0 | 64,357–66,039 | |
| October 16 | 2:30 p.m. | North Carolina | No. 7 | - Notre Dame Stadium
- Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)
| | W 16–0 | 59,075 | [4] |
| October 23 | 2:30 p.m. | USC | No. 6 | - Notre Dame Stadium
- Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)
| | L 14–28 | 59,075 | |
| October 30 | 1:30 p.m. | Navy | No. 12 | - Notre Dame Stadium
- Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)
| | W 21–0 | 59,075 | |
| November 6 | 1:00 p.m. | at Pittsburgh | No. 8 | | | W 56–7 | 55,528 | |
| November 13 | 1:30 p.m. | Tulane | No. 8 | - Notre Dame Stadium
- Notre Dame, IN
| | W 21–7 | 59,075 | |
| November 20 | 8:05 p.m. | at No. 14 LSU | No. 7 | | ABC | L 8–28 | 66,936 | [5] |
|
[6]
Game summaries
Northwestern
Northwestern at Notre Dame
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Northwestern |
7 |
0 | 0 | 0 |
7 |
| • Notre Dame |
7 |
23 | 6 | 14 |
50 |
Purdue
Notre Dame at Purdue
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Notre Dame |
0 |
0 | 0 | 8 |
8 |
| Purdue |
0 |
7 | 0 | 0 |
7 |
Scoring summary |
| 2 | | PUR | Armstrong 26 yard pass from Danielson (Renie kick) | PUR 7-0 |
|
| 4 | 2:58 | ND | Swendsen recovered fumble in end zone (Steenberge to Creaney pass) | ND 8-7 |
[7]
"The Genuflect Play"
Michigan State
Michigan State at Notre Dame
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Michigan St. |
2 |
0 | 0 | 0 |
2 |
| • Notre Dame |
14 |
0 | 0 | 0 |
14 |
- Date: October 2
- Location: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN
- Game start: 12:50 pm EST
- Game attendance: 59,075
- Game weather: Hot, mid-80s
- Referee: Howard Wirtz (Big Ten)
- TV announcers (ABC): Chris Schenkel and Bud Wilkinson
Scoring summary |
| 1 | | ND | Minnix 1-yard run (Thomas kick) | ND 7-0 |
|
| 1 | | ND | Minnix 5-yard run (Thomas kick) | ND 14-0 |
|
| 1 | | MSU | Safety (Etter recovered Parker fumble in end zone) | ND 14-2 |
Miami (Florida)
Notre Dame at Miami
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Notre Dame |
0 |
3 | 7 | 7 |
17 |
| Miami |
0 |
0 | 0 | 0 |
0 |
- Date: October 9
- Location: Miami Orange Bowl
- Game start: 8:00 p.m. EDT
- Game attendance: 64,357
- Game weather: 84 degrees, 77% humidity
- Referee: Morris Harrison
Scoring summary |
| 2 | | ND | Thomas 38-yard field goal | ND 3-0 |
|
| 3 | | ND | Huff 16-yard run (Thomas kick) | ND 10-0 |
|
| 4 | | ND | Dewan 6-yard run (Thomas kick) | ND 17-0 |
North Carolina
North Carolina at Notre Dame
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| N. Carolina |
0 |
0 | 0 | 0 |
0 |
| • Notre Dame |
3 |
6 | 0 | 7 |
16 |
- Date: October 16
- Location: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN
- Game start: 1:30 pm EST
- Game attendance: 59,075
- Game weather: Fair, mid-70s
- Referee: Howard Wirtz
Scoring summary |
| 1 | | ND | Thomas 28-yard field goal | ND 3-0 |
|
| 2 | | ND | Thomas 27-yard field goal | ND 6-0 |
|
| 2 | | ND | Thomas 24-yard field goal | ND 9-0 |
|
| 4 | | ND | Gatewood 4-yard pass from Brown (Thomas kick) | ND 16-0 |
USC
Southern Cal at Notre Dame
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • USC |
14 |
14 | 0 | 0 |
28 |
| Notre Dame |
7 |
0 | 7 | 0 |
14 |
- Date: October 23
- Location: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN
- Game start: 1:30 pm EDT
- Game attendance: 59,075
- Game weather: Damp, low 60s
- Referee: Jerry Markbreit
Scoring summary |
| 1 | | S. Cal. | Garrison 31-yard pass from Jones (Rae Kick) | S. Cal 0-7 |
|
| 1 | | ND | Huff 1-yard run (Thomas kick) | Tied 7-7 |
|
| 1 | | S. Cal. | Garrison 24-yard pass from Rae (Rae kick) | S. Cal. 7-14 |
|
| 2 | | S. Cal. | Cunningham 1-yard run (Rae kick) | S. Cal. 7-21 |
|
| 2 | | S. Cal. | Dyer 54-yard interception return (Rae kick) | S. Cal. 7-28 |
|
| 4 | | ND | Cieszkowski 4-yard run (Thomas kick) | S. Cal. 14-28 |
Navy
Navy at Notre Dame
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Navy |
0 |
0 | 0 | 0 |
0 |
| • Notre Dame |
7 |
14 | 0 | 0 |
21 |
Scoring summary |
| 1 | | ND | Gulyas 1 yard run (Thomas kick) | ND 7-0 |
|
| 2 | | ND | Minnix 1 yard run (Thomas kick) | ND 14-0 |
|
| 2 | | ND | Minnix 10 yard run (Thomas kick) | ND 21-0 |
[8]
Pittsburgh
Notre Dame at Pittsburgh
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Notre Dame |
14 |
14 | 14 | 14 |
56 |
| Pittsburgh |
0 |
7 | 0 | 0 |
7 |
Tulane
Tulane at Notre Dame
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Tulane |
0 |
7 | 0 | 0 |
7 |
| • Notre Dame |
0 |
0 | 14 | 7 |
21 |
- Date: November 13
- Location: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN
- Game start: 1:30 pm EST
- Game weather: Upper 40s
- Referee: Howard Wirtz
Scoring summary |
| 2 | | Tulane | Barrios 14-yard pass from LaChausse (Gibson Kick) | Tulane 0-7 |
|
| 3 | | ND | Brown 1-yard run (Thomas kick) | Tied 7-7 |
|
| 3 | | ND | Creaney 19-yard pass from Brown (Thomas kick) | ND 14-7 |
|
| 4 | | ND | Brown 5-yard run (Thomas kick) | ND 21-7 |
LSU
Notre Dame at LSU
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #7 Notre Dame |
0 |
0 | 0 | 8 |
8 |
| • #12 LSU |
7 |
7 | 7 | 7 |
28 |
Scoring summary |
| 1 | 10:47 | LSU | Hamilton 36 pass from Jones (Michaelson kick) | LSU 7-0 |
|
| 2 | 01:14 | LSU | Hamilton 32 pass from Jones (Michaelson kick) | LSU 14-0 |
|
| 3 | 00:10 | LSU | Jones 5 run (Michaelson kick) | LSU 21-0 |
|
| 4 | 02:54 | ND | Gatewood 7 pass from Brown (Minnix pass from Brown) | LSU 21-8 |
|
| 4 | 00:20 | LSU | Hamilton 13 pass from Lyons (Michaelson kick) | LSU 28-8 |
Roster
| 1971 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team roster
|
| Players
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Coaches
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| Offense
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Defense
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Special teams
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- Head coach
- Coordinators/assistant coaches
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (S) Suspended
- (I) Ineligible
Injured
Redshirt
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Team players in the NFL
References
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| Venues | |
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| Bowls and rivalries | |
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| Culture and lore | |
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| People | |
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| Seasons | |
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National championship seasons in bold |