The 1987 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented Notre Dame University during the 1987 NCAA Division I-A football season. Tony Rice became the starting quarterback for Notre Dame following an injury to Terry Andrysiak. The Irish would finish the season 8–4 and earn a berth to the Cotton Bowl Classic.
Schedule[]
Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
---|
September 12 | 3:30 p.m. | at No. 9 Michigan | No. 16 | | ABC | W 26–7 | 106,098 |
September 19 | 7:45 p.m. | No. 17 Michigan State | No. 9 | | ESPN | W 31–8 | 59,075 |
September 26 | 12:00 p.m. | at Purdue | No. 8 | | | W 44–20 | 68,528 |
October 10 | 7:00 p.m. | at Pittsburgh | No. 4 | | ESPN | L 22–30 | 56,400 |
October 17 | 3:30 p.m. | at Air Force | No. 11 | | | W 35–14 | 51,112 |
October 24 | 2:30 p.m. | USC | No. 10 | | CBS | W 26–15 | 59,075 |
October 31 | 12:00 p.m. | Navy | No. 9 | - Notre Dame Stadium
- Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)
| | W 56–13 | 59,075 |
November 7 | 12:00 p.m. | Boston College | No. 9 | - Notre Dame Stadium
- Notre Dame, IN (Holy War)
| | W 32–25 | 59,075 |
November 14 | 2:30 p.m. | No. 10 Alabama | No. 7 | - Notre Dame Stadium
- Notre Dame, IN
| CBS | W 37–6 | 59,075 |
November 21 | 12:00 p.m. | at Penn State | No. 7 | | CBS | L 20–21 | 84,000 |
November 28 | 3:30 p.m. | at No. 2 Miami (FL) | No. 10 | | CBS | L 0–24 | 76,640 |
January 1, 1988 | 1:30 p.m. | vs. No. 13 Texas A&M | No. 12 | | CBS | L 10–35 | 73,006 |
|
Game summaries[]
Michigan[]
#16 Notre Dame at #9 Michigan
by Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4
|
Total
|
• Notre Dame
|
10 |
0 |
7 |
9
|
26
|
Michigan
|
0 |
0 |
7 |
0
|
7
|
Scoring summary |
---|
|
Q1 |
| ND | Gradel 44 yard field goal | ND 3–0 |
|
Q1 |
| ND | T. Brown 11 yard pass from Andrysiak (Gradel kick) | ND 10–0 |
|
Q3 |
| ND | Banks 1 yard run (Gradel kick) | ND 17–0 |
|
Q3 |
| MICH | McMurtry 12 yard pass from D. Brown (Gillette kick) | ND 17–7 |
|
Q4 |
| ND | Gradel 38 yard field goal | ND 20–7 |
|
Q4 |
| ND | Watters 18 yard run (pass failed) | ND 26–7 |
|
Terry Andrysiak completed 11 of 15 passes for 137 yards and a touchdown while Notre Dame converted four of Michigan's seven turnovers into scores.
[1]
Michigan State[]
by Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4
|
Total
|
Michigan St
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
8
|
8
|
• Notre Dame
|
19 |
5 |
7 |
0
|
31
|
Scoring summary |
---|
|
Q1 |
| ND | Ezor downed ball in end zone | ND 2–0 |
|
Q1 |
| ND | Gradel 27 yard field goal | ND 5–0 |
|
Q1 |
| ND | Brown 71 yard punt return (Gradel kick) | ND 12–0 |
|
Q1 |
| ND | Brown 66 yard punt return (Gradel kick) | ND 19–0 |
|
Q2 |
| ND | McAllister tackled in end zone | ND 21–0 |
|
Q2 |
| ND | Gradel 37 yard field goal | ND 24–0 |
|
Q3 |
| ND | Johnson 3 yard run (Gradel kick) | ND 31–0 |
|
Q4 |
| MSU | Rison 57 yard pass from McAllister (Wilson pass from McAllister) | ND 31–8 |
|
Purdue[]
by Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4
|
Total
|
• Notre Dame
|
10 |
7 |
14 |
13
|
44
|
Purdue
|
0 |
17 |
3 |
0
|
20
|
Scoring summary |
---|
|
Q1 |
| ND | Gradel 35 yard field goal | ND 3–0 |
|
Q1 |
| ND | Johnson 6 yard run (Gradel kick) | ND 10–0 |
|
Q2 |
| PUR | Schumacher 4 yard pass from Downing (Briggs kick) | ND 10–7 |
|
Q2 |
| PUR | C. Williams 20 yard pass from Downing (Briggs kick) | PUR 14–10 |
|
Q2 |
| PUR | Briggs 18 yard field goal | PUR 17–10 |
|
Q2 |
| ND | Johnson 1 yard run (Gradel kick) | Tie 17–17 |
|
Q3 |
| PUR | Briggs 50 yard field goal | PUR 20–17 |
|
Q3 |
| ND | Johnson 8 yard run (Gradel kick) | ND 24–20 |
|
Q3 |
| ND | Brown 49 yard pass from Andrysiak (Gradel kick) | ND 31–20 |
|
Q4 |
| ND | Gradel 28 yard field goal | ND 34–20 |
|
Q4 |
| ND | Gradel 44 yard field goal | ND 37–20 |
|
Q4 |
| ND | Southall 57 yard interception return (Gradel kick) | ND 44–20 |
|
[2]
Pittsburgh[]
Air Force[]
by Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4
|
Total
|
• Notre Dame
|
14 |
0 |
14 |
7
|
35
|
Air Force
|
0 |
7 |
0 |
7
|
14
|
Scoring summary |
---|
|
Q1 |
| ND | Rice 1 yard run (Gradel kick) | ND 7–0 |
|
Q1 |
| ND | Rice 4 yard run (Gradel kick) | ND 14–0 |
|
Q2 |
| AFA | Booker 4 yard run (Yarborough kick) | ND 14–7 |
|
Q3 |
| ND | Johnson 1 yard run (Gradel kick) | ND 21–7 |
|
Q3 |
| ND | Banks 1 yard run (Gradel kick) | ND 28–7 |
|
Q4 |
| AFA | Dowis 1 yard run (Yarborough kick) | ND 28–14 |
|
Q4 |
| ND | Brown 74 yard punt return (Gradel kick) | ND 35–14 |
|
[3]
USC[]
by Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4
|
Total
|
USC
|
7 |
0 |
0 |
8
|
15
|
• Notre Dame
|
3 |
17 |
6 |
0
|
26
|
Scoring summary |
---|
|
Q1 |
| USC | Jackson 9 yard pass from Peete (Rodriguez kick) | USC 7–0 |
|
Q1 |
| ND | Gradel 26 yard field goal | USC 7–3 |
|
Q2 |
| ND | Rice 26 yard run (Gradel kick) | ND 10–7 |
|
Q2 |
| ND | T. Brown 5 yard run (Gradel kick) | ND 17–7 |
|
Q2 |
| ND | Gradel 32 yard field goal | ND 20–7 |
|
Q3 |
| ND | Green 11 yard run (run failed) | ND 26–7 |
|
Q4 |
| USC | Lockwood 5 yard run (Tanner pass from Peete) | ND 26–15 |
|
[4]
Navy[]
by Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4
|
Total
|
Navy
|
0 |
6 |
0 |
7
|
13
|
• Notre Dame
|
14 |
21 |
14 |
7
|
56
|
Scoring summary |
---|
|
Q1 |
| ND | Johnson 6 yard run (Gradel kick) | ND 7–0 |
|
Q1 |
| ND | Johnson 9 yard run (Gradel kick) | ND 14–0 |
|
Q2 |
| ND | Green 21 yard run (Gradel kick) | ND 21–0 |
|
Q2 |
| NAVY | Fundoukos 43 yard field goal | ND 21–3 |
|
Q2 |
| ND | Johnson 1 yard run (Gradel kick) | ND 28–3 |
|
Q2 |
| NAVY | Fundoukos 31 yard field goal | ND 28–6 |
|
Q2 |
| ND | Brown 51 yard pass from Graham (Gradel kick) | ND 35–6 |
|
Q3 |
| ND | Johnson 2 yard run (Gradel kick) | ND 42–6 |
|
Q3 |
| ND | Watters 6 yard run (Gradel kick) | ND 49–6 |
|
Q4 |
| ND | Brooks 4 yard run (Gradel kick) | ND 56–6 |
|
Q4 |
| NAVY | Sims 4 yard run (Fundoukos kick) | ND 56–13 |
|
[5]
Boston College[]
by Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4
|
Total
|
Boston College
|
7 |
10 |
8 |
0
|
25
|
• Notre Dame
|
6 |
0 |
12 |
14
|
32
|
Scoring summary |
---|
|
Q1 |
| ND | Gradel 21 yard field goal | ND 3–0 |
|
Q1 |
| BC | Hudginson 3 yard pass from Power (Lowe kick) | BC 7–3 |
|
Q1 |
| ND | Gradel 21 yard field goal | BC 7–6 |
|
Q2 |
| BC | Lowe 31 yard field goal | BC 10–6 |
|
Q2 |
| BC | Bell 11 yard run (Lowe kick) | BC 17–6 |
|
Q3 |
| ND | Green 33 yard run (run failed) | BC 17–12 |
|
Q3 |
10:02 | BC | Flutie 31 yard pass from Parker (Power run) | BC 25–12 |
|
Q3 |
| ND | Johnson 1 yard run (run failed) | BC 25–18 |
|
Q4 |
| ND | Braxston 1 yard run (Gradel kick) | Tie 25–25 |
|
Q4 |
| ND | Green 2 yard run (Gradel kick) | ND 32–25 |
|
- ND: Mark Green 152 Rush Yds
- ND: Tim Brown 294 all-purpose Yds
[6]
Alabama[]
by Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4
|
Total
|
Alabama
|
3 |
3 |
0 |
0
|
6
|
• Notre Dame
|
3 |
17 |
3 |
14
|
37
|
Scoring summary |
---|
|
Q1 |
| ALA | Doyle 34 yard field goal | ALA 3–0 |
|
Q1 |
| ND | Gradel 49 yard field goal | Tie 3–3 |
|
Q2 |
| ND | Rice 12 yard run (Gradel kick) | ND 10–3 |
|
Q2 |
| ND | Heck 3 yard pass from Rice (Gradel kick) | ND 17–3 |
|
Q2 |
| ND | Gradel 21 yard field goal | ND 20–3 |
|
Q2 |
| ALA | Doyle 28 yard field goal | ND 20–6 |
|
Q3 |
| ND | Gradel 22 yard field goal | ND 23–6 |
|
Q4 |
| ND | Green 74 yard run (Gradel kick) | ND 30–6 |
|
Q4 |
| ND | Watters 75 yard run (Gradel kick) | ND 37–6 |
|
[7]
Penn State[]
Miami (FL)[]
Overall record
|
Last meeting
|
Result
|
13–5–1
|
1985
|
L 7–58
|
Cotton Bowl[]
Roster[]
1987 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team roster
|
Players
|
Coaches
|
Offense
Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
WR
|
80
|
Alaniz, SteveSteve Alaniz
|
5.0 !Jr
|
T
|
72
|
Allen, JoeJoe Allen
|
QB
|
2
|
Andrysiak, TerryTerry Andrysiak
|
7.0 !Sr
|
RB
|
39
|
Banks, BraxstonBraxston Banks
|
QB
|
8
|
Belles, SteveSteve Belles
|
5.0 !Jr
|
WR
|
81
|
Brown, TimTim Brown
|
7.0 !Sr
|
QB
|
17
|
Graham, KentKent Graham
|
1.0 !Fr
|
QB
|
11
|
Graham, PetePete Graham
|
5.0 !Jr
|
RB
|
24
|
Green, MarkMark Green
|
5.0 !Jr
|
OT
|
66
|
Heck, AndyAndy Heck
|
5.0 !Jr
|
C
|
51
|
Lanza, ChuckChuck Lanza
|
QB
|
9
|
Rice, TonyTony Rice
|
3.0 !So
|
RB
|
12
|
Watters, RickyRicky Watters
|
1.0 !Fr
|
|
Defense
Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
DT
|
90
|
Alm, JeffJeff Alm
|
3.0 !So
|
LB
|
47
|
Bolcar, NedNed Bolcar
|
3.0 !So
|
DT
|
67
|
Dahl, BobBob Dahl
|
1.0 !Fr
|
SS
|
26
|
Davis, GregGreg Davis
|
SS
|
13
|
Eilers, PatPat Eilers
|
5.0 !Jr
|
LB
|
48
|
Figaro, CedricCedric Figaro
|
7.0 !Sr
|
DE
|
92
|
Flannery, BryanBryan Flannery
|
CB
|
32
|
Francisco, D’JuanD’Juan Francisco
|
5.0 !Jr
|
LB
|
36
|
Grimm, DonnDonn Grimm
|
DE
|
38
|
Gordon, DarrellDarrell Gordon
|
5.0 !Jr
|
LB
|
7
|
Jones, AndreAndre Jones
|
1.0 !Fr
|
LB
|
37
|
Kowalkowski, ScottScott Kowalkowski
|
1.0 !Fr
|
CB
|
1
|
Lyght, ToddTodd Lyght
|
1.0 !Fr
|
LB
|
34
|
Pritchett, WesWes Pritchett
|
5.0 !Jr
|
LB
|
40
|
Ryan, TimTim Ryan
|
1.0 !Fr
|
CB
|
5
|
Wells, BrandyBrandy Wells
|
7.0 !Sr
|
|
Special teams
|
- Head coach
- Coordinators/assistant coaches
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (S) Suspended
- (I) Ineligible
Injured
Redshirt
|
Team players drafted into the NFL[]
The following players were drafted into professional football following the season.
[8]
References[]
- ↑ "Notre Dame accepts Michigan's charity." Gainesville Sun. 1987 Sept 13.
- ↑ Gainesville Sun. 1987 Sept 28.
- ↑ Gainesville Sun. 1987 Oct 18.
- ↑ Gainesville Sun. 1987 Oct 25.
- ↑ Gainesville Sun. 1987 Nov 1.
- ↑ Gainesville Sun. 1987 Nov 8.
- ↑ Gainesville Sun. 1987 Nov 15.
- ↑ https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1988.htm