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1987 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
ConferenceIndependent
Ranking
APNo. 17
1987 record8–4
Head coachLou Holtz (2nd season)
Defensive coordinatorFoge Fazio (2nd season)
CaptainChuck Lanza
CaptainByron Spruell
Home stadiumNotre Dame Stadium (c. 59,075, grass)
Seasons
← 1986
1988 →
1987 Division I-A independents football records
v · d · e Conf     Overall
Team W   L   T     W   L   T
No. 1 Miami (FL)           12 0 0
No. 4 Syracuse           11 0 1
No. 2 Florida State           11 1 0
No. 15 South Carolina           8 4 0
Pittsburgh           8 4 0
Penn State           8 4 0
No. 17 Notre Dame           8 4 0
Southern Miss           6 5 0
Rutgers           6 5 0
Southwestern Louisiana           6 5 0
Memphis           5 5 1
Northern Illinois           5 5 1
West Virginia           6 6 0
Tulane           6 6 0
Army           5 6 0
Boston College           5 6 0
East Carolina           5 6 0
Akron           4 7 0
Cincinnati           4 7 0
Louisville           3 7 1
Temple           3 8 0
Tulsa           3 8 0
Navy           2 9 0
Virginia Tech           2 9 0
Rankings from AP Poll

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[]

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 123:30 p.m.at No. 9 MichiganNo. 16ABCW 26–7106,098
September 197:45 p.m.No. 17 Michigan StateNo. 9ESPNW 31–859,075
September 2612:00 p.m.at PurdueNo. 8W 44–2068,528
October 107:00 p.m.at PittsburghNo. 4ESPNL 22–3056,400
October 173:30 p.m.at Air ForceNo. 11W 35–1451,112
October 242:30 p.m.USCNo. 10
CBSW 26–1559,075
October 3112:00 p.m.NavyNo. 9
  • Notre Dame Stadium
  • Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)
W 56–1359,075
November 712:00 p.m.Boston CollegeNo. 9
  • Notre Dame Stadium
  • Notre Dame, IN (Holy War)
W 32–2559,075
November 142:30 p.m.No. 10 AlabamaNo. 7
  • Notre Dame Stadium
  • Notre Dame, IN
CBSW 37–659,075
November 2112:00 p.m.at Penn StateNo. 7CBSL 20–2184,000
November 283:30 p.m.at No. 2 Miami (FL)No. 10CBSL 0–2476,640
January 1, 19881:30 p.m.vs. No. 13 Texas A&MNo. 12CBSL 10–3573,006

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

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


Purdue[]

by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
• Notre Dame 10 7 14 13 44
Purdue 0 17 3 0 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

[3]


USC[]

by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
USC 7 0 0 8 15
• Notre Dame 3 17 6 0 26

[4]


Navy[]

by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
Navy 0 6 0 7 13
• Notre Dame 14 21 14 7 56

[5]


Boston College[]

by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
Boston College 7 10 8 0 25
• Notre Dame 6 0 12 14 32
  • 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

[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 Jr
T 72 Allen, JoeJoe Allen
QB 2 Andrysiak, TerryTerry Andrysiak Sr
RB 39 Banks, BraxstonBraxston Banks
QB 8 Belles, SteveSteve Belles Jr
WR 81 Brown, TimTim Brown Sr
QB 17 Graham, KentKent Graham Fr
QB 11 Graham, PetePete Graham Jr
RB 24 Green, MarkMark Green Jr
OT 66 Heck, AndyAndy Heck Jr
C 51 Lanza, ChuckChuck Lanza
QB 9 Rice, TonyTony Rice So
RB 12 Watters, RickyRicky Watters Fr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
DT 90 Alm, JeffJeff Alm So
LB 47 Bolcar, NedNed Bolcar So
DT 67 Dahl, BobBob Dahl Fr
SS 26 Davis, GregGreg Davis
SS 13 Eilers, PatPat Eilers Jr
LB 48 Figaro, CedricCedric Figaro Sr
DE 92 Flannery, BryanBryan Flannery
CB 32 Francisco, D’JuanD’Juan Francisco Jr
LB 36 Grimm, DonnDonn Grimm
DE 38 Gordon, DarrellDarrell Gordon Jr
LB 7 Jones, AndreAndre Jones Fr
LB 37 Kowalkowski, ScottScott Kowalkowski Fr
CB 1 Lyght, ToddTodd Lyght Fr
LB 34 Pritchett, WesWes Pritchett Jr
LB 40 Ryan, TimTim Ryan Fr
CB 5 Wells, BrandyBrandy Wells Sr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Team players drafted into the NFL[]

The following players were drafted into professional football following the season.

Player Position Round Pick Franchise
Tim Brown Wide Receiver 1 6 Los Angeles Raiders
Tom Redehr Tackle 3 69 New England Patriots
Chuck Lanza Center 3 70 Pittsburgh Steelers
Cedric Figaro Linebacker 6 152 San Diego Chargers
Brandy Wells Defensive Back 9 226 Cincinnati Bengals

[8]

References[]

  1. "Notre Dame accepts Michigan's charity." Gainesville Sun. 1987 Sept 13.
  2. Gainesville Sun. 1987 Sept 28.
  3. Gainesville Sun. 1987 Oct 18.
  4. Gainesville Sun. 1987 Oct 25.
  5. Gainesville Sun. 1987 Nov 1.
  6. Gainesville Sun. 1987 Nov 8.
  7. Gainesville Sun. 1987 Nov 15.
  8. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1988.htm
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