1977 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team

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1977 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Consensus national champion
Cotton Bowl Classic champion
Cotton Bowl Classic, W 38–10 vs. Texas
ConferenceIndependent
Ranking
CoachesNo. 1
APNo. 1
Record11–1
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorMerv Johnson (3rd season)
Offensive schemePro set
Defensive coordinatorJoe Yonto
Base defense4–3
Captains
Home stadiumNotre Dame Stadium
Seasons
← 1976
1978 →
1977 NCAA Division I independents football records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 1 Notre Dame   –   –   11 – 1 – 0
No. 5 Penn State   –   –   11 – 1 – 0
Colgate   –   –   10 – 1 – 0
North Texas State *   –   –   10 – 1 – 0
No. 16 San Diego State   –   –   10 – 1 – 0
Tennessee State   –   –   8 – 1 – 1
No. 14 Florida State   –   –   10 – 2 – 0
No. 8 Pittsburgh   –   –   9 – 2 – 1
East Carolina   –   –   8 – 3 – 0
Rutgers   –   –   8 – 3 – 0
Army   –   –   7 – 4 – 0
Louisville   –   –   7 – 4 – 1
Boston College   –   –   6 – 5 – 0
Cincinnati   –   –   5 – 4 – 2
Georgia Tech   –   –   6 – 5 – 0
Memphis State   –   –   6 – 5 – 0
Northwestern State   –   –   6 – 5 – 0
Syracuse   –   –   6 – 5 – 0
William & Mary   –   –   6 – 5 – 0
Southern Miss   –   –   6 – 5 – 0
Temple   –   –   5 – 5 – 1
Hawaii   –   –   5 – 6 – 0
Navy   –   –   5 – 6 – 0
West Virginia   –   –   5 – 6 – 0
South Carolina   –   –   5 – 7 – 0
Utah State   –   –   4 – 7 – 0
Villanova   –   –   4 – 7 – 0
Illinois State   –   –   3 – 7 – 1
Virginia Tech   –   –   3 – 7 – 1
Miami (FL)   –   –   3 – 8 – 0
Richmond   –   –   3 – 8 – 0
Tulane   –   –   3 – 8 – 0
Air Force   –   –   2 – 8 – 1
Holy Cross   –   –   2 – 8 – 0
Northeast Louisiana   –   –   2 – 9 – 0
  • North Texas State (originally 9–2) awarded a forfeit win after
    AP Poll

The 1977 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame during the 1977 NCAA Division I football season. The Irish, coached by Dan Devine, ended the season with 11 wins and one loss, winning the national championship. The Fighting Irish won the title by defeating the previously unbeaten and No. 1 ranked Texas Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl Classic by a score of a 38–10.[2] The 1977 squad became the tenth Irish team to win the national title and were led by All-Americans Ken MacAfee, Ross Browner, Luther Bradley, and Bob Golic. Junior Joe Montana, a future Pro Football Hall of Famer, was the team's starting quarterback.

Dan Devine entered his third year as head coach, coming off of a 9–3 season in 1976 that culminated in a Gator Bowl win over Penn State.[3] Devine returned a highly touted defense, featuring 1976 Outland Trophy winner Ross Browner, defensive end Willie Fry, and All-American linebacker Bob Golic.[3] On offense, quarterback Joe Montana earned the starting job and led an offense that included running backs Jerome Heavens and Vagas Ferguson and All-American tight end Ken MacAfee.[3] Montana, earned a reputation as "the comeback kid", had two come from behind victories in the fourth quarter, against Purdue and Clemson, down 17 and 10 respectively.[3] After a surprising loss to unranked Ole Miss, patience among the fans was running thin, who considered Devine's previous 8–3 and 9–3 seasons as lackluster compared to the team success under Devine's predecessor, Ara Parseghian.[4] The Irish rebounded to win their remaining games, including a 49–19 rout of USC in the now famous "Green Jersey Game."[4] The Irish earned a berth in the Cotton Bowl Classic, where they defeated No. 1 and unbeaten Texas by a score of 38–10 to capture Notre Dame's tenth national title.[3] The Irish leaped four spots in the polls after the Cotton Bowl Classic victory to claim the consensus title.[3]

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 103:50 p.m.at No. 7 PittsburghNo. 3
ABCW 19–956,500
September 172:30 p.m.vs. Ole MissNo. 3
L 13–2048,200[5]
September 242:30 p.m.at PurdueNo. 11
W 31–2468,966
October 12:30 p.m.Michigan StateNo. 14
W 16–659,075
October 151:30 p.m.vs. ArmyNo. 11
W 24–072,594
October 221:50 p.m.No. 5 USCNo. 11
  • Notre Dame Stadium
  • Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)
ABCW 49–1959,075
October 292:30 p.m.NavyNo. 5
  • Notre Dame Stadium
  • Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)
W 43–1059,075
November 51:30 p.m.Georgia TechNo. 5
  • Notre Dame Stadium
  • Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)
W 69–1459,075
November 121:30 p.m.at No. 15 ClemsonNo. 5
W 21–1753,467–54,189[6][7]
November 191:30 p.m.Air ForceNo. 6
  • Notre Dame Stadium
  • Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)
W 49–059,075
December 38:00 p.m.at Miami (FL)No. 5
W 48–1035,789
January 2, 19782:00 p.m.vs. No. 1 TexasNo. 5
CBSW 38–1076,701

Roster

1977 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
TE 87 Mark Czaja So
WR 1 Ty Dickerson Fr
RB 26 Tom Domin
RB 5 Steve Dover
QB 8 Gary Forystek
RB 40 Terry Eurick
RB 32 Vagas Ferguson So
OT 73 Tim Foley So
WR 82 Kris Haines Jr
TE 97 Kevin Hart
WR 85 Speedy Hart Jr
C 63 Jim Hautman
RB 30 Jerome Heavens
G 66 Ted Horansky
C 56 Dave Huffman Jr
OT 78 Tim Huffman Fr
G 65 Ernie Hughes Sr
QB 1 Greg Knafelc Fr
RB 21 Dan Knott Sr
QB 14 Tim Koegel Fr
G 69 John Leon
QB 6 Rusty Lisch  So
TE 81 Ken MacAfee Sr
OT 75 Rob Martinovich So
OT 71 Steve McDaniels Sr
G 60 Howard Meyer Jr
RB 44 Dave Mitchell
QB 3 Joe Montana Jr
C 50 Terry Murphy
RB 14 Steve Orsini
RB 45 Pete Pallas Jr
RB 19 Steve Schmitz Sr
RB 42 Jim Stone
OT 67 Bob Tull Sr
G 59 Dave Vinson
RB 34 Dave Waymer So
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
LB 43 Doug Becker Sr
CB 24 Dick Boushka
CB 20 Luther Bradley Sr
SS 33 Jim Browner Jr
DE 89 Ross Browner Sr
CB 18 Ted Burgmeier
DT 77 Mike Calhoun Jr
DT 75 Jay Case Jr
SS 28 Ross Christensen Sr
CB 16 Nick DeCicco
DT 79 Ken Dike Sr
CB 23 Tom Flynn Jr
DE 94 Willie Fry
FS 27 Tom Gibbons Fr
LB 55 Bob Golic Jr
LB 47 John Hankerd
FS 10 Randy Harrison Jr
LB 58 Steve Heimkreiter Jr
SS, QB 31 Pete Holohan Fr
LB 51 Pete Johnson
SS 29 Phil Johnson Jr
LB 61 Bobby Leopold So
CB 9 Jim Morse
DE 72 Hardy Rayam
FS 7 Joe Restic Jr
DE 88 Tom VanDenburgh So
DT 74 Jeff Weston Jr
LB 54 Mike Whittington So
DT 68 Tom Wroblewski So
DE 70 Scott Zettek So
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
P
 4 Kevin Muno So
K 13 Dave Reeve Sr
P
 7 Joe Restic Jr
K 99 Joe Unis
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Game summaries

Pittsburgh

See also: 1977 Pittsburgh Panthers football team and Notre Dame–Pittsburgh football rivalry
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (0–0) at Pittsburgh Panthers (0–0)
Period 1 2 34Total
Notre Dame 0 6 01319
Pittsburgh 7 2 009

at

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game information

Ole Miss

See also: 1977 Ole Miss Rebels football team
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (1–0) at Ole Miss Rebels
Period 1 2 34Total
Notre Dame 0 7 0613
Ole Miss 3 7 01020

at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, Jackson, Mississippi

  • Date: September 17, 1977
  • Game weather: Sunny, 90 °F (32 °C)
  • Game attendance: 48,200
  • Recap
Game information

Ole Miss gave the eventual national champion Notre Dame its only loss of the season.

Purdue

See also: 1977 Purdue Boilermakers football team and Notre Dame–Purdue football rivalry
1 234Total
• Notre Dame 0 14017 31
Purdue 10 1400 24
  • Date: September 24
  • Location:
    West Lafayette, IN
  • Game attendance: 68,966
Scoring summary
1PURScott Sovereen 25-yard field goalPUR 3-0
1PURReggie Arnold 8-yard pass from Mark Herrmann (Scott Sovereen kick)PUR 10-0
2NDTerry Eurick 6-yard pass from Rusty Lisch (Dave Reeve kick)PUR 10-7
2NDTerry Eurick 18-yard pass from Rusty Lisch (Dave Reeve kick)ND 14-10
2PURRaymond Smith 37-yard pass from Mark Herrmann (Scott Sovereen kick)PUR 17-14
2PURRussell Pope 43-yard pass from Mark Herrmann (Scott Sovereen kick)PUR 24-14
4NDDave Reeve 24-yard field goalPUR 24-17
4NDKen MacAfee 13-yard pass from Joe Montana (Dave Reeve kick)Tied 24-24
41:39NDDave Mitchell 4-yard run (Dave Reeve kick)ND 31-24

[8]

Michigan State

Michigan St at #14 Notre Dame
1 234Total
Michigan St 3 030 6
• Notre Dame 0 1060 16
  • Date: October 1
  • Location:
    South Bend, IN
Scoring summary
1MSUNielsen 38-yard field goalMSU 3-0
2NDReeve 42-yard field goalTied 3-3
2NDMitchell 9-yard run (Reeve kick)ND 10-3
3NDReeve 40-yard field goalND 13-3
3NDReeve 51-yard field goalND 16-3
4MSUNielsen 37-yard field goalND 16-6

Army

1 234Total
Army 0 000 0
• Notre Dame 0 7107 24
Scoring summary
Q2NDHeavens 3 yard run (Reeve kick)ND 7–0
Q2NDReeve 29 yard field goalND 10–0
Q3NDEurick 2 yard run (Reeve kick)ND 17–0
Q4NDEurick 3 yard run (Reeve kick)ND 24–0
  • ND: Jerome Heavens 34 Rush, 200 Yds (single game school record - Sitko 1948 vs. Michigan St)[9]

USC

See also:
Jeweled Shillelagh
1 234Total
USC 0 7012 19
• Notre Dame 7 151314 49
Scoring summary
1NDDave Mitchell 4-yard run (Dave Reeve kick)ND 7-0
2USCMario Celotto 5-yard fumble return (Frank Jordan kick)Tied 7-7
2NDJoe Montana 1-yard run (Ted Burgmeier to Tom Domin pass)ND 15-7
2NDKen MacAfee 13-yard pass from Joe Montana (Dave Reeve kick)ND 22-7
3NDJay Case 30-yard blocked punt return (Dave Reeve kick)ND 29-7
3NDKen MacAfee 1-yard pass from Joe Montana (kick failed)ND 35-7
4NDJoe Montana 1-yard run (Dave Reeve kick)ND 42-7
4USCCalvin Sweeney 14-yard pass from Rob Hertel (Frank Jordan kick)ND 42-14
4NDKevin Hart 4-yard pass from Rusty Lisch (Dave Reeve kick)ND 49-14

Notre Dame wore green jerseys for the first time since their 1963 game against Syracuse.

[10]

Navy

1 234Total
Navy 0 037 10
• Notre Dame 7 91413 43
  • Date: October 29
  • Location: Notre Dame Stadium • South Bend, Indiana
  • Game attendance: 59,075
Scoring summary
1NDHeavens 49-yard run (Reeve kick)Notre Dame 7-0
2NDReeve 34-yard field goalNotre Dame 10-0
2NDReeve 24-yard field goalNotre Dame 13-0
2NDReeve 32-yard field goalNotre Dame 16-0
3NDMontana 1-yard run (Reeve kick)Notre Dame 23-0
3NAVYTata 46-yard field goalNotre Dame 23-3
3NDMitchell 7-yard pass from Montana (Reeve kick)Notre Dame 30-3
4NDStone 58-yard run (kick failed)Notre Dame 36-3
4NAVYMcConkey 7-yard pass from Powers (Tata kick)Notre Dame 36-10
4NDLeopold 50-yard pass interception return (Unis kick)Notre Dame 43-10

Notre Dame wore green jerseys for the second straight week.

[11]

Georgia Tech

1 234Total
Georgia Tech 0 707 14
• Notre Dame 0 212127 69
  • Date: November 5
  • Location: Notre Dame Stadium • South Bend, Indiana
  • Game start: 1:30 pm
    EST
  • Game attendance: 59,075
Scoring summary
2NDMontana 1-yard run (kick failed)Notre Dame 6-0
2GTIvery 97-yard kickoff return (Smith kick)Ga. Tech 7-6
2NDEurick 8-yard pass from Montana (Montana run)Notre Dame 14-7
2NDHaines 18-yard pass from Montana (Reeve kick)Notre Dame 21-7
3NDWaymer 68-yard pass from Montana (Reeve kick)Notre Dame 28-7
3NDHeavens 2-yard run (Reeve kick)Notre Dame 35-7
3NDFerguson 1-yard run (Reeve kick)Notre Dame 42-7
4NDFerguson 56-yard run (Reeve kick)Notre Dame 49-7
4NDStone 14-yard pass from Lisch (kick failed)Notre Dame 55-7
4NDStone 21-yard run (Unis kick)Notre Dame 62-7
4NDS. Hart 31-yard pass from Koegel (Unis kick)Notre Dame 69-7
4GTD. Hill 18-yard pass from Hardie (Smith kick)Notre Dame 69-14

Notre Dame wore green jerseys for the third straight week, and for every home game through the end of the 1980 season. The 69 points were the second most ever scored at Notre Dame Stadium.

Clemson

1 234Total
• Notre Dame 7 0014 21
Clemson 0 1070 17
  • Date: November 12
  • Location:
    EST
  • Game attendance: 54,189
Scoring summary
1NDHeavens 5-yard run (Reeve kick)Notre Dame 7-0
2ClemAriri 30-yard field goalNotre Dame 7-3
2ClemFuller 10-yard run (Ariri kick)Clemson 10-7
3ClemBrown 1-yard run (Ariri kick)Clemson 17-7
4NDMontana 2-yard run (Reeve kick)Clemson 17-14
4NDMontana 1-yard run (Reeve kick)Notre Dame 21-17

This was the first-ever meeting between Notre Dame and Clemson.

Air Force

1 234Total
Air Force 0 000 0
• Notre Dame 21 1477 49
  • Date: November 19
  • Location: Notre Dame Stadium • South Bend, Indiana
  • Game start: 1:30 pm
    EST
  • Game attendance: 59,075
  • Game weather: cloudy, 40 degrees
Scoring summary
1NDFerguson 56-yard run (Reeve kick)Notre Dame 7-0
1NDFerguson 9-yard run (Reeve kick)Notre Dame 14-0
1NDHeavens 1-yard run (Reeve kick)Notre Dame 21-0
2NDFerguson 2-yard run (Reeve kick)Notre Dame 28-0
2NDHaines 33-yard pass from Montana (Reeve kick)Notre Dame 35-0
3NDEurick 2-yard run (Reeve kick)Notre Dame 42-0
4NDSchmitz 11-yard pass from Lisch (Reeve kick)Notre Dame 49-0

This was the final game for Air Force head coach Ben Martin after 20 seasons. It also remains the most lopsided game in the 30-game series between Notre Dame and Air Force (the Fighting Irish lead 24-6).

Miami (FL)

1 234Total
• Notre Dame 14 6217 48
Miami (FL) 0 1000 10
Scoring summary
Q1NDFerguson 11 yard run (Reeve kick)ND 7–0
Q1NDLeopold 17 yard interception return (Reeve kick)ND 14–0
Q2MIADennis 38 yard field goalND 14–3
Q2MIAAlvers 35 yard pass from McMillian (Dennis kick)ND 14–10
Q2NDFerguson 23 yard pass from Montana (kick failed)ND 20–10
Q3NDMacAfee 4 yard pass from Montana (Reeve kick)ND 27–10
Q3NDMitchell 3 yard run (Reeve kick)ND 34–10
Q3NDMacAfee 5 yard pass from Montana (Reeve kick)ND 41–10
Q4NDLisch 1 yard run (Reeve kick)ND 48–10

[12]

Texas (Cotton Bowl)

1 234Total
• Notre Dame 3 2177 38
Texas 3 700 10
  • Location: Cotton Bowl
  • Game attendance: 76,701
  • Game weather: Sunny; 35 °F (2 °C)
Scoring summary
Q111:35NDReeve 47 yard field goalND 3–0
Q16:07TEXErxleben 42 yard field goalTie 3–3
Q214:56NDEurick 6 yard run (Reeve kick)ND 10–3
Q211:37NDEurick 10 yard run (Reeve kick)ND 17–3
Q27:28NDFerguson 17 yard pass from Montana (Reeve kick)ND 24–3
Q20:00TEXLockett 13 yard pass from McEachern (Erxeleben kick)ND 24–10
Q36:49NDFerguson 3 yard run (Reeve kick)ND 31–10
Q49:41NDFerguson 26 yard run (Reeve kick)ND 38–10
Main article: 1978 Cotton Bowl Classic
See also: 1977 Texas Longhorns football team

[13]

Post-season

Award winners

Heisman Trophy voting

Ken MacAfee, 3rd[17]
Ross Browner, 5th[17]

All-Americans

Name AP UPI NEA FC SN FW FN WCF CW
† Ross Browner, DE 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
† Ken MacAfee, TE 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
‡ Luther Bradley, DB 2 1 2 1 1 1
Ernie Hughes, G 2 2
Bob Golic, MG (MLB) 2 2 2
Willie Fry, DE 2
Ted Bergmeier, DB 2
†denotes unanimous selection
‡denotes consensus selection Source:[2]

College Football Hall of Fame inductees

Name Position Year Inducted
Ross Browner Defensive end 1999
Dan Devine Coach 1985
Ken MacAfee Tight end 1997

[18]

1978 NFL Draft

Player Position Round Pick Franchise
Ken MacAfee Tight end 1(7) 7 San Francisco 49ers
Ross Browner Defensive end 1(8) 8 Cincinnati Bengals
Luther Bradley Defensive back 1(11) 11 Detroit Lions
Willie Fry Defensive end 2(23) 49 Pittsburgh Steelers
Ernie Hughes Guard 3(23) 79 San Francisco 49ers
Ted Burgmeier Defensive back 5(1) 111 Miami Dolphins
Steve McDaniels Tackle 9(27) 249 San Francisco 49ers
Doug Becker Linebacker 10(18) 268 Pittsburgh Steelers
Source:[19]

References

  1. ^ https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/years/1977-standings.html
  2. ^ a b "2007 Notre Dame Media Guide: History and Records (pages 131-175)". und.cstv.com. Archived from the original on June 10, 2008. Retrieved December 29, 2008.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "2007 Notre Dame Media Guide: 2007 Supplement (page 164)". und.cstv.com. Archived from the original on October 11, 2007. Retrieved December 29, 2008.
  4. ^
    ISBN 1-59186-042-3
    .
  5. Newspapers.com
    .
  6. Newspapers.com
    .
  7. ^ "Clemson Football Media Guide - 1978". Clemson University. 1978. p. 1. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  8. ^ "Wolves Subdue Stubborn Navy; Notre Dame Overcomes Purdue." Ocala Star-Banner. September 25, 1977.
  9. ^ "Irish looking to Heavens: He responds with record." Eugene Register-Guard. 1977 Oct 16. Retrieved 2017-Sep-02.
  10. ^ "Green Irish thump Trojans." Eugene Register-Guard. October 23, 1977.
  11. ^ "Irish wear green and don't need it, 43-10." Eugene Register-Guard. October 30, 1977.
  12. ^ Palm Beach Post. December 4, 1977. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  13. ^ 2012 Notre Dame Football Supplement Retrieved 2017-Sep-03.
  14. ^ "Winners & Finalists". Rotary Club of Houston. Archived from the original on January 8, 2009. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
  15. ^ "The Maxwell Award Collegiate Player of the Year: Past Recipients". The Maxwell Football Club. Archived from the original on February 14, 2009. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
  16. ^ "Walter Camp Football Foundation Awards (Page 3)". The Walter Camp Foundation. Archived from the original on September 5, 2008. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
  17. ^ a b "Heisman Voting". und.cstv.com. Archived from the original on December 17, 2008. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
  18. ^ "Hall of Fame: Select group by school". College Football Hall of Fame. Football Foundation. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
  19. ^ "Notre Dame NFL Draft History". uhnd.com. Archived from the original on January 6, 2009. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
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