The 1981 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team was an American football team that represented the University of Notre Dame as an independent during the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their first year under head coach Gerry Faust, the Irish compiled a 5–6 record, outscored opponents by a total of 232 to 160, and were unranked in the final AP and UPI polls. After defeating LSU in the season opener, the Irish were ranked No. 1 in the AP poll, but they lost four of the next five games and fell out of the rankings. They lost all five games against ranked opponents: No. 11 Michigan, No. 20 Florida State, No. 5 USC, No. 13 Penn State, and No. 9 Miami (FL). It was Notre Dame's first losing season since 1963.
Linebacker and co-captain Bob Crable was a consensus first-team pick on the 1981 All-America college football team. Defensive back John Krimm also received first-team All-America honors from multiple selectors. The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Blair Kiel (936 passing yards), running back and co-captain Phil Carter (727 rushing yards), wide receiver Joe Howard (463 receiving yards, 27.2-yard average), kicker Harry Oliver (46 points scored, 28 of 30 PAT, 5 of 13 field goals), and Crable (167 tackles, 16 tackles for loss).
The team played its home games at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana.
Schedule
Roster
Statistics Passing Blair Kiel - 67 of 151 (.444 completion percentage) for 936 yards, 7 touchdowns, 10 interceptions Tim Koegel - 50 of 92 (.543 completion percentage) for 686 yards, 5 touchdowns, 4 interceptions Irish Eye, p. 48.
Rushing Phil Carter - 727 yards, 4.4-yard average, 6 touchdowns Greg Bell - 512 yards, 5.6-yard average, 4 touchdowns John Sweeney - 168 yards, 4.7-yard average, 0 touchdowns Chris Smith - 161 yards, 3.9-yard average, 1 touchdown Mark Brooks - 126 yards, 5.2-yard average, 1 touchdown
Receiving Tony Hunter - 28 receptions for 397 yards, 2 touchdowns Joe Howard - 17 receptions for 463 yards, 3 touchdowns Phil Carter - 14 receptions for 57 yards, 0 touchdowns Dean Masztak - 13 receptions for 163 yards, 1 touchdown Greg Bell - 11 receptions for 135 yards, 0 touchdowns John Sweeney, 9 receptions for 124 yards, 1 touchdown
Scoring Harry Oliver - 46 points, 28 of 30 PAT, 6 of 13 field goals Phil Carter - 36 points, 6 touchdowns Greg Bell - 30 points, 5 touchdowns Joe Howard - 24 points, 4 touchdowns
Tackles Bob Crable - 167 Mark Zavagnin - 94 Griffith - 63 Bob Clasby - 56 Dave Duerson - 55 Stacey Toran - 54
1982 NFL draft The following Notre Dame players were selected in the 1982 NFL draft: Bob Crable - 1982 / Round: 1 / Pick: 23 New York Jets John Krimm - 1982 / Round: 3 / Pick: 76 New Orleans Saints Phil Pozderac - 1982 / Round: 5 / Pick: 137 Dallas Cowboys
References