The 1989 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team was an American football team that represented the University of Notre Dame as an independent during the 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their fourth year under head coach Lou Holtz, the Irish compiled a 12–1 record, outscored opponents by a total of 406 to 183, and were ranked No. 2 in the final AP poll and No.3 in the final UPI poll. In a matchup between No. 1 and No. 2, they defeated Michigan in the second week of the season. Ranked No. 1 for 11 consecutive weeks, their only loss came against No. 7 Miami (FL) in the last game of the regular season. They concluded the year with a victory over No. 1 Colorado in the Orange Bowl.
Quarterback Tony Rice won the Football News College Player of the Year award and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. Several players, including Rice, Todd Lyght, Chris Zorich, and Rocket Ismail received first-team honors on the 1989 All-America college football team. The team's statistical leaders included Rice (1,233 passing yards, 884 rushing yards), Ismail (1,628 all-purpose yards), and linebacker Ned Bolcar (109 tackles).1987 Football Review, p. 7.
The team played its home games at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana.
Schedule
Games summaries Vs. Virginia
At No. 2 Michigan
Michigan State
At Purdue
At Stanford
At No. 17 Air Force
No. 9 USC
No. 7 Pittsburgh
Navy
SMU
At No. 17 Penn State
At No. 7 Miami (FL)
Vs. No. 1 Colorado (Orange Bowl)
Roster
Awards and honors Senior quarterback Tony Rice received multiple awards and honors: Football News College Player of the Year Finished fourth in voting for the Heisman Trophy Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, presented by the Kentucky chapter of the National Football Foundation to the country's top quarterback First-team All-America selection by Football News Team most valuable player, as voted by the team Invited to play in the Hula Bowl and East-West Shrine all-star game 1989 Football Review, pp. 4-5.
Sophomore flanker and return specialist Rocket Ismail received first-team All-America honors from Associated Press (AP), The Sporting News (TSN), Football News (FN), Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA), and Gannett News Service (GNS). He also received second-team honors from the United Press International (UPI). He also tied for tenth in voting for the Heisman Trophy.
Junior defensive tackle Chris Zorich received numerous awards and honors including: College Lineman of the Year from the Touchdown Club of Washington, DC Consensus first-team All-America honors, with first-team honors from AP, UPI, TSN, FN, Walter Camp Football Foundation (WCFF), FWAA, and GNS Lombardi Award finalist
Junior cornerback Todd Lyght was a consensus first-team All-America, receiving such honors from AP, UPI, TSN, FN, WCFF, American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), NEA, and FWAA. He was also one of three finalists for the Jim Thorpe Award.
Senior linebacker Ned Bolcar received second-team All-America honors from the UPI and TSN.
Senior defensive tackle Jeff Alm received second-team All-America honors from AP, FN, and GNS. He was also named Notre Dame Lineman of the Year.
Senior free safety Pat Terrell received first-team All-America honors from GNS. He was also invited to play in the East-West Shrine all-star game.
Sophomore tight end Derek Brown received second-team All-America honors from GNS.
Senior offensive guard Tim Grunhard received second-team All-America honors from the NEA.
Senior fullback Anthony Johnson received the team's Nick Pietrosante Award as the player who best exemplifies courage, teamwork, loyalty, dedication, and pride.
1990 NFL draft The following Notre Dame players were selected in the 1990 NFL draft:
Anthony Johnson Running back 2 36 Indianapolis Colts Tim Grunhard Tackle 2 40 Kansas City Chiefs Jeff Alm Defensive tackle2 41 Houston Oilers Pat Terrell Defensive back 2 49 Los Angeles Rams Mike Brennan Tackle 4 91 Cincinnati BengalsStan Smagala Defensive back 5 123 Dallas Cowboys Ned Bolcar Linebacker 6 146 Seattle Seahawks D’Juan Francisco Defensive back 10 262 Washington Redskins Dean Brown Guard 12 316 Indianapolis Colts
References