The 1969 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team was an American football team that represented the University of Notre Dame as an independent during the 1969 NCAA University Division football season. In their sixth year under head coach Ara Parseghian, the Irish compiled an 8–2–1 record, outscored opponents by a total of 334 to 113, and were ranked No. 5 in the final AP poll and No. 9 in the final UPI poll. After 44 seasons without postseason play (1925–1968), Notre Dame ended its self-imposed bowl hiatus, losing to No. 1 Texas in the Cotton Bowl.
Defensive tackle Mike McCoy was a consensus first-team pick on the 1969 All-America college football team. Offensive tackle Jim Reilly and guard Larry DiNardo also received first-team All-America honors from at least one selector. (AFCA-Reilly)(UPI-DiNardo) The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Joe Theisman (1,531 passing yards), and split end Tom Gatewood (743 receiving yards), and halfbackDenny Allan (612 rushing yards, 54 points scored).
The team played its home games at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana.
Schedule
Game summaries Northwestern
Purdue
Michigan State
Army
USC
Tulane
Navy
Pittsburgh
Georgia Tech
Air Force
"Irish Shaky, Nip Falcons." Palm Beach Post. 1969 Nov 23.
Vs. Texas (Cotton Bowl)
Roster
Statistics Team statistics. Notre Dame tallied 4,489 yards of total (448.9 yards per game) offense on 868 plays, an average of 5.2 yards per play. The team's offensive output included of 2,905 rushing yards, an average of 4.4 yards per rush and 290.5 per game. The team also tallied 1,584 passing yards (158.4 yards per game), completing 113 of 205 passing attempts (.441 completion percentage) with 16 interceptions and 13 touchdown passes.1969 Year in Review, p. 35.
On defense, the Irish gave up 2,187 yards of total offense (3.3 yards per attempt, 218.7 yards per game), consisting of 851 rushing yards (2.3 yards per carry, 84.1 yards per game) and 1,336 passing yards (4.6 yards per attempt, 133.6 yards per game).
Total offense. Quarterback Joe Theisman - 1,909 yards on 308 plays Halfback Denny Allan - 612 yards on 149 plays Halfback Ed Ziegler - 483 yards on 94 plays Quarterback Bill Etter - 363 yards on 41 plays Fullback Bill Barz - 362 yards on 90 plays Halfback Andy Huff - 264 yards on 69 plays
Passing. Joe Theisman completed 108 of 192 passes (.562 completion percentage) for 1,531 yards with 16 interceptions and 13 touchdowns
Rushing Denny Allan - 612 yards on 148 carries, 4.1-yard average Ed Ziegler - 483 yards on 94 carries, 5.1-yard averag Joe Theisman - 378 yards on 116 carries, 3.2-yard average Bill Barz - 362 yards on 90 carries, 4.0-yard average Bill Etter - 310 yards on 29 carries, 10.7-yard average Andy Huff - 265 yards on 69 carries, 3.8-yard average Mike Crotty - 183 yards on 43 carries, 4.3-yard average Jim Yoder - 130 yards on 23 carries, 5.6-yard average
Receiving Thom Gatewood - 47 receptions for 743 yards, 15.8-yard average, 8 touchdowns Bill Barz - 24 receptions for 262 yards, 10.9-yard average, 2 touchdowns Denny Allan - 11 receptions for 199 yards, 18.1-yard average, 0 touchdowns Dewey Poskon - 13 receptions for 175 yards, 13.5-yard average, 0 touchdowns Ed Ziegler - 7 receptions for 116 yards, 16.7-yard average, 2 touchdowns
Scoring Scott Hempel - 56 points, 5 of 7 field goals, 41 of 44 PAT Denny Allan - 54 points, 9 touchdowns Thom Gatewood - 48 points, 8 touchdowns Bill Barz - 42 points, 7 touchdowns Joe Theisman - 37 points, 6 touchdowns, 1 two-point conversion Andy Huff - 36 points, 6 touchdowns Ed Ziegler - 26 points, 4 touchdowns, 1 two-point conversion Bill Etter - 18 points, 3 touchdowns
Tackles. Bob Olson - 142 Mike McCoy - 88 Kelly - 71 Mike Kadish - 68 Raterman - 67
1970 NFL draft
Mike McCoy Guard 1 2 Green Bay Packers Jim Reilly Guard 3 57 Buffalo Bills Bob Olson Linebacker 5 107 Boston Patriots Mike Oriard Center 5 130 Kansas City Chiefs Terry Brennan Tackle 7 158 Philadelphia Eagles
References