The 1979 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team was an American football team that represented the University of Notre Dame as an independent during the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their fifth year under head coach Dan Devine, the Irish compiled a 7–4 record, outscored opponents by a total of 243 to 197, and were unranked in both the AP poll and UPI polls for the first time since 1963.
Running back and team co-captain Vagas Ferguson was a consensus first-team pick on the 1979 All-America college football team. Offensive tackle Tim Foley also received first-team All-America honors from multiple selectors. The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Rusty Lisch (1,781 passing yards), running back Vagas Ferguson (1,437 rushing yards, 102 points scored), and tight end Tony Hunter (27 receptions for 690 yards).
The team played its home games at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana.
Schedule
Game summaries At Michigan
Bob Crable (10 tackles) leaped to block the potential-game winning field in the final seconds.
"Irish Topple Michigan On Walk-on's Field Goals." Palm Beach Post. 1979 September 16.
At Purdue
Michigan State
Georgia Tech
At Air Force
Palm Beach Post. 1979 October 14.
USC
South Carolina
Navy
ND: Ferguson 34 Rush, 155 Yds (first player in school history with 3,000 career rushing yards) Eugene Register-Guard. 1979 November 4. Retrieved 2018-December-22.
At Tennessee
Clemson
Vs. Miami (FL)
Roster
Team players in the NFL Vagas Ferguson Running back 1 25 New England Patriots Dave Waymer Cornerback 2 41 New Orleans Saints Tim Foley Tackle 2 51 Baltimore Colts Rusty Lisch Quarterback 4 89 St. Louis Cardinals Bobby Leopold Linebacker 8 210 San Francisco 49ers Rob Martinovich Tackle 10 261 Kansas City Chiefs
References