1980 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team

American college football season

1980 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Sugar Bowl, L 10–17 vs. Georgia
ConferenceIndependent
Ranking
CoachesNo. 10
APNo. 9
Record9–2–1
Head coach
  • Dan Devine (6th season)
Defensive coordinatorJoe Yonto
Captains
  • Bob Crable
  • Tom Gibbons
  • John Scully
Home stadiumNotre Dame Stadium
Seasons
← 1979
1981 →
1980 NCAA Division I-A independents football records
  • v
  • t
  • e
 Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 2 Pittsburgh   –   –   11 – 1 – 0
Tennessee State   –   –   9 – 1 – 0
No. 5 Florida State   –   –   10 – 2 – 0
No. 8 Penn State   –   –   10 – 2 – 0
No. 9 Notre Dame   –   –   9 – 2 – 1
No. 18 Miami (FL)   –   –   9 – 3 – 0
Southern Miss   –   –   9 – 3 – 0
Navy   –   –   8 – 4 – 0
South Carolina   –   –   8 – 4 – 0
Virginia Tech   –   –   8 – 4 – 0
Boston College   –   –   7 – 4 – 0
Northeast Louisiana   –   –   7 – 4 – 0
Rutgers   –   –   7 – 4 – 0
UNLV   –   –   7 – 4 – 0
Tulane   –   –   7 – 5 – 0
Colgate   –   –   5 – 4 – 1
North Texas State   –   –   6 – 5 – 0
Villanova   –   –   6 – 5 – 0
West Virginia   –   –   6 – 6 – 0
Louisville   –   –   5 – 6 – 0
Richmond   –   –   5 – 6 – 0
Syracuse   –   –   5 – 6 – 0
East Carolina   –   –   4 – 7 – 0
Illinois State   –   –   4 – 7 – 0
Temple   –   –   4 – 7 – 0
Army   –   –   3 – 7 – 1
Holy Cross   –   –   3 – 8 – 0
Cincinnati   –   –   2 – 9 – 0
Memphis State   –   –   2 – 9 – 0
William & Mary   –   –   2 – 9 – 0
Georgia Tech   –   –   1 – 9 – 1
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1980 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame in the 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season.[1] The team was coached by Dan Devine and played its home games at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana.

The 1980 season would be Dan Devine's final year as Notre Dame head coach. In August, he had announced that the upcoming season would be his last. The offense had 248 points for, while the defense gave up 128 points.

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 63:20 p.m.No. 9 PurdueNo. 11ABCW 31–1059,075
September 202:30 p.m.No. 14 MichiganNo. 8
  • Notre Dame Stadium
  • Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)
W 29–2759,075
October 41:00 p.m.at Michigan StateNo. 7
W 26–2176,821
October 112:30 p.m.No. 13 Miami (FL)No. 7
  • Notre Dame Stadium
  • Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)
W 32–1459,075
October 182:30 p.m.ArmyNo. 5
  • Notre Dame Stadium
  • Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)
W 30–359,075
October 2510:35 p.m.at ArizonaNo. 4W 20–356,211
November 11:30 p.m.vs. NavyNo. 3W 33–076,891
November 81:30 p.m.at Georgia TechNo. 1T 3–341,266
November 153:50 p.m.at No. 5 AlabamaNo. 6ABCW 7–078,873[2]
November 221:30 p.m.Air ForceNo. 2
  • Notre Dame Stadium
  • Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)
W 24–1059,075
December 63:50 p.m.at No. 17 USCNo. 2ABCL 3–2082,663
January 1, 19812:00 p.m.vs. No. 1 GeorgiaNo. 7ABCL 10–1777,895[3]

Personnel

1980 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
RB Bernie Adell
RB Ty Barber
RB 28 Greg Bell Fr
RB Mike Boushka
FB 35 Pete Buchanan So
G 65 Bob Burger Sr
RB 22 Phil Carter So
WR 80 Dave Condeni Jr
QB 2 Mike Courey Sr
TE 81 Marty Detmer Sr
WR 1 Ty Dickerson Sr
OL Randy Ellis
OL Robb Gagnon
QB Scott Grooms Fr
WR 31 Pete Holohan Sr
G 78 Tim Huffman Sr
WR Tony Hunter So
QB, P 5 Blair Kiel Fr
QB 13 Greg Knafelc Sr
QB Tim Koegel Sr
TE 86 Dean Masztak Jr
FB Rob McGarry So
RB Larry Moriarty So
RB Rodney Morris
RB John Mosley Fr
OT 71 Phil Pozderac Jr
C 57 John Scully (C) Sr
OT 74 Mike Shiner So
RB Jim Stone Sr
RB John Sweeney
OL 64 Tom Thayer So
WR Tim Tripp
TE 95 Nick Vehr Sr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
DT 94 Tom Bock Jr
CB 9 Chris Brown Fr
DB Steve Cichy
ILB 43 Bob Crable (C) Jr
S 22 Dave Duerson So
S 20 Angelo Fasano Sr
S 27 Tom Gibbons (C) Sr
DE 92 Joe Gramke Jr
DE John Hankred Sr
DL Don Kidd
DL Pat Kramer
CB 19 John Krimm Jr
DL Tim Marshall Fr
LB Brendan Moynihan
DT 72 Ken Muncy So
LB 45 John Rice Jr
LB 51 Joe Rudzinski
DB Stacey Toran
LB 46 Mark Zavagnin So
DE 70 Scott Zettek Sr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
K Mike Johnston
K 3 Harry Oliver Jr
LS Bill Siewe
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Brian Boulac
  • Bill Meyers
  • Ron Toman (QB)
  • Joe Yonto (DL)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt


Game summaries

Purdue

#9 Purdue Boilermakers (0–0) at #11 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (0–0)
Period 1 2 34Total
Purdue 0 10 0010
Notre Dame 10 7 7731

at Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Indiana

Game information

First quarter

  • ND – Harry Oliver 36-yard field goal, 7:19. Notre Dame 3–0. Drive: 5 plays, 28 yards, 2:50.
  • ND – Rob McGarry 2-yard run (Harry Oliver kick), 0:42. Notre Dame 10–0. Drive: 9 plays, 57 yards, 4:48.

Second quarter

  • ND – Phil Carter 1-yard run (Harry Oliver kick), 11:40. Notre Dame 17–0. Drive: 7 plays, 46 yards, 3:16.
  • PUR – Rick Anderson 26-yard field goal, 4:19. Notre Dame 17–3. Drive: 14 plays, 74 yards, 7:21.
  • PUR – Wally Jones 4-yard run (Rick Anderson kick), 0:34. Notre Dame 17–10. Drive: 8 plays, 68 yards, 3:04.

Third quarter

  • ND – Tony Hunter 9-yard pass from Mike Courey (Harry Oliver kick), 11:36. Notre Dame 24–10. Drive: 7 plays, 76 yards, 3:24.

Fourth quarter

  • ND – Mike Courey 14-yard run (Harry Oliver kick), 4:01. Notre Dame 31–10. Drive: 9 plays, 62 yards, 4:50.
Top passers
  • PUR – Scott Campbell – 17/26, 178 yards
  • ND – Mike Courey – 10/13, 151 yards, TD, INT
Top rushers
  • PUR – John Macon – 9 rushes, 32 yards
  • ND – Phil Carter – 29 rushes, 142 yards, TD
Top receivers
  • PUR – Dave Young – 6 receptions, 71 yards
  • ND – Tony Hunter – 3 receptions, 75 yards, TD

ABC Player of Game - Mike Courey (151 yards passing, TD, 59 yards rushing, TD)

[4]

Michigan

#14 Michigan Wolverines (1–0) at #8 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (1–0)
Period 1 2 34Total
Michigan 0 14 7627
Notre Dame 0 14 6929

at Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Indiana

  • Date: September 20
  • Game attendance: 59,075
  • Recap/Box
Game information

First quarter

  • No scoring

Second quarter

  • ND – Phil Carter 6-yard run (Harry Oliver kick), 13:05. Notre Dame 7–0. Drive: 16 plays, 70 yards, 7:49.
  • ND – Pete Holohan 10-yard pass from Mike Courey (Harry Oliver kick), 5:00. Notre Dame 14–0. Drive: 11 plays, 51 yards, 5:56.
  • MICH – Lawrence Ricks 8-yard pass from John Wangler (Ali Haji-Sheikh kick), 1:50. Notre Dame 14–7. Drive: 8 plays, 68 yards, 3:10.
  • MICH – Norm Betts 9-yard pass from John Wangler (Ali Haji-Sheikh kick), 0:31. Tie 14–14. Drive: 5 plays, 27 yards, 0:59.

Third quarter

  • MICH – Stan Edwards 2-yard run (Ali Haji-Sheikh kick), 11:57. Michigan 21–14. Drive: 6 plays, 32 yards, 3:03.
  • ND – John Krimm 49-yard interception return (kick failed), 1:03. Michigan 21–20.

Fourth quarter

  • ND – Phil Carter 4-yard run (pass failed), 3:03. Notre Dame 26–21. Drive: 11 plays, 74 yards, 4:30.
  • MICH – Craig Dunaway 1-yard pass from John Wangler (pass failed), 0:41. Michigan 27–26. Drive: 10 plays, 78 yards, 2:12.
  • ND – Harry Oliver 51-yard field goal, 0:00. Notre Dame 29–27. Drive: 5 plays, 46 yards, 0:41.
Top passers
  • MICH – John Wangler – 11/19, 98 yards, 3 TD, INT
  • ND – Mike Courey – 6/13, 62 yards, TD, 2 INT
Top rushers
  • MICH – Lawrence Ricks – 14 rushes, 83 yards
  • ND – Phil Carter – 30 rushes, 103 yards, 2 TD
Top receivers
  • MICH – Anthony Carter – 2 receptions, 30 yards
  • ND – Pete Holohan – 2 receptions, 41 yards, TD

Harry Oliver kicked the game-winning field goal as time expired. [5]

At Michigan State

#7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (2–0) at Michigan State Spartans (1–2)
Period 1 2 34Total
Notre Dame 0 6 71326
Michigan State 9 0 01221

at Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan

  • Date: October 4
  • Game attendance: 76,821
  • Recap/Box
Game information

First quarter

  • MSU – Morten Andersen 29-yard field goal, 10:30. Michigan State 3–0. Drive: 4 plays, 22 yards, 1:16.
  • MSU – Steve Smith 1-yard run (pass failed), 3:26. Michigan State 9–0. Drive: 10 plays, 60 yards, 5:09.

Second quarter

  • ND – Harry Oliver 44-yard field goal, 14:48. Michigan State 9–3. Drive: 10 plays, 45 yards, 3:38.
  • ND – Harry Oliver 28-yard field goal, 0:02. Michigan State 9–6. Drive: 6 plays, 49 yards, 0:42.

Third quarter

  • ND – Phil Carter 12-yard run (Harry Oliver kick), 5:33. Notre Dame 13–9. Drive: 8 plays, 51 yards, 3:27.

Fourth quarter

  • ND – Harry Oliver 27-yard field goal, 10:09. Notre Dame 16–9. Drive: 6 plays, 47 yards, 2:55.
  • MSU – Anthony Ellis 13-yard run (pass failed), 8:48. Notre Dame 16–15. Drive: 4 plays, 69 yards, 1:21.
  • ND – Jim Stone 1-yard run (Harry Oliver kick), 7:49. Notre Dame 23–15. Drive: 3 plays, 59 yards, 0:59.
  • MSU – Steve Smith 42-yard pass from John Leister (pass failed), 6:35. Notre Dame 23–21. Drive: 4 plays, 83 yards, 1:14.
  • ND – Harry Oliver 32-yard field goal, 0:46. Notre Dame 26–21. Drive: 11 plays, 63 yards, 5:49.
Top passers
Top rushers
  • ND – Phil Carter – 40 rushes, 254 yards, TD
  • MSU – Steve Smith – 9 rushes, 44 yards, TD
Top receivers
  • ND – Tony Hunter – 3 receptions, 46 yards
  • MSU – Steve Smith – 2 receptions, 57 yards, TD

Blair Kiel started the second half at quarterback

Miami (FL)

#13 Miami (FL) Hurricanes (4–0) at #7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (3–0)
Period 1 2 34Total
Miami (FL) 0 0 01414
Notre Dame 0 10 61632

at Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Indiana

  • Date: October 11
  • Game attendance: 59,075
  • Recap/Box
Game information

First quarter

  • No scoring

Second quarter

  • ND – Blair Kiel 4-yard run (Harry Oliver kick), 0:56. Notre Dame 7–0. Drive: 5 plays, 29 yards, 0:41.
  • ND – Harry Oliver 19-yard field goal, 0:14. Notre Dame 10–0. Drive: 7 plays, 16 yards, 0:39.

Third quarter

  • ND – Harry Oliver 28-yard field goal, 4:53. Notre Dame 13–0. Drive: 7 plays, 20 yards, 3:13.
  • ND – Harry Oliver 38-yard field goal, 2:17. Notre Dame 16–0. Drive: 4 plays, -4 yards, 2:20.

Fourth quarter

  • MIA – Pat Walker 13-yard pass from Jim Kelly (pass failed), 13:52. Notre Dame 16–6. Drive: 7 plays, 58 yards, 1:37.
  • ND – Tom Gibbons 53-yard interception return (kick failed), 11:08. Notre Dame 22–6.
  • MIA – Mark Cooper 37-yard pass from Jim Kelly (pass good), 8:43. Notre Dame 22–14. Drive: 8 plays, 62 yards, 2:25.
  • ND – Harry Oliver 37-yard field goal, 2:06. Notre Dame 25–14. Drive: 12 plays, 52 yards, 6:37.
  • ND – Jim Stone 27-yard run (Harry Oliver kick), 0:09. Notre Dame 32–14. Drive: 3 plays, 30 yards, 1:07.
Top passers
Top rushers
  • MIA – Chris Hobbs – 5 rushes, 13 yards
  • ND – Jim Stone – 38 rushes, 224 yards, TD
Top receivers
  • MIA – Jim Joiner – 3 receptions, 97 yards
  • ND – Tony Hunter – 2 receptions, 19 yards

  • Blair Kiel - first freshman QB to start at Notre Dame since 1951 (Ralph Guglielmi)
  • Jim Stone - starting in place of injured Phil Carter gains over 200 yards

Army

Army Cadets (2–2–1) at #5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (4–0)
Period 1 2 34Total
Army 0 0 303
Notre Dame 0 17 6730

at Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Indiana

  • Date: October 18
  • Game attendance: 59,075
  • Recap/Box
Game information

First quarter

  • No scoring

Second quarter

  • ND – Jim Stone 4-yard run (Harry Oliver kick), 8:22. Notre Dame 7–0. Drive: 5 plays, 44 yards, 2:08.
  • ND – Harry Oliver 49-yard field goal, 1:30. Notre Dame 10–0. Drive: 11 plays, 53 yards, 3:08.
  • ND – Mark Zavagnin recovery of blocked punt in end zone (Harry Oliver kick), 0:29. Notre Dame 17–0.

Third quarter

  • ARMY – Dave Aucoin 41-yard field goal, 11:03. Notre Dame 17–3. Drive: 6 plays, 22 yards, 2:32.
  • ND – Blair Kiel 1-yard run (kick failed), 0:40. Notre Dame 23–3. Drive: 11 plays, 39 yards, 4:29.

Fourth quarter

  • ND – Ty Barber 1-yard run (Mike Johnston kick), 14:14. Notre Dame 30–3. Drive: 3 plays, 45 yards, 0:46.
Top passers
  • ARMY – T.D. Decker – 4/15, 46 yards, INT
  • ND – Blair Kiel – 7/19, 74 yards
Top rushers
  • ARMY – Dino Harris – 10 rushes, 43 yards
  • ND – Jim Stone – 25 rushes, 122 yards
Top receivers
  • ARMY – Warren Waldorff – 2 receptions, 23 yards
  • ND – Nick Vehr – 3 receptions, 44 yards

[6]

At Arizona

#4 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (5–0) at Arizona Wildcats (2–3)
Period 1 2 34Total
Notre Dame 7 10 0320
Arizona 0 3 003

at Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Arizona

  • Date: October 25
  • Game attendance: 56,211
  • Recap/Box
Game information

First quarter

  • ND – Jim Stone 1-yard run (Harry Oliver kick), 6:54. Notre Dame 7–0. Drive: 14 plays, 80 yards, 8:06.

Second quarter

  • UA – Brett Weber 21-yard field goal, 3:16. Notre Dame 7–3. Drive: 10 plays, 58 yards, 3:21.
  • ND – Blair Kiel 80-yard run (Harry Oliver kick), 2:08. Notre Dame 14–3. Drive: 4 plays, 85 yards, 1:03.
  • ND – Harry Oliver 28-yard field goal, 0:00. Notre Dame 17–3. Drive: 8 plays, 27 yards, 1:06.

Third quarter

  • No scoring

Fourth quarter

  • ND – Harry Oliver 38-yard field goal, 3:26. Notre Dame 20–3. Drive: 4 plays, 4 yards, 1:44.
Top passers
  • ND – Blair Kiel – 11/20, 152 yards, INT
  • UA – Tom Tunnicliffe – 15/26, 95 yards, 2 INT
Top rushers
  • ND – Jim Stone – 29 rushes, 105 yards, TD
  • UA – Hubert Oliver – 8 rushes, 41 yards
Top receivers
  • ND – Tony Hunter – 7 receptions, 75 yards
  • UA – Tim Holmes – 2 receptions, 43 yards

Dan Devine's 50th win at Notre Dame

Vs. Navy

Navy Midshipmen (5–2) vs. #3 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (6–0)
Period 1 2 34Total
Notre Dame 12 14 0733
Navy 0 0 000

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

  • Date: November 1
  • Game weather: Overcast
  • Game attendance: 76,891
  • Recap/Box
Game information

First quarter

  • ND – Ty Barber 9-yard run (kick blocked), 5:37. Notre Dame 6–0. Drive: 5 plays, 92 yards, 2:09.
  • ND – Pete Buchanan 3-yard run (pass failed), 2:45. Notre Dame 12–0. Drive: 6 plays, 21 yards, 2:31.

Second quarter

  • ND – Jim Stone 13-yard run (pass good), 12:40. Notre Dame 20–0. Drive: 8 plays, 56 yards, 3:00.
  • ND – Harry Oliver 41-yard field goal, 10:34. Notre Dame 23–0. Drive: 3 plays, -9 yards, 1:58.
  • ND – Harry Oliver 50-yard field goal, 1:26. Notre Dame 26–0. Drive: 3 plays, 2 yards, 1:23.

Third quarter

  • No scoring

Fourth quarter

  • ND – Greg Bell 27-yard run (Harry Oliver kick), 9:47. Notre Dame 33–0. Drive: 10 plays, 72 yards, 3:37.
Top passers
  • ND – Blair Kiel – 3/8, 32 yards, INT
  • NAVY – Tom Tarquinio – 7/11, 56 yards
Top rushers
  • ND – Jim Stone – 33 rushes, 211 yards, TD
  • NAVY – Eddie Meyers – 15 rushes, 53 yards
Top receivers
  • ND – Tim Tripp – 1 reception, 17 yards
  • NAVY – Tim Jackson – 2 receptions, 17 yards

  • Scott Zettek - AP Midwest Lineman of the Week (8 tackles, 3 sacks)

At Georgia Tech

#1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7–0) at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (1–7)
Period 1 2 34Total
Notre Dame 0 0 033
Georgia Tech 0 3 003

at Grant Field, Atlanta, Georgia

  • Date: November 8
  • Game time: 1:30 p.m.
  • Game attendance: 41,266
  • Recap/Box
Game information

First quarter

  • No scoring

Second quarter

  • GT – Johnny Smith 39-yard field goal, 6:11. Georgia Tech 3–0. Drive: 10 plays, 53 yards, 5:25.

Third quarter

  • No scoring

Fourth quarter

  • ND – Harry Oliver 47-yard field goal, 4:44. Tie 3–3. Drive: 7 plays, 60 yards, 3:04.
Top passers
Top rushers
  • ND – Jim Stone – 21 rushes, 85 yards
  • GT – Matt Bryant – 10 rushes, 42 yards
Top receivers
  • ND – Pete Holohan – 5 receptions, 63 yards
  • GT – Leon Chadwick – 2 receptions, 20 yards

At Alabama

#6 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7–0–1) at #5 Alabama Crimson Tide (8–1)
Period 1 2 34Total
Notre Dame 0 7 007
Alabama 0 0 000

at Legion Field, Birmingham, Alabama

Game information
First quarter
  • No scoring
Second quarter
  • ND – Phil Carter 2-yard run (Harry Oliver kick), 6:02. Notre Dame 7–0. Drive: 2 plays, 4 yards, 0:34.
Third quarter
  • No scoring
Fourth quarter
  • No scoring
Top passers
  • ND – Blair Kiel – 5/9, 43 yards
  • ALA – Walter Lewis – 5/11, 53 yards
Top rushers
  • ND – Phil Carter – 31 rushes, 84 yards, TD
  • ALA – Walter Lewis – 12 rushes, 58 yards
Top receivers
  • ND – Phil Carter – 2 receptions, 19 yards
  • ALA – Bart Krout – 3 receptions, 25 yards

Air Force

Air Force Falcons (2–7–1) at #2 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (8–0–1)
Period 1 2 34Total
Air Force 3 0 0710
Notre Dame 0 3 14724

at Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Indiana

  • Date: November 22
  • Game attendance: 59,075
  • Recap/Box
Game information
First quarter
  • AFA – Sean Pavlich 35-yard field goal, 1:06. Air Force 3–0. Drive: 6 plays, 31 yards, 2:35.
Second quarter
  • ND – Harry Oliver 31-yard field goal, 14:09. Tie 3–3. Drive: 3 plays, 7 yards, 0:52.
Third quarter
  • ND – Phil Carter 2-yard run (Harry Oliver kick), 5:17. Notre Dame 10–3. Drive: 14 plays, 76 yards, 6:40.
  • ND – Jim Stone 7-yard run (Harry Oliver kick), 0:48. Notre Dame 17–3. Drive: 7 plays, 30 yards, 3:00.
Fourth quarter
  • AFA – Charlie Heath 1-yard run (Sean Pavlich kick), 7:04. Notre Dame 17–10. Drive: 4 plays, 21 yards, 1:28.
  • ND – Jim Stone 2-yard run (Harry Oliver kick), 1:51. Notre Dame 24–10. Drive: 12 plays, 80 yards, 5:13.
Top passers
  • AFA – Scott Schafer – 3/15, 43 yards
  • ND – Blair Kiel – 6/20, 67 yards, INT
Top rushers
  • AFA – Ted Sundquist – 10 rushes, 41 yards
  • ND – Phil Carter – 29 rushes, 181 yards, TD
Top receivers
  • AFA – Charlie Heath – 2 receptions, 19 yards
  • ND – Tony Hunter – 1 reception, 25 yards

[7]

At USC

#2 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (9–0–1) at #17 USC Trojans (7–2–1)
Period 1 2 34Total
Notre Dame 0 0 303
USC 0 10 01020

at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California

Game information
First quarter
  • No scoring
Second quarter
  • USC – Michael Harper 6-yard run (Eric Hipp kick), 8:23. USC 7–0. Drive: 6 plays, 31 yards, 1:42.
  • USC – Eric Hipp 22-yard field goal, 1:31. USC 10–0. Drive: 8 plays, 61 yards, 5:28.
Third quarter
  • ND – Harry Oliver 30-yard field goal, 0:50. USC 10–3. Drive: 3 plays, -12 yards, 2:08.
Fourth quarter
  • USC – Eric Hipp 17-yard field goal, 11:42. USC 13–3. Drive: 3 plays, 0 yards, 2:17.
  • USC – Michael Harper 10-yard run (Eric Hipp kick), 1:09. USC 20–3. Drive: 11 plays, 70 yards, 4:25.
Top passers
  • ND – Mike Courey – 3/8, 25 yards, 2 INT
  • USC – Scott Tinsley – 4/5, 24 yards
Top rushers
  • ND – Phil Carter – 20 rushes, 42 yards
  • USC – Michael Harper – 20 rushes, 87 yards, 2 TD
Top receivers
  • ND – Pete Holohan – 2 receptions, 19 yards
  • USC – Jeff Simmons – 1 reception, 15 yards

Sugar Bowl (vs. Georgia)

#17 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (9–1–1) vs. #1 Georgia Bulldogs (11–0)
Period 1 2 34Total
Notre Dame 3 0 7010
Georgia 10 7 0017

at Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

  • Date: January 1, 1981
  • Game weather: Indoors (dome)
  • Game attendance: 77,895
  • TV announcers (ABC): Keith Jackson and Frank Broyles
  • Recap/Box
Game information
First quarter
  • ND – Harry Oliver 50-yard field goal, 10:41. Notre Dame 3–0. Drive: 9 plays, 48 yards, 4:19.
  • UGA – Rex Robinson 46-yard field goal, 1:45. Tie 3–3. Drive: 8 plays, 20 yards, 3:38.
  • UGA – Herschel Walker 1-yard run (Rex Robinson kick), 1:04. Georgia 10–3. Drive: 2 plays, 1 yard, 0:41.
Second quarter
  • UGA – Herschel Walker 3-yard run (Rex Robinson kick), 13:49. Georgia 17–3. Drive: 3 plays, 22 yards, 0:17.
Third quarter
  • ND – Phil Carter 1-yard run (Harry Oliver kick), 0:54. Georgia 17–10. Drive: 10 plays, 57 yards, 4:25.
Fourth quarter
  • No scoring
Top passers
Top rushers
  • ND – Phil Carter – 27 rushes, 109 yards, TD
  • UGA – Herschel Walker – 36 rushes, 150 yards, 2 TD
Top receivers
  • ND – Pete Holohan – 4 receptions, 44 yards
  • UGA – Amp Arnold – 1 reception, 7 yards

Team players drafted into the NFL

  • Blair Kiel – 1984 / Round: 11 / Pick: 281 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  • Dave Duerson – 1983 / Round: 3 / Pick: 64 Chicago Bears
  • John Scully - 1981 / Round: 4 / Pick: 109th pick Atlanta Falcons

Awards and honors

References

  1. ^ "Notre Dame Yearly Results (1985-1989)". College Football Data Warehouse. David DeLassus. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  2. ^ "Hot Irish defense stops Alabama cold". Chicago Tribune. November 16, 1980. Retrieved February 19, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Opportunistic Georgia fulfills national-title dream". Chicago Tribune. January 2, 1981. Retrieved October 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Palm Beach Post. 1980 Sept 7.
  5. ^ "Last-Play, 51-Yard Kick Gets Irish Past Michigan." Palm Beach Post. 1980 Sept 21.
  6. ^ Gadsden Times. 1980 Oct 19. Retrieved 2018-Oct-19.
  7. ^ Eugene Register-Guard. 1980 Nov 23.
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