1986 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team

The 1986 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame in the 1986 NCAA Division I-A football season.^[1] The team was coached by Lou Holtz and played its home games at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana.

1986 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Conference	Independent
Record	5–6
Head coach	Lou Holtz (1st season)
Defensive coordinator	Foge Fazio (1st season)
Captain	Mike Kovaleski
Home stadium	Notre Dame Stadium (c. 59,075, grass)
Seasons ← 1985 1987 →

1986 NCAA Division I-A independents football records

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 1 Penn State		–		–				12	–	0	–	0
No. 2 Miami (FL)		–		–				11	–	1	–	0
No. 20 Virginia Tech		–		–				9	–	2	–	1
No. 19 Boston College		–		–				9	–	3	–	0
Tulsa		–		–				7	–	4	–	0
Florida State		–		–				7	–	4	–	1
Army		–		–				6	–	5	–	0
Southwestern Louisiana		–		–				6	–	5	–	0
Southern Miss		–		–				6	–	5	–	0
Temple		–		–				6	–	5	–	0
Pittsburgh		–		–				5	–	5	–	1
Rutgers		–		–				5	–	5	–	1
Cincinnati		–		–				5	–	6	–	0
Notre Dame		–		–				5	–	6	–	0
Syracuse		–		–				5	–	6	–	0
South Carolina		–		–				3	–	6	–	2
Tulane		–		–				4	–	7	–	0
West Virginia		–		–				4	–	7	–	0
Louisville		–		–				3	–	8	–	0
Navy		–		–				3	–	8	–	0
Wichita State		–		–				3	–	8	–	0
East Carolina		–		–				2	–	9	–	0
Northern Illinois		–		–				2	–	9	–	0
Memphis State		–		–				1	–	10	–	0
Rankings from AP Poll

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 13	3:30 p.m.	No. 3 Michigan		Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)	ABC	L 23–24	59,075
September 20	2:30 p.m.	at Michigan State	No. 20	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI (Megaphone Trophy)	CBS	L 15–20	79,895
September 27	3:30 p.m.	Purdue		Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN (Shillelagh Trophy)	ABC	W 41–9	59,075
October 4	3:30 p.m.	at No. 2 Alabama		Legion Field Birmingham, AL	ABC	L 10–28	75,808
October 11	12:30 p.m.	Pittsburgh		Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)	USA, WGN	L 9–10	59,075
October 18	12:30 p.m.	Air Force		Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN	USA, WGN	W 31–3	59,075
November 1	7:00 p.m.	at Navy		Memorial Stadium Baltimore, MD (rivalry)	TBS	W 33–14	61,335
November 8	1:00 p.m.	SMU		Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN		W 61–29	59,075
November 15	3:30 p.m.	No. 3 Penn State		Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN	ABC	L 19–24	59,075
November 22	7:30 p.m.	at No. 8 LSU		Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA	ESPN	L 19–21	78,197
November 29	3:30 p.m.	at No. 17 USC		Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA (Jeweled Shillelagh)	CBS	W 38–37	70,614
Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

Roster

1986 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class QB 2 Terry Andrysiak Jr QB 7 Steve Beuerlein Sr WR 81 Tim Brown Jr OT 66 Andy Heck So   3 Alonzo Jefferson   Anthony Johnson Fr   Pernell Taylor WR 83 Reggie Ward   Joel Williams	Defense Pos. # Name Class LB 48 Cedric Figaro Jr	Special teams Pos. # Name Class K 18 John Carney	Head coach Lou Holtz Coordinators/assistant coaches Foge Fazio (DC) George Stewart (LB) Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible   Injured   Redshirt

Game summaries

Michigan

Week 1: Michigan at Notre Dame

1 2 3 4 Total • Michigan 7 3 14 0 24 Notre Dame 7 7 6 3 23 Date: September 13 Location: South Bend, IN Game start: 3:30 p.m. Game attendance: 59,075 TV announcers (ABC): Keith Jackson, Tim Brant, Al Trautwig

Scoring summary 1 4:34 ND Tim Brown 3-yard run (John Carney kick) ND 7–0 1 0:33 MICH Jamie Morris 8-yard run (Pat Moons kick) TIE 7–7 2 8:08 ND Mark Green 1-yard run (Carney kick) ND 14–7 2 0:52 MICH Moons 23-yard field goal ND 14–10 3 8:57 MICH Morris 1-yard run (Moons kick) MICH 17–14 3 8:51 MICH Morris 27-yard pass from Jim Harbaugh (Moons kick) MICH 24–14 3 3:10 ND Joel Williams 2-yard pass from Steve Beuerlein (kick failed) MICH 24–20 4 4:26 ND Carney 25-yard field goal MICH 24–23

On September 13, 1986, Notre Dame lost to No. 3 Michigan, 24–23, before a crowd of 59,075 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. The game was the first for Lou Holtz as Notre Dame's head coach.

On the game's opening possession, Michigan mounted a six-and-a-half-minute drive to the Notre Dame 25-yard line, but Pat Moons missed a 42-yard field goal. After Michigan's touchdown, Notre Dame drove 75 yards on 13 plays, capped by a three-yard touchdown run by flanker Tim Brown. On its second possession, Michigan followed with an 80-yard, eight-play drive, fueled by a 34-yard catch by John Kolesar, and capped by an eight-yard touchdown run by Jamie Morris.^[2][3]

On Notre Dame's second possession, the Irish again drove downfield, but Reggie Ward fumbled at Michigan's six-yard line, and Michigan recovered the loose ball. Notre Dame's defense held, and Michigan was forced to punt from its own end zone. Monte Robbins' punt was good for only 23 yards, and Notre Dame took over at Michigan's 26-yard line. Eight plays later, Mark Green scored on a one-yard run. After Green's touchdown, Jim Harbaugh led the Wolverines on a seven-minute, 75-yard, 13-play drive, and Pat Moons kicked a 23-yard field goal. Notre Dame led, 14-10, at halftime.^[2][3]

Michigan moved ahead in the third quarter. On the opening drive of the second half, Harbaugh led the Wolverines on a 78-yard, 12-play drive ending with a one-yard touchdown run by Morris. On the kickoff following the touchdown, the kick hit a Notre Dame player and bounced loose with free safety Doug Mallory recovering the ball at the Notre Dame 27-yard line. On the next play from scrimmage, Harbaugh threw a touchdown pass to Morris, and Michigan led 24-14.^[2][3]

On its next possession, Steve Beuerlein led the Irish on a 66-yard, 12-play touchdown drive ending with a two-yard pass from Beuerlein to Joel Williams. John Carney's extra point kick failed, and Michigan led, 24-20, at the end of the third quarter.^[2][3]

In the fourth quarter, Notre Dame drove 62 yards in 10 plays, and a 25-yard field goal by John Carney brought the Irish within one point with 4:26 remaining in the game. Then, with 1:33 remaining in the game, Michigan fullback Bob Perryman fumbled at the Notre Dame 26-yard line, and Notre Dame linebacker Wesley Pritchett recovered the loose ball. Beuerlein quickly led the Irish to Michigan's 28-yard line. With 13 seconds remaining, Carney's 45-yard field goal attempt went wide to the left.^[2][3]

Notre Dame out-gained Michigan, 455 yards to 393 yards. For the Irish, Steve Beuerlein completed 21 of 33 passes for 263 yards, at touchdown, and an interception, and Tim Brown rushed for 65 yards on 12 carries. For the Wolverines, Harbaugh completed 15 of 23 passes for 239 yards and a touchdown, Kolesar caught four passes for 93 yards, and Morris rushed for 77 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries. Michigan forced four turnovers, including two fumble recoveries by Doug Mallory and a fourth-quarter interception by David Arnold in the end zone. Andy Moeller led the Michigan defense with seven solo tackles and six assists.^[2][3]

At Michigan State

See also: 1986 Michigan State Spartans football team, Michigan State–Notre Dame football rivalry, and Megaphone Trophy

Purdue

1 2 3 4 Total Purdue 0 0 6 3 9 • Notre Dame 10 14 3 14 41 Date: Saturday, September 27 Location: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Indiana Game attendance: 59,075

Scoring summary 1 Notre Dame Taylor 2-yard run (Carney kick) Notre Dame 7-0 1 Notre Dame Carney 42-yard field goal Notre Dame 10-0 2 Notre Dame Johnson 2-yard run (Carney kick) Notre Dame 17-0 2 Notre Dame Jackson 35-yard pass from Beuerlein (Carney kick) Notre Dame 24-0 3 Notre Dame Carney 49-yard field goal Notre Dame 27-0 3 Purdue Chaney 3-yard run (pass failed) Notre Dame 27-6 4 Purdue Briggs 22-yard field goal Notre Dame 27-9 4 Notre Dame Johnson 13-yard run (Carney kick) Notre Dame 34-9 4 Notre Dame Green 27-yard run (Carney kick ) Notre Dame 41-9

See also: 1986 Purdue Boilermakers football team and Notre Dame–Purdue football rivalry

^[4]

At Alabama

See also: 1986 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

Pittsburgh

See also: 1986 Pittsburgh Panthers football team and Notre Dame–Pittsburgh football rivalry

Air Force

Navy

See also: 1986 Navy Midshipmen football team and Navy–Notre Dame football rivalry

Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Navy Midshipmen

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Notre Dame	7	21	3	2	33
Navy	0	0	7	7	14

at Memorial Stadium • Baltimore, Maryland

• Game time: 7:05 p.m.
• Game attendance: 61,335
• TV: TBS
• Notre Dame Football Archives

Game information
Notre Dame Steve Beuerlein 15/22, 248 Yds, 2 TD Anthony Johnson 14 Rush, 50 Yds Tim Brown 7 Rec, 184 Yds, TD Navy Bob Misch 12/27, 130 Yds Tony Hollinger 13 Rush, 17 Yds, TD Mike Ray 7 Rec, 83 Yds, TD

Scoring summary

Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP ND NAVY 1 2:36 14 57 6:40 Notre Dame Joel Williams 2-yard touchdown reception from Steve Beuerlein, John Carney kick good 7 0 2 14:04 5 94 1:57 Notre Dame Tim Brown 77-yard touchdown reception from Steve Beuerlein, John Carney kick good 14 0 2 7:40 9 60 4:18 Notre Dame Pernell Taylor 11-yard touchdown run, John Carney kick good 21 0 2 2:35 5 2 0:42 Notre Dame Pernell Taylor 1-yard touchdown run, John Carney kick good 28 0 3 12:25 7 53 2:35 Notre Dame 19-yard field goal by John Carney 31 0 3 0:56 2 40 0:29 Navy Tony Hollinger 1-yard touchdown run, Ted Fundoukas kick good 31 7 4 12:33 Notre Dame Safety, intentional grounding penalty in end zone by Bob Misch 33 7 4 7:59 8 77 2:27 Navy Mike Ray 21-yard touchdown reception from Bill Byrne, Ted Fundoukas kick good 33 14 "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 33 14

SMU

Penn State

At LSU

See also: 1986 LSU Tigers football team

At USC

1 2 3 4 Total • Notre Dame 6 3 11 18 38 USC 3 17 10 7 37 Date: November 29 Location: Los Angeles, CA Television network: CBS Source: [1]

Scoring summary 1 USC Shafer 48-yard field goal USC 3-0 1 Notre Dame Heck 5-yard pass from Beuerlein (kick failed) Notre Dame 6-3 2 USC Brock 58-yard interception return (Shafer kick) USC 10-6 2 USC Holt 3-yard run (Shafer kick) USC 17-6 2 Notre Dame Carney 33-yard field goal USC 17-9 2 USC Shafer 60-yard field goal USC 20-9 3 USC Shafer 23-yard field goal USC 23-9 3 Notre Dame Carney 32-yard field goal USC 23-12 3 USC Steele 1-yard run (Shafer kick) USC 30-12 3 Notre Dame Banks 22-yard pass from Beuerlein (Beuerlein to Jackson pass) USC 30-20 4 USC Peete 1-yard run (Shafer kick) USC 37-20 4 Notre Dame Jackson 42-yard pass from Beuerlein (Carney kick) USC 37-27 4 Notre Dame Banks 5-yard pass from Beuerlein (Beuerlein to Heck pass) USC 37-35 4 :00 Notre Dame Carney 19-yard field goal Notre Dame 38-37

See also: 1986 USC Trojans football team and Notre Dame–USC football rivalry

Team players drafted into the NFL

The following players were drafted into professional football following the season.

Player	Position	Round	Pick	Franchise
Wally Kleine	Tackle	2	48	Washington Redskins
Steve Beuerlein	Quarterback	4	110	Los Angeles Raiders
Robert Banks	Defensive End	7	176	Houston Oilers
Joel D. Williams	Tight End	8	210	Miami Dolphins

^[5]

References

1. . College Football Data Warehouse. David DeLassus. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
2. Tommy George (September 14, 1986). "U-M plucks Irish luck: ND misses FG at end; it's 24-23". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1D, 17D – via Newspapers.com.
3. Phil Nussel (September 15, 1986). "Michigan ruins Holtz debut, 24-23: ND commits four turnovers in loss". The Michigan Daily. pp. 1, 11 – via Bentley Historical Library.
4. Gainesville Sun. 1986 Sept 28.
5. . Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 21, 2007.