1990 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team

1990 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Orange Bowl, L 9–10 vs. Colorado
Conference	Independent
Ranking
Coaches	No. 6
AP	No. 6
Record	9–3
Head coach	Lou Holtz (5th season)
Defensive coordinator	Gary Darnell (1st season)
Captains	Mike Heldt Chris Zorich Todd Lyght Ricky Watters
Home stadium	Notre Dame Stadium (c. 59,075, grass)
Seasons ←  1989 1991  →

1990 NCAA Division I-A independents football records

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 14 Louisville			–					10	–	1	–	1
No. 3 Miami (FL)			–					10	–	2	–	0
No. 4 Florida State			–					10	–	2	–	0
No. 6 Notre Dame			–					9	–	3	–	0
No. 11 Penn State			–					9	–	3	–	0
Louisiana Tech			–					8	–	3	–	1
Southern Miss			–					8	–	4	–	0
Temple			–					7	–	4	–	0
Syracuse			–					7	–	4	–	2
Army			–					6	–	5	–	0
Northern Illinois			–					6	–	5	–	0
South Carolina			–					6	–	5	–	0
Virginia Tech			–					6	–	5	–	0
East Carolina			–					5	–	6	–	0
Southwestern Louisiana			–					5	–	6	–	0
Navy			–					5	–	6	–	0
Memphis State			–					4	–	6	–	1
Boston College			–					4	–	7	–	0
Tulane			–					4	–	7	–	0
West Virginia			–					4	–	7	–	0
Akron			–					3	–	7	–	1
Pittsburgh			–					3	–	7	–	1
Rutgers			–					3	–	8	–	0
Tulsa			–					3	–	8	–	0
Cincinnati			–					1	–	10	–	0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1990 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame in the 1990 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. This would be the final season home games would air on ESPN, ABC, or CBS, as NBC took over beginning the following year. However, a home playoff game aired on ESPN and ABC in 2024.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 15	8:00 p.m.	No. 4 Michigan	No. 1	Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)	CBS	W 28–24	59,075
September 22	2:30 p.m.	at No. 24 Michigan State	No. 1	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI (rivalry)	ABC	W 20–19	80,401
September 29	12:00 p.m.	Purdue	No. 1	Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)	SportsChannel	W 37–11	59,075
October 6	12:00 p.m.	Stanford	No. 1	Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)		L 31–36	59,075
October 13	12:00 p.m.	Air Force	No. 8	Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)		W 57–27	59,075
October 20	2:30 p.m.	No. 2 Miami (FL)	No. 6	Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)	CBS	W 29–20	59,075
October 27	6:45 p.m.	at Pittsburgh	No. 3	Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA (rivalry)	ESPN	W 31–22	56,500
November 3	12:00 p.m.	vs. Navy	No. 2	Giants Stadium East Rutherford, NJ (rivalry)		W 52–31	70,382
November 10	2:30 p.m.	at No. 9 Tennessee	No. 1	Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN	CBS	W 34–29	97,123
November 17	4:00 p.m.	No. 18 Penn State	No. 1	Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)	ESPN	L 21–24	59,075
November 24	8:00 p.m.	at No. 18 USC	No. 7	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA (rivalry)	ABC	W 10–6	91,639
January 1, 1991	8:00 p.m.	vs. No. 1 Colorado	No. 5	Miami Orange Bowl Miami, FL (Orange Bowl)	NBC	L 9–10	77,062
Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

Roster

1990 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class FB 6 Jerome Bettis Fr RB 40 Tony Brooks Jr TE 86 Derek Brown Jr RB 5 Rodney Culver Jr WR 87 Lake Dawson Fr WR 25 Raghib Ismail Sr WR 10 Adrian Jarrell So OT 65 Lindsay Knapp Jr RB 4 Dorsey Levens So TE 80 Oscar McBride Fr OT 76 Gene McGuire Jr QB 3 Rick Mirer So G 52 Tim Ryan Sr WR 12 Ricky Watters Sr	Defense Pos. # Name Class S 9 Jeff Burris Fr CB 32 Willie Clark Fr CB 29 John Covington Fr DT 93 Bob Dahl Sr LB 31 Demetrius DuBose So LB 42 Michael Stonebreaker Jr CB 1 Todd Lyght Sr LB 89 Karmeeleyah McGill So LB 46 Brian Ratigan So CB 21 Rod Smith Jr DT 97 Bryant Young Fr DT 50 Chris Zorich Sr	Special teams Pos. # Name Class K, P 28 Craig Hentrich So P 16 Jim Sexton Sr	Head coach Lou Holtz Coordinators/assistant coaches Gary Darnell (Defensive coordinator) Skip Holtz (Wide receivers) Robert McFarland (Graduate assistant) Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster

Game summaries

Michigan

See also: Michigan–Notre Dame football rivalry

#4 Michigan Wolverines (0–0) at #1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (0–0)

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Michigan	3	7	14	0	24
Notre Dame	14	0	0	14	28

at Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Indiana

• Date: September 15
• Game time: 8:05 p.m. EST
• Game attendance: 59,075
• Box Score

Game information

First quarter ND – Rick Mirer 2-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 11:28. Notre Dame 7–0. MICH – J.D. Carlson 38-yard field goal, 7:01. Notre Dame 7–3. ND – Reggie Brooks 2-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 1:59. Notre Dame 14–3. Second quarter MICH – Desmond Howard 25-yard pass from Elvis Grbac (J.D. Carlson kick), 3:56. Notre Dame 14–10. Third quarter MICH – Allen Jefferson 1-yard run (J.D. Carlson), 7:49. Michigan 17–14. MICH – Desmond Howard 25-yard pass from Elvis Grbac (J.D. Carlson kick), 7:33. Michigan 24–14. Fourth quarter ND – Rodney Culver 1-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 12:59. Michigan 24–21. ND – Adrian Jarrell 18-yard pass from Rick Mirer (Craig Hentrich kick), 1:40. Notre Dame 28–24. Top passers MICH – Elvis Grbac – 17/30, 190 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT ND – Rick Mirer – 14/23, 165 yards, TD Top rushers MICH – Jon Vaughn – 22 rushes, 201 yards ND – Rodney Culver – 19 rushes, 95 yards, TD Top receivers MICH – Desmond Howard – 6 receptions, 133 yards, 2 TD ND – Raghib Ismail – 4 receptions, 42 yards

Michigan State

#1 Notre Dame at #24 Michigan State

1 2 3 4 Total •Fighting Irish 7 0 0 14 21 Spartans 0 12 7 0 19 Date: September 22 Location: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI Game start: 3:30 p.m. EST TV announcers (ABC): Keith Jackson and Bob Griese Source:

Scoring summary 1 ND Watters 5 yard run (Hentrich kick) ND 7-0 2 MSU Langeloh 42 yard field goal ND 7-3 2 MSU Safety, blocked punt out of end zone ND 7-5 2 MSU Hickson 1 yard run (Langeloh kick) MSU 12-7 3 MSU Duckett 1 yard run (Langeloh kick) MSU 19-7 4 13:13 ND Watters 2 yard run (Hentrich kick) MSU 19-14 4 0:34 ND Culver 1 yard run (Hentrich kick) ND 21-19

See also: 1990 Michigan State Spartans football team and Michigan State–Notre Dame football rivalry

The Immaculate Deflection - Rick Mirer's 24-yard completion to Adrian Jarrell, which bounced off hands of MSU LB Todd Murray up and into Jarrell's arms at MSU 2. Three plays later, Culver scored. "There's definitely somebody looking out for us. There's somebody on our side," said Mirer.

• Notre Dame's 60th victory as No. 1 ranked team & 5-0-1 vs. MSU when ranked #1

Purdue

See also: 1990 Purdue Boilermakers football team and Notre Dame–Purdue football rivalry

Stanford

Stanford at #1 Notre Dame

1 2 3 4 Total •Cardinal 7 8 14 7 36 Fighting Irish 7 17 7 0 31 Date: September 22 Location: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN Game attendance: 59,075 Source:

Scoring summary 1 ND Mirer 1 yard run (Hentrich kick) ND 7-0 1 Sta Milburn 9 run (Hopkins kick) Tied 7-7 2 ND Hentrich 29 yard field goal ND 10-7 2 ND T. Smith 11 yard pass from Mirer (Hentrich kick) ND 17-7 2 ND T. Smith 15 yard pass from Mirer (Hentrich kick) ND 24-7 2 Sta Vardell 1 yard run (Palumbis to McCafferty pass) ND 24-15 3 Sta Vardell 1 yard run (Hopkins kick) ND 24-22 3 ND Culver 1 yard run (Hentrich kick) ND 31-22 3 Sta Vardell 1 yard run (Hopkins kick) ND 31-29 4 Sta Vardell 1 yard run (Hopkins kick) Sta 36-31

See also: 1990 Stanford Cardinal football team and Notre Dame–Stanford football rivalry

Air Force

See also: 1990 Air Force Falcons football team

Miami (FL)

#2 Miami (FL) at #6 Notre Dame

1 2 3 4 Total Hurricanes 10 7 0 3 20 •Fighting Irish 10 6 6 7 29 Date: October 20 Location: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN Game start: 2:40 p.m. EST Game attendance: 59,075 Referee: Dick Burleson TV announcers (CBS): Jim Nantz and Tim Brant

Scoring summary Q1 12:17 MIA McGuire 1-yard run (Huerta kick) MIA 7–0 6:51 ND Hentrich-25 yard field goal MIA 7–3 1:43 MIA Huerta 23-yard field goal MIA 10–3 ND Ismail 94-yard kickoff return (Hentrich kick) Tie 10–10 Q2 11:48 ND Hentrich-44 yard field goal ND 13–10 8:10 MIA Erickson-1 yard run (Huerta kick) MIA 17–13 4:16 ND Hentrich-34 yard field goal MIA 17–16 Q3 5:24 ND Hentrich-36 yard field goal ND 19–17 1:45 ND Hentrich 35-yard field goal ND 22–17 Q4 14:01 MIA Huerta 25-yard field goal ND 22–20 6:16 ND Culver 21-yard pass from Mirer (Hentrich kick) ND 29–20

See also: 1990 Miami Hurricanes football team

^[2]

Pittsburgh

See also: 1990 Pittsburgh Panthers football team and Notre Dame–Pittsburgh football rivalry

Navy

#2 Notre Dame vs. Navy

1 2 3 4 Total •Fighting Irish 7 3 21 21 52 Midshipmen 0 10 7 14 31 Date: November 3 Location: Giants Stadium Game attendance: 70,382

Scoring summary Q1 ND Bettis 1 yard run (Hentrich kick) ND 7–0 Q2 NAVY Pace 1 yard run (Schenk kick) Tie 7–7 Q2 ND Hentrich 31 yard field goal ND 10–7 Q2 NAVY Schenk 27 yard field goal Tie 10–10 Q3 ND Culver 7 yard run (Hentrich kick) ND 17–10 Q3 ND Watters 2 yard run (Hentrich kick) ND 24–10 Q3 ND Mirer 30 yard run (Hentrich kick) ND 31–10 Q3 NAVY Grizzard 6 yard run (Schenk kick) ND 31–17 Q4 ND Brooks 3 yard run (Hentrich kick) ND 38–17 Q4 NAVY Berghutt 19 yard pass from Grizzard (Schenk kick) ND 38–24 Q4 ND Ismail 54 yard pass from Mirer (Hentrich kick) ND 45–24 Q4 NAVY Mason 7 yard pass from Grizzard (Schenk kick) ND 45–31 Q4 ND Lyght 53 yard kickoff return (Hentrich kick) ND 52–31

See also: 1990 Navy Midshipmen football team and Navy–Notre Dame football rivalry

^[3]

Tennessee

#1 Notre Dame at #9 Tennessee

1 2 3 4 Total •Fighting Irish 7 3 7 17 34 Volunteers 6 0 14 9 29 Date: November 10 Location: Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN Game start: 3:30 p.m. EST Referee: Jimmy Harper TV announcers (CBS): Jim Nantz and Tim Brant Source:

Scoring summary 1 TEN Burke 46 yard field goal TEN 3-0 1 ND Culver 59 yard pass from Mirer (Hentrich kick) ND 7-3 1 TEN Burke 22 yard field goal ND 7-6 2 ND Hentrich 26 yard field goal ND 10-6 3 TEN Thompson 10 yard run (Burke kick) TEN 13-10 3 ND Watters 68 yard run (Hentrich kick) ND 17-13 3 TEN Harper 32 yard pass from Kelly (Burke kick) TEN 20-17 4 ND Hentrich 20 yard field goal Tied 20-20 4 TEN Burke 45 yard field goal TEN 23-20 4 ND Watters 10 yard run (Hentrich kick) ND 27-23 4 ND Ismail 44 yard run (Hentrich kick) ND 34-23 4 TEN Harper 23 yard pass from Kelly (pass failed) ND 34-29

The Irish traveled to Knoxville and pulled off a thrilling 34–29 victory over the 9th-ranked Tennessee Vols. The Irish built a 4th quarter lead and held off a furious late comeback by Tennessee.

See also: 1990 Tennessee Volunteers football team

Penn State

See also: 1990 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

USC

See also: 1990 USC Trojans football team and Notre Dame–USC football rivalry

Colorado (Orange Bowl)

#5 Notre Dame vs. #1 Colorado

1 2 3 4 Total Fighting Irish 0 6 3 0 9 •Buffaloes 0 3 7 0 10 Date: January 1 Location: Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, FL Game attendance: 77,062 TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Bill Walsh

Scoring summary Q2 CU Jim Harper 22-yard field goal CU 3–0 7:32 ND Ricky Watters 2-yard run (PAT blocked) ND 6–3 Q3 ND Craig Hentrich 24-yard field goal ND 9–3 CU Eric Bieniemy 1-yard run (Harper kick) 'CU 10–9

Notre Dame lost a heartbreaker to top-ranked Colorado in the Orange Bowl, 10–9. The Irish were undone by three third-quarter turnovers and a controversial penalty flag that negated a late punt return touchdown by Ismail. Colorado would go on to win a share of the national championship.

Main article: 1991 Orange Bowl

See also: 1990 Colorado Buffaloes football team

^{[4] [5]}

Team players drafted into the NFL

• Despite being drafted by the Los Angeles Raiders, the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League signed Raghib Ismail to a four-year contract worth 18 million dollars in April 1991. ^[6] The Ismail signing included four million dollars upfront. ^[7]

Awards and honors

• Raghib Ismail finished second in voting for the Heisman Trophy. ^[8]
• Raghib Ismail, Walter Camp Award ^[9]
• Chris Zorich: Lombardi Award ^[10]

References

1. "Notre Dame Yearly Results (1990-1994)". College Football Data Warehouse. David DeLassus. Archived from the original on July 25, 2015. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
2. Gainesville Sun. 1990 Sep 21. Retrieved 2018-Oct-06.
3. Gainesville Sun. 1990 Nov 4. Retrieved 2018-Dec-15.
4. "Top-Ranked Colorado Holds Off Notre Dame". The New York Times . January 2, 1991. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
5. "FLAG WIPED THE EGG OFF MCCARTNEY". The Washington Post . January 3, 1991. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
6. Drake, Stephen (2009). Weird Facts about Canadian Football: Strange, Wacky and Hilarious Stories. OverTime Books. p. 59. ISBN   978-1-897277-26-3.
7. Drake, Stephen (2009). Weird Facts about Canadian Football: Strange, Wacky and Hilarious Stories. OverTime Books. p. 114. ISBN   978-1-897277-26-3.
8. "NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH - Football". und.cstv.com. Archived from the original on January 6, 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
9. "Walter Camp Football Foundation Awards (Page 3)". The Walter Camp Foundation. Archived from the original on September 5, 2008. Retrieved January 2, 2008.
10. "Winners & Finalists". Rotary Club of Houston. Archived from the original on January 8, 2009. Retrieved January 2, 2008.