1989 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team

American college football season

1989 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
National champion (Berryman, Eck, FACT, Sagarin)
Orange Bowl champion
Orange Bowl, W 21–6 vs. Colorado
ConferenceIndependent
Ranking
CoachesNo. 3
APNo. 2
Record12–1
Head coach
  • Lou Holtz (4th season)
Offensive coordinatorJim Strong (1st season)
Defensive coordinatorBarry Alvarez (2nd season)
Home stadiumNotre Dame Stadium (c. 59,075, grass)
Seasons
← 1988
1990 →
1989 NCAA Division I-A independents football records
  • v
  • t
  • e
 Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 1 Miami (FL)   –   11 – 1 – 0
No. 2 Notre Dame   –   12 – 1 – 0
No. 3 Florida State   –   10 – 2 – 0
Northern Illinois   –   9 – 2 – 0
No. 15 Penn State   –   8 – 3 – 1
No. 17 Pittsburgh   –   8 – 3 – 1
No. 21 West Virginia   –   8 – 3 – 1
Syracuse   –   8 – 4 – 0
Southwestern Louisiana   –   7 – 4 – 0
Akron   –   6 – 4 – 1
South Carolina   –   6 – 4 – 1
Virginia Tech   –   6 – 4 – 1
Louisiana Tech   –   5 – 4 – 1
Army   –   6 – 5 – 0
Louisville   –   6 – 5 – 0
East Carolina   –   5 – 5 – 1
Tulsa   –   6 – 6 – 0
Southern Miss   –   5 – 6 – 0
Tulane   –   4 – 8 – 0
Navy   –   3 – 8 – 0
Rutgers   –   2 – 7 – 2
Boston College   –   2 – 9 – 0
Memphis State   –   2 – 9 – 0
Cincinnati   –   1 – 9 – 1
Temple   –   1 – 10 – 0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1989 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame in the 1989 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.

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
August 318:00 p.m.vs. VirginiaNo. 2Raycom, WGNW 36–1377,323[2]
September 163:30 p.m.at No. 2 MichiganNo. 1ABCW 24–19105,912
September 232:30 p.m.Michigan StateNo. 1CBSW 21–1359,075
September 3012:00 p.m.at PurdueNo. 1ABCW 40–767,861
October 74:00 p.m.at StanfordNo. 1W 27–1786,019
October 147:00 p.m.at No. 17 Air ForceNo. 1ESPNW 41–2753,533
October 213:30 p.m.No. 9 USCNo. 1
  • Notre Dame Stadium
  • Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)
CBSW 28–2459,075
October 285:00 p.m.No. 7 PittsburghNo. 1
  • Notre Dame Stadium
  • Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)
ESPNW 45–759,075
November 412:00 p.m.NavyNo. 1
  • Notre Dame Stadium
  • Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)
SportsChannelW 41–059,075
November 1112:00 p.m.SMUNo. 1
  • Notre Dame Stadium
  • Notre Dame, IN
SportsChannelW 59–659,075
November 182:30 p.m.at No. 17 Penn StateNo. 1CBSW 34–2386,025
November 256:30 p.m.at No. 7 Miami (FL)No. 1CBSL 10–2781,634
January 1, 19908:00 p.m.vs. No. 1 ColoradoNo. 4
NBCW 21–681,191

Games summaries

vs Virginia

Kickoff Classic: #2 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (0–0) vs. Virginia Cavaliers (0–0)
Period 1 2 34Total
Virginia 0 0 01313
Notre Dame 19 14 0336

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

  • Date: August 31
  • Game time: 8:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game attendance: 77,323
  • TV announcers (Raycom Sports): Phil Stone and Dave Rowe
  • Recap/Box Score
Game information

First quarter

  • ND – Ricky Watters 2-yard run (Billy Hackett kick), 10:46. Notre Dame 7–0.
  • ND – Anthony Johnson 1-yard run (kick failed), 4:38. Notre Dame 13–0.
  • ND – Rodney Culver 2-yard run (run failed), 1:28. Notre Dame 19–0.

Second quarter

  • ND – Anthony Johnson 1-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 8:47. Notre Dame 26–0.
  • ND – Tony Rice 3-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 5:11. Notre Dame 33–0.

Third quarter

  • No scoring

Fourth quarter

  • UVA – Derek Dooley 6-yard pass from Shawn Moore (Jake McInerney kick), 12:41. Notre Dame 33–7.
  • UVA – Bruce McGonnigal 2-yard pass from Shawn Moore. Notre Dame 33–13.
  • ND – Craig Hentrich 32-yard field goal, 1:46. Notre Dame 36–13.
Top passers
Top rushers
  • UVA – Marcus Wilson – 15 rushes, 80 yards
  • ND – Ricky Watters – 12 rushes, 80 yards, TD
Top receivers

Largest crowd for college football game at Giants Stadium

At Michigan

#1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (1–0) at #2 Michigan Wolverines (0–0)
Period 1 2 34Total
Notre Dame 0 7 10724
Michigan 0 6 01319

at Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan

  • Date: September 16
  • Game time: 3:30 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Rain
  • Game attendance: 105,912
  • TV announcers (ABC): Keith Jackson and Bob Griese
  • Recap/Box Score
Game information
First quarter
  • No scoring
Second quarter
  • ND – Anthony Johnson 6-yard pass from Tony Rice (Craig Hentrich kick), 5:05. Notre Dame 7–0. Drive: 24 yards.
  • MICH – Chris Calloway 9-yard pass from Michael Taylor (kick failed), 0:25. Notre Dame 7–6. Drive: 50 yards.
Third quarter
  • ND – Raghib Ismail 89-yard kickoff return (Craig Hentrich kick), 14:49. Notre Dame 14–6.
  • ND – Craig Hentrich 30-yard field goal, 4:28. Notre Dame 17–6.
Fourth quarter
  • MICH – Derrick Walker 5-yard pass from Elvis Grbac (pass failed), 12:58. Notre Dame 17–12. Drive: 12 plays.
  • ND – Raghib Ismail 92-yard kickoff return (Craig Hentrich kick), 12:46. Notre Dame 24–13.
  • MICH – Greg McMurtry 4-yard pass from Elvis Grbac (J.D. Carlson kick), 4:08. Notre Dame 24–19. Drive: 13 plays, 67 yards.
Top passers
Top rushers
  • ND – Anthony Johnson – 20 rushes, 80 yards
  • MICH – Leroy Hoard – 15 rushes, 56 yards
Top receivers
  • ND – Anthony Johnson – 1 reception, 6 yards, TD
  • MICH – Greg McMurtry – 4 receptions, 51 yards, TD

Michigan State

Michigan State Spartans (1–0) at #1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (2–0)
Period 1 2 34Total
Michigan St 0 6 7013
Notre Dame 7 7 0721

at Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Indiana

  • Date: September 23
  • Game time: 3:30 p.m. EDT
  • Game attendance: 59,075
  • TV announcers (CBS): Jim Nantz and Pat Haden
  • Recap/Box Score
Game information

First quarter

Second quarter

  • ND – Ricky Watters 53-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 9:10. Notre Dame 14–0.
  • MSU – John Langeloh 36-yard field goal, 2:54. Notre Dame 14–3.
  • MSU – John Langeloh 38-yard field goal, 0:00. Notre Dame 14–6.

Third quarter

  • MSU – James Bradley 30-yard pass from Dan Enos (John Langeloh kick), 6:36. Notre Dame 14–13.

Fourth quarter

  • ND – Anthony Johnson 1-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 8:16. Notre Dame 21–13. Drive: 9 plays, 62 yards.
Top passers
Top rushers
  • MSU – Hyland Hickson – 26 rushes, 84 yards
  • ND – Ricky Watters – 16 rushes, 89 yards, 2 TD
Top receivers
  • MSU – Courtney Hawkins – 6 receptions, 83 yards
  • ND – Raghib Ismail – 2 receptions, 27 yards

At Purdue

#1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (3–0) at Purdue Boilermakers (1–1)
Period 1 2 34Total
Notre Dame 14 20 0640
Purdue 0 0 077

at Ross–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana

  • Date: September 30
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game attendance: 67,861
  • TV: ABC
  • Recap/Box Score
Game information

First quarter

  • ND – Anthony Johnson 6-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 6:38. Notre Dame 7–0. Drive: 55 yards.
  • ND – Tony Rice 4-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 2:04. Notre Dame 14–0. Drive: 57 yards.

Second quarter

  • ND – Jeff Alm 16-yard interception return (Craig Hentrich kick), 14:44. Notre Dame 21–0.
  • ND – Anthony Johnson 1-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 6:35. Notre Dame 28–0.
  • ND – Ricky Watters 1-yard run (kick failed), 0:14. Notre Dame 34–0.

Third quarter

  • No scoring

Fourth quarter

  • ND – Craig Hentrich 19-yard field goal, 9:47. Notre Dame 37–0.
  • ND – Craig Hentrich 22-yard field goal, 6:18. Notre Dame 40–0.
  • PUR – Rodney Dennis 3-yard pass from Steve Letnich (Larry Sullivan kick), 0:33. Notre Dame 40–7.
Top passers
  • ND – Tony Rice – 12/15, 270 yards
  • PUR – Steve Letnich – 11/28, 89 yards, INT
Top rushers
  • ND – Tony Rice – 12 rushes, 67 yards, TD
  • PUR – Steve Letnich – 13 rushes, 50 yards
Top receivers
  • ND – Derek Brown – 4 receptions, 101 yards
  • PUR – Earl Coleman – 2 receptions, 32 yards

At Stanford

#1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (4–0) at Stanford Cardinal (1–3)
Period 1 2 34Total
Notre Dame 0 14 7627
Stanford 6 0 8317

at Stanford Stadium, Stanford, California

  • Date: October 7
  • Game attendance: 86,019
  • Recap/Box Score
Game information
First quarter
  • STAN – John Hopkins 34-yard field goal, 5:14. Stanford 3–0. Drive: 14 plays.
  • STAN – John Hopkins 42-yard field goal, 2:40. Stanford 6–0.
Second quarter
  • ND – Anthony Johnson 7-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 12:24. Notre Dame 7–6. Drive: 4 plays, 64 yards.
  • ND – Rodney Culver 2-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 1:15. Notre Dame 14–6. Drive: 9 plays.
Third quarter
  • STAN – Ed McCaffrey 2-yard pass from Smith (run good), Tie 14–14. Drive: 79 yards.
  • ND – Anthony Johnson 1-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 7:28. Notre Dame 21–14.
Fourth quarter
  • ND – Craig Hentrich 20-yard field goal, 12:42. Notre Dame 24–14.
  • STAN – John Hopkins 27-yard field goal, 8:14. Notre Dame 24–17. Drive: 12 plays, 70 yards.
  • ND – Craig Hentrich 18-yard field goal, 1:27. Notre Dame 27–17.
Top passers
  • ND – Tony Rice – 7/17, 102 yards
  • STAN – Steve Smith – 39/68, 282 yards, TD, 3 INT
Top rushers
  • ND – Anthony Johnson – 15 rushes, 75 yards, 2 TD
  • STAN – Tommy Vardell – 9 rushes, 22 yards
Top receivers
  • ND – Raghib Ismail – 3 receptions, 67 yards
  • STAN – Jim Price – 14 receptions, 98 yards

At Air Force

#1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (5–0) at #17 Air Force Falcons (6–0)
Period 1 2 34Total
Notre Dame 14 21 3341
Air Force 0 14 01327

at Falcon Stadium, Colorado Springs, Colorado

  • Date: October 14, 1989
  • Game attendance: 53,533
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Ron Franklin and Kevin Kiley
  • Recap/Box Score
Game information

First quarter

  • ND – Anthony Johnson 1-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 9:41. Notre Dame 7–0. Drive: 80 yards.
  • ND – Ricky Watters 5-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 0:51. Notre Dame 14–0. Drive: 14 plays, 69 yards.

Second quarter

  • ND – Raghib Ismail 56-yard punt return (Craig Hentrich kick), 14:42. Notre Dame 21–0.
  • AFA – Greg Johnson 61-yard pass from Dee Dowis (Joe Wood kick), 13:36. Notre Dame 21–7.
  • ND – Anthony Johnson 27-yard pass from Tony Rice (Craig Hentrich kick), 9:46. Notre Dame 28–7.
  • AFA – Steve Senn 26-yard pass from Dee Dowis (Joe Wood kick). Notre Dame 28–14.
  • ND – Raghib Ismail 24-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 0:30. Notre Dame 35–14.

Third quarter

  • ND – Craig Hentrich 20-yard field goal, 8:24. Notre Dame 38–14.

Fourth quarter

  • ND – Craig Hentrich 38-yard field goal, 12:42. Notre Dame 41–14.
  • AFA – Steven Wilson 23-yard run (run failed), 9:35. Notre Dame 41–20.
  • AFA – Rodney Lewis 1-yard run (Joe Wood kick), 3:22. Notre Dame 41–27.
Top passers
  • ND – Tony Rice – 9/13, 123 yards, TD
  • AFA – Dee Dowis – 15/24, 306 yards, 2 TD, INT
Top rushers
  • ND – Ricky Watters – 11 rushes, 96 yards, TD
  • AFA – Rodney Lewis – 13 rushes, 58 yards, TD
Top receivers
  • ND – Raghib Ismail – 3 receptions, 25 yards
  • AFA – Steve Senn – 6 receptions, 101 yards, TD

External videos
video icon 1989 Notre Dame at Air Force – Television broadcast

USC

#9 USC Trojans (5–1) at #1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (6–0)
Period 1 2 34Total
USC 14 3 0724
Notre Dame 7 0 71428

at Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Indiana

  • Date: October 21, 1989
  • Game attendance: 59,075
  • TV announcers (CBS): Jim Nantz and Pat Haden
  • Recap/Box Score
Game information

First quarter

  • USC – Larry Wallace 12-yard pass from Todd Marinovich (Quin Rodriguez kick), 12:47. USC 7–0.
  • ND – Tony Rice 7-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 9:10. Tie 7–7.
  • USC – John Jackson 15-yard pass from Todd Marinovich (Quin Rodriguez kick), 7:47. USC 14–7.

Second quarter

  • USC – Quin Rodriguez 25-yard field goal, 10:22. USC 17–7.

Third quarter

  • ND – Ricky Watters 2-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 9:17. USC 17–14. Drive: 8 plays.

Fourth quarter

  • ND – Anthony Johnson 35-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 13:51. Notre Dame 21–17. Drive: 80 yards.
  • USC – Gary Wellman 16-yard pass from Todd Marinovich (Quin Rodriguez kick), 9:01. USC 24–21. Drive: 4 plays.
  • ND – Tony Rice 15-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 5:18. Notre Dame 28–24. Drive: 80 yards.
Top passers
Top rushers
  • USC – Ricky Ervins – 12 rushes, 64 yards
  • ND – Tony Rice – 18 rushes, 99 yards, 2 TD
Top receivers
  • USC – John Jackson – 14 receptions, 200 yards, TD
  • ND – Raghib Ismail – 2 receptions, 62 yards

  • Pregame fight in tunnel
External videos
video icon 1989 USC at Notre Dame – Television broadcast
video icon 1989 USC at Notre Dame – Highlights

Pittsburgh

#7 Pittsburgh Panthers (5–0–1) at #1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7–0)
Period 1 2 34Total
Pittsburgh 7 0 007
Notre Dame 2 15 21745

at Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Indiana

  • Date: October 28, 1989
  • Game time: 5:00 p.m.
  • Game attendance: 59,075
  • TV: ESPN
  • Recap/Box
Game information

First quarter

  • PITT – Ronald Redmon 8-yard pass from Alex Van Pelt (Ed Frazier kick), 9:32. Pittsburgh 7–0. Drive: 12 plays, 68 yards.
  • ND – Safety, Alex Van Pelt downed in end zone, 6:07. Pittsburgh 7–2.

Second quarter

Third quarter

  • ND – Ricky Watters 2-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 8:15. Notre Dame 24–7.
  • ND – Raghib Ismail 50-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 4:53. Notre Dame 31–7.
  • ND – Rodney Culver 1-yard run (Billy Hackett kick), 0:49. Notre Dame 38–7.

Fourth quarter

  • ND – Steve Belles 13-yard run (Billy Hackett kick), 4:12. Notre Dame 45–7.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
  • PITT – Lionel Sykes – 6 receptions, 65 yards
  • ND – Raghib Ismail – 1 reception, 29 yards

Navy

Navy Midshipmen (2–5) at #1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (8–0)
Period 1 2 34Total
Navy 0 0 000
Notre Dame 14 10 31441

at Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Indiana

  • Date: November 4, 1989
  • Game attendance: 59,075
  • Recap/Box Score
Game information

First quarter

  • ND – Tony Rice 6-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 11:49. Notre Dame 7–0. Drive: 64 yards.
  • ND – Rodney Culver 11-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 3:18. Notre Dame 14–0. Drive: 64 yards.

Second quarter

  • ND – Ricky Watters 48-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 8:36. Notre Dame 21–0.
  • ND – Billy Hackett 27-yard field goal, 0:16. Notre Dame 24–0. Drive: 14 plays, 50 yards.

Third quarter

  • ND – Billy Hackett 39-yard field goal, 11:58. Notre Dame 27–0.

Fourth quarter

  • ND – Dorsey Levens 2-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 14:38. Notre Dame 34–0.
  • ND – Ted McNamara 1-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 4:40. Notre Dame 41–0.
Top passers
  • NAVY – Alton Grizzard – 8/14, 94 yards
  • ND – Rick Mirer – 8/12, 64 yards
Top rushers
  • NAVY – Rodney Purifoy – 11 rushes, 50 yards
  • ND – Ricky Watters – 9 rushes, 134 yards, TD
Top receivers
  • NAVY – Shane Smith – 3 receptions, 50 yards
  • ND – Adrian Jarrell – 3 receptins, 28 yards

External videos
video icon Full game

SMU

SMU Mustangs (2–6) at #1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (9–0)
Period 1 2 34Total
SMU 0 6 006
Notre Dame 7 35 10759

at Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Indiana

  • Date: November 11, 1989
  • Game attendance: 59,075
  • Recap/Box Score
Game information

First quarter

Second quarter

  • ND – Pete Graham 1-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 14:22. Notre Dame 14–0.
  • SMU – Andy Bergfeld 5-yard pass from Mike Romo (kick blocked), 11:37. Notre Dame 14–6. Drive: 3 plays, 19 yards.
  • ND – Andre Jones blocked extra point return, 11:37. Notre Dame 16–6.
  • ND – Billy Hackett 34-yard field goal, 8:16. Notre Dame 19–6.
  • ND – Ricky Watters 97-yard punt return (Craig Hentrich kick), 7:04. Notre Dame 26–6.
  • ND – Anthony Johnson 4-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 4:02. Notre Dame 33–6. Drive: 64 yards.
  • ND – Safety, Casey Clyce steps out of end zone, 3:00. Notre Dame 35–6.
  • ND – Walter Boyd 14-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 0:15. Notre Dame 42–6. Drive: 75 yards.

Third quarter

  • ND – Rusty Setzer 2-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 10:51. Notre Dame 49–6.
  • ND – Billy Hackett 32-yard field goal, 5:45. Notre Dame 52–6.

Fourth quarter

  • ND – Rod West 1-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 3:22. Notre Dame 59–6.
Top passers
  • SMU – Mike Romo – 28/54, 194 yards
  • ND – Tony Rice – 5/8, 83 yards
Top rushers
  • SMU – Kevin Love – 4 rushes, 5 yards
  • ND – Ricky Watters – 7 rushes, 69 yards, TD
Top receivers
  • SMU – Jason Wolf – 9 receptions, 63 yards
  • ND – Raghib Ismail – 4 receptions, 65 yards

External videos
video icon Full game

At Penn State

#1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (10–0) at #17 Penn State Nittany Lions (6–2–1)
Period 1 2 34Total
Notre Dame 7 14 7634
Penn St 7 3 7623

at Beaver Stadium, State College, Pennsylvania

  • Date: November 18, 1989
  • Game time: 2:30 p.m.
  • Game attendance: 86,025
  • TV announcers (CBS): Jim Nantz and Pat Haden
  • Recap/Box
Game information

First quarter

  • PSU – Blair Thomas 2-yard run (Ray Tarasi kick), 8:04. Penn St 7–0. Drive: 79 yards.
  • ND – Tony Rice 5-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 2:19. Tie 7–7. Drive: 13 plays, 65 yards.

Second quarter

  • PSU – Ray Tarasi 38-yard field goal, 13:46. Penn St 10–7.
  • ND – Ricky Watters 12-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 11:35. Notre Dame 14–10. Drive: 6 plays, 58 yards.
  • ND – Anthony Johnson 1-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 5:27. Notre Dame 21–10.

Third quarter

  • ND – Tony Rice 1-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 8:42. Notre Dame 28–10. Drive: 6 plays.
  • PSU – Blair Thomas 3-yard run (Ray Tarasi kick), 4:49. Notre Dame 28–17. Drive: 79 yards.

Fourth quarter

  • ND – Billy Hackett 22-yard field goal, 13:33. Notre Dame 31–17.
  • ND – Billy Hackett 19-yard field goal, 6:53. Notre Dame 34–17.
  • PSU – Terry Smith 5-yard pass from Tom Bill (run failed), 4:31. Notre Dame 34–23.
Top passers
  • ND – Tony Rice – 5/10, 47 yards, INT
  • PSU – Tom Bill – 6/14, 56 yards, TD
Top rushers
  • ND – Tony Rice – 26 rushes, 141 yards, 2 TD
  • PSU – Blair Thomas – 26 rushes, 133 yards, 2 TD
Top receivers

Notre Dame's first win in school history at Beaver Stadium

External videos
video icon Full game (part 1)
video icon Full game (part 2)
video icon Full game (part 3)
video icon Game highlights

At Miami (FL)

#1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (11–0) at #7 Miami (FL) Hurricanes (9–1)
Period 1 2 34Total
Notre Dame 0 10 0010
Miami (FL) 10 7 7327

at Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida

  • Date: November 25, 1989
  • Game weather: Overcast, 77 °F (25 °C)
  • Game attendance: 81,634
  • Referee: Jimmy Harper
  • TV announcers (CBS): Jim Nantz, Pat Haden, and John Dockery
  • Recap/Box
Game information

'First quarter

  • UM – Carlos Huerta 35-yard field goal, 9:41. Miami (FL) 3–0.
  • UM – Dale Dawkins 55-yard pass from Craig Erickson (Carlos Huerta kick), 0:04. Miami (FL) 10–0. Drive: 4 plays.

Second quarter

  • ND – Billy Hackett 22-yard field goal, 8:23. Miami (FL) 10–3.
  • ND – Ned Bolcar 49-yard interception return (Billy Hackett kick), 2:08. Tie 10–10.
  • UM – Stephen McGuire 5-yard run (Carlos Huerta kick), 0:24. Miami (FL) 17–10. Drive: 3 plays.

Third quarter

  • UM – Dale Dawkins 5-yard pass from Craig Erickson (Carlos Huerta kick), 4:13. Miami (FL) 24–10. Drive: 22 plays, 80 yards, 10:47.

Fourth quarter

  • UM – Carlos Huerta 32-yard field goal, 1:44. Miami (FL) 27–10.
Top passers
Top rushers
  • ND – Tony Rice – 20 rushes, 50 yards
  • UM – Stephen McGuire – 21 rushes, 83 yards, TD
Top receivers
  • ND – Derek Brown – 2 receptions, 19 yards
  • UM – Dale Dawkins – 4 receptions, 123 yards, 2 TD

External videos
video icon Full game
video icon Game highlights
video icon 3rd and 43

Orange Bowl (vs Colorado)

#1 Colorado Buffaloes (11–0) vs. #4 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (11–1)
Period 1 2 34Total
Notre Dame 0 0 14721
Colorado 0 0 606

at Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida

  • Date: January 1, 1990
  • Game attendance: 81,190
  • TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Bill Walsh
  • Recap/Box
Game information

First quarter

  • No scoring

Second quarter

  • No scoring

Third quarter

  • ND – Anthony Johnson 2-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 11:48. Notre Dame 7–0.
  • ND – Raghib Ismail 35-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 7:19. Notre Dame 14–0.
  • CU – Darian Hagan 39-yard run (kick failed), 0:01. Notre Dame 14–6.

Fourth quarter

  • ND – Anthony Johnson 7-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 1:32. Notre Dame 21–6.
Top passers
Top rushers
  • ND – Anthony Johnson – 15 rushes, 89 yards, 2 TD
  • CU – Eric Bieniemy – 11 rushes, 66 yards
Top receivers
  • ND – Pat Eilers – 2 receptions, 47 yards
  • CU – Eric Kissick – 2 receptions, 33 yards

[3]

Personnel

1989 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
RB Steve Belles
RB Walter Boyd
OL Mike Brennan
RB Reggie Brooks
OT 71 Dean Brown
TE 86 Derek Brown So
RB 5 Rodney Culver So
WR 13 Pat Eilers
QB Pete Graham
WR Ray Griggs
G 75 Tim Grunhard Sr
RB 25 Raghib Ismail Jr
WR Adrian Jarrell
RB 22 Anthony Johnson (C) Sr
RB Craig Lanigan
RB Dorsey Levens
C 76 Gene McGuire So
RB Ted McNamara
RB 35 Ryan Mihalko Jr
QB 3 Rick Mirer Fr
WR William Pollard
QB 9 Tony Rice (C) Sr
G 52 Tim Ryan Jr
RB Rusty Setzer
TE Irv Smith
WR Tony Smith
RB 12 Ricky Watters Jr
TE Rod West
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
DT 90 Jeff Alm Sr
LB 47 Ned Bolcar (C) Sr
DT 93 Bob Dahl Jr
DB 32 D'Juan Francisco
LB 36 Donn Grimm
LB 7 Andre Jones
LB 37 Scott Kowalkowski Jr
CB 1 Todd Lyght Jr
LB Devon McDonald
LB 89 Karmeeleyah McGill Fr
CB 29 Stan Smagala
DB 21 Rod Smith So
LB 42 Mike Stonebreaker Jr
S 15 Pat Terrell Sr
DL 50 Chris Zorich Jr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
K Billy Hackett
K 28 Craig Hentrich
P 16 Jim Sexton Jr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Awards and honors


Team players drafted into the NFL

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

Player Position Round Pick Franchise
Anthony Johnson Running Back 2 36 Indianapolis Colts
Tim Grunhard Tackle 2 40 Kansas City Chiefs
Jeff Alm Defensive Tackle 2 41 Houston Oilers
Pat Terrell Defensive Back 2 49 Los Angeles Rams
Mike Brennan Tackle 4 91 Cincinnati Bengals
Stan Smagala Defensive Back 5 123 Dallas Cowboys
Ned Bolcar Linebacker 6 146 Seattle Seahawks
D’Juan Francisco Defensive Back 10 262 Washington Redskins
Dean Brown Guard 12 316 Indianapolis Colts

[5]

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. ^ "Classically Notre Dame". The Record. September 1, 1989. Retrieved February 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Lackluster Colorado Leveled by Notre Dame". The New York Times. January 2, 1990. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  4. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on December 16, 2007. Retrieved January 2, 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. ^ "1990 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 20, 2007.
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Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Venues
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Culture and lore
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Seasons
National championship seasons in bold