The 1975 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame during the 1975 NCAA Division I football season. It was Dan Devine's first year as head coach, taking over for the retired Ara Parseghian.
The team's victory over Georgia Tech is featured in the 1993 film Rudy.
Schedule
Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
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September 15 | 9:00 p.m. | vs. Boston College | No. 9 | | ABC | W 17–3 | 61,501 | [1] |
September 20 | 2:30 p.m. | at Purdue | No. 9 | | | W 17–0 | 69,795 | |
September 27 | 2:30 p.m. | Northwestern | No. 7 | | | W 31–7 | 59,075 | |
October 4 | 2:30 p.m. | Michigan State | No. 8 | - Notre Dame Stadium
- Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)
| | L 3–10 | 59,075 | |
October 11 | 1:30 p.m. | at North Carolina | No. 15 | | | W 21–14 | 49,500 | [2] |
October 18 | 3:05 p.m. | at Air Force | No. 15 | | | W 31–30 | 43,204 | |
October 25 | 1:50 p.m. | No. 3 USC | No. 14 | - Notre Dame Stadium
- Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)
| ABC | L 17–24 | 59,075 | |
November 1 | 1:30 p.m. | Navy | No. 15 | - Notre Dame Stadium
- Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)
| | W 31–10 | 59,075 | |
November 8 | 1:30 p.m. | Georgia Tech | No. 12 | - Notre Dame Stadium
- Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)
| | W 24–3 | 59,075 | [3] |
November 15 | 1:30 p.m. | at Pittsburgh | No. 9 | | | L 20–34 | 56,480 | |
November 22 | 7:30 p.m. | at Miami (FL) | | | | W 32–9 | 24,944 | |
|
Game summaries
Boston College
Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
• Notre Dame |
0 |
3 | 7 | 7 |
17 |
Boston College |
0 |
3 | 0 | 0 |
3 |
Scoring summary |
2 | 6:52 | ND | Dave Reeve 30-yard field goal | ND 3-0 |
|
2 | 0:11 | BC | Fred Steinfort 45-yard field goal | Tied 3-3 |
|
3 | 1:48 | ND | Jim Browner 10-yard run (kick good) | ND 10-3 |
|
4 | | ND | Touchdown | ND 17-3 |
[4]
Purdue
Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
• Notre Dame |
3 |
0 | 0 | 14 |
17 |
Purdue |
0 |
0 | 0 | 0 |
0 |
Scoring summary |
1 | | ND | Reeve 29-yard field goal | Notre Dame 3-0 |
|
4 | | ND | Bradley 99-yard interception return (Reeve kick) | Notre Dame 10-0 |
|
4 | | ND | Hunter 1-yard run (Reeve kick) | Notre Dame 17-0 |
[5]
North Carolina
Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
• Notre Dame |
0 |
0 | 0 | 21 |
21 |
North Carolina |
0 |
0 | 14 | 0 |
14 |
Scoring summary |
3 | | UNC | Voight 12-yard run (Biddle kick) | UNC 7-0 |
|
3 | | UNC | Collins 38-yard pass from Paschall (Biddle kick) | UNC 14-0 |
|
4 | | ND | Hunter 2-yard run (pass failed) | UNC 14-6 |
|
4 | | ND | Hunter 2-yard run (Montana to Bush pass) | Tied 14-14 |
|
4 | 1:03 | ND | Burgmeier 80-yard pass from Montana (McLaughlin kick) | ND 21-14 |
[6]
Georgia Tech
This was the famous game in which Rudy Ruettiger, a 5'6", 165-lb, walk-on, was inserted late in the game and recorded a quarterback sack. His story was the inspiration for the movie Rudy.
Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Georgia Tech |
0 |
0 | 0 | 3 |
3 |
• Notre Dame |
7 |
7 | 3 | 7 |
24 |
Scoring summary |
1 | | ND | Heavens 16-yard run (Reeve kick) | ND 7-0 |
|
2 | | ND | FG Reeve 29 | ND 10-0 |
|
3 | | ND | Heavens 73-yard run (Reeve kick) | ND 17-0 |
|
4 | | GT | FG Mealier 40 | 17-3 |
|
4 | | ND | Knotter 3-yard run (Reeve kick) | ND 24-3 |
[7]
Personnel
Coaching staff
- Head coach: Dan Devine
- Assistants: Greg Blache (JV), Brian Boulac (OL), Ed Chlebek (ST), Merv Johnson (OC), George Kelly (LB), Hank Kuhlmann (OB/ST), Johnny Roland (Receivers), Paul Shoults (DB), Ross Stephenson (Scouting/Volunteer Ast), Joe Yonto (DL)
[8]
Roster
1975 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team roster
|
Players
|
Coaches
|
Offense
|
Defense
|
Special teams
Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
P
|
4
|
Tony Brantley
|
Sr
|
K
|
99
|
Pat McLaughlin
|
Sr
|
P/QB
|
7
|
Joe Restic
|
Fr
|
|
- Head coach
- Coordinators/assistant coaches
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (S) Suspended
- (I) Ineligible
|
References
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Venues | |
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Bowls and rivalries | |
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Culture and lore | |
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People | |
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Seasons | |
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National championship seasons in bold |