The 1987 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team was an American football team that represented the University of Notre Dame as an independent during the 1987 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their second year under head coach Lou Holtz, the Irish compiled an 8–4 record, outscored opponents by a total of 329 to 183, and were ranked No. 17 in the final AP poll. They opened the season with victories over No. 9 Michigan and No. 17 Michigan State, were ranked as high as No. 4, and lost the last three games of the season to unranked Penn State, No. 2 Miami (FL), and in the Cotton Bowl to No. 13 Texas A&M.

Wide receiver and return specialist Tim Brown tallied 1,843 all-purpose yards (including 846 receiving and 857 on kickoff and punt returns), won the Heisman Trophy, and was a consensus first-team pick on the 1987 All-America college football team.

Center Chuck Lanza also received first-team All-America honors from Football News and the NEA. Linebacker Ned Bolcar was named the CBS/Chevrolet Defensive Player of the Year.1987 Football Review, p. 56. The team's other statistical leaders during the regular season included quarterbacks Tony Rice (663 passing yards, 104.9 passer rating) and Terry Andrysiak (480 passing yards, 122.3 passer rating), running back Mark Green (861 rushing yards), kicker Tim Gradel (75 points scored, 33 of 33 PAT, 14 of 18 field goals), and Bolcar (106 tackles).1987 Football Review, p. 59.

The team played its home games at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana.

Schedule

Game summaries

At Michigan

Terry Andrysiak completed 11 of 15 passes for 137 yards and a touchdown while Notre Dame converted four of Michigan's seven turnovers into scores.

"Notre Dame accepts Michigan's charity." Gainesville Sun. 1987 Sept 13.

Michigan State

Purdue

Gainesville Sun. 1987 Sept 28.

Pittsburgh

Air Force

Gainesville Sun. 1987 Oct 18.

USC

Gainesville Sun. 1987 Oct 25.

Navy

Gainesville Sun. 1987 Nov 1.

Boston College

ND: Mark Green 152 Rush Yds ND: Tim Brown 294 all-purpose Yds

Gainesville Sun. 1987 Nov 8.

Alabama

Gainesville Sun. 1987 Nov 15.

Penn State

Miami (FL)

Cotton Bowl

Roster

Team players drafted into the NFL The following players were drafted into professional football following the season. Tim Brown Wide Receiver 1 6 Los Angeles Raiders Tom Redehr Tackle 3 69 New England Patriots Chuck Lanza Center 3 70 Pittsburgh Steelers Cedric Figaro Linebacker 6 152 San Diego ChargersBrandy Wells Defensive Back 9 226 Cincinnati Bengals

References