1995 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team

1995 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
1995 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Orange Bowl, L 26–31 vs. Florida State
Conference	Independent
Ranking
Coaches	No. 13
AP	No. 11
Record	9–3
Head coach	Lou Holtz (10th season);
Offensive coordinator	Dave Roberts (2nd season)
Defensive coordinator	Bob Davie (2nd season)
Captains	Paul Grasmanis; Derrick Mayes; Shawn Wooden; Dusty Zeigler;
Home stadium	Notre Dame Stadium
	Seasons ← 1994 1996 →

1995 NCAA Division I-A independents football records
v t e	Conf.			Overall
Team	W	L	T	W		L		T
No. 11 Notre Dame		–		9	–	3	–	0
East Carolina		–		9	–	3	–	0
Louisville		–		7	–	4	–	0
Cincinnati		–		6	–	5	–	0
Southern Miss		–		6	–	5	–	0
Army		–		5	–	5	–	1
Navy		–		5	–	6	–	0
Tulsa		–		4	–	7	–	0
Memphis		–		3	–	8	–	0
Northeast Louisiana		–		2	–	9	–	0
North Texas		–		2	–	9	–	0
Tulane		–		2	–	9	–	0

Rankings from AP Poll

The 1995 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame as an independent during the 1995 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by tenth-year head coach Lou Holtz, the Fighting Irish compiled a record of 9–3 with a loss to Florida State in the Orange Bowl. The tam played home games at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
September 2	2:30 p.m.	Northwestern	No. 9	Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)	NBC	L 15–17	59,075
September 9	3:30 p.m.	at Purdue	No. 25	Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN (rivalry)	ABC	W 35–28	70,569
September 16	2:30 p.m.	Vanderbilt	No. 24	Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN	NBC	W 41–0	59,075	^[1]
September 23	12:30 p.m.	No. 13 Texas	No. 21	Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN	NBC	W 55–27	59,075
September 30	3:30 p.m.	at No. 7 Ohio State	No. 15	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH	ABC	L 26–45	95,537
October 7	3:30 p.m.	at No. 15 Washington	No. 23	Husky Stadium Seattle, WA	ABC	W 29–21	74,023
October 14	12:00 p.m.	at Army	No. 17	Giants Stadium East Rutherford, NJ (rivalry)	ABC	W 28–27	74,218
October 21	2:30 p.m.	No. 5 USC	No. 17	Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)	NBC	W 38–10	59,075
October 28	2:30 p.m.	Boston College	No. 12	Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN (Holy War)	NBC	W 20–10	59,075
November 4	1:30 p.m.	Navy	No. 8	Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)	NBC	W 35–17	59,075
November 18	7:45 p.m.	at Air Force	No. 8	Falcon Stadium Colorado Springs, CO (rivalry)	ESPN	W 44–14	54,482
January 1, 1996	8:00 p.m.	vs. No. 8 Florida State	No. 6	Miami Orange Bowl Miami, FL (Orange Bowl, rivalry)	CBS	L 26–31	72,198	^[2]
Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

Game summaries

Northwestern

Northwestern Wildcats at #9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Northwestern	7	3	7	0	17
Notre Dame	0	9	0	6	15

at Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, Indiana

Date: September 2, 1995
Game time: 1:30 p.m. CST
Game attendance: 59,075
TV announcers (NBC): Tom Hammond, Bob Trumpy, John Dockery
^[3]

Game information

First quarter

NW - Dave Beazley 6-yard pass from Steve Schnur (Valenzisi kick)

Second quarter

ND - Kevin Kopka 35-yard field goal
NW - Sam Valenzisi 37-yard field goal
ND - Robert Farmer 5-yard run (kick failed)

Third quarter

NW - D'Wayne Bates 26-yard pass from Steve Schnur (Valenzisi kick)

Fourth quarter

ND - Randy Kinder 2-yard run (conversion failed)

^[4] ^[5] ^[6] ^[7]

Purdue

Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Purdue Boilermakers

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Notre Dame	0	14	14	7	35
Purdue	7	3	3	15	28

at Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana

Date: September 9, 1995
Game time: 2:30 p.m. EST
Game attendance: 70,569
Box Score

Game information

First quarter

PUR - Rogers 42 yard run (Bobich kick)

Second quarter

ND - Kinder 30 yard pass from Powlus (Kopka kick)
ND - Mayes 12 yard pass from Powlus (Kopka kick)
PUR - Bobich 25 yard field goal

Third quarter

ND - Sollman 15 yard pass from Powlus (Kopka kick)
PUR - Bobich 21 yard field goal
ND - Mosley 51 yard pass from Powlus (Kopka kick)

Fourth quarter

PUR - Watson 13 yard run (Bobich kick)
PUR - D Brown 54 yard interception return (Rogers reception for two-point conversion)
ND - Kinder 52 yard run (Kopka kick)

Top Rushers

ND - Kinder - 14 rushes, 142 yards
PUR - Mike Alstott - 21 rushes, 115 yards

Top Passers

ND - Ron Powlus - 17/25, 252 yards, 4 TDs, 2 INTs
PUR - Rick Trefzger - 15/27, 181 yards, 2 INTs

Top Receivers

ND - Mayes - 7 receptions, 85 yards, 1 TD
PUR - Alford- 7 receptions, 91 yards

Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt Commodores at #24 Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Vanderbilt	0	0	0	0	0
Notre Dame	7	20	7	7	41

at Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, Indiana

Date: September 16, 1995
Game time: 1:30 p.m. CST
Game attendance: 50,975
TV: NBC
Box Score

Game information

First quarter

ND - Kinder 6 run (Kopka kick)

Second quarter

ND - FG Kopka 38
ND - A Denson 5 run (Kopka kick)
ND - Edison 8 fumble return (Kopka kick)
ND - FG Kopka 22

Third quarter

ND - Edwards 1 run (Kopka kick)

Fourth quarter

ND - Edwards 1 run (Kopka kick)

Texas

#13 Texas Longhorns at #21 Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Texas	7	6	7	7	27
Notre Dame	10	8	8	28	54

at Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, Indiana

Date: September 23, 1995
Game time: 12:30 p.m. EST
Game attendance: 59,075
TV: NBC
Box Score

Game information

First quarter

ND - FG Kopka 27
ND - Mosley 64 punt return (Kopka kick)
TEX - Fitzgerald 1 pass from J Brown (Dawson kick)

Second quarter

ND - Mayes 11 pass from Powlus (Kopka kick)
TEX - Fitzgerald 15 pass from J Brown (kick failed)
ND - 2 point defensive conversion by A Rossum

Third quarter

TEX - S Bradley 1 pass from J Brown (Dawson kick)
ND - Kinder 3 run (Edwards run for two-point conversion)

Fourth quarter

ND - Edwards 3 run (Kopka kick)
ND - Edwards 12 pass from Powlus (Kopka kick)
TEX - Fitzgerald 19 pass from J Brown (Dawson kick)
ND - Edwards 27 run (Kopka kick)
ND - A Rossum 29 interception return (Kopka kick)

Ohio State

#15 Notre Dame Fighting Irish at #7 Ohio State Buckeyes

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Notre Dame	0	17	3	6	26
Ohio State	0	14	14	17	45

at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

Date: September 30, 1995
Game time: 3:30 p.m.
Game weather: Clear, 80 °F (27 °C), Wind 10-15 SSE
Game attendance: 95,537
Referee: John Nealon
TV announcers (ABC): Keith Jackson, Bob Griese, and Lynn Swann
Box Score

Game information

First quarter

No scoring

Second quarter

ND - Kevin Kopka, 20-yard field goal
ND - Randy Kinder 3-yard run (Kevin Kopka kick)
OSU – Terry Glenn 10-yard pass from Bobby Hoying (Josh Jackson kick)
ND - Randy Kinder 7-yard run (Kevin Kopka kick)
OSU - Dimitrious Stanley 17-yard pass from Bobby Hoying (Josh Jackson kick)

Third quarter

ND - Kevin Kopka, 22-yard field goal
OSU – Rickey Dudley 15-yard pass from Bobby Hoying (Josh Jackson kick)
OSU – Terry Glenn 82-yard pass from Bobby Hoying (Josh Jackson kick)

Fourth quarter

OSU – Eddie George 5-yard run (Josh Jackson kick)
ND - Randy Kinder 13-yard run (run failed)
OSU - Eddie George 3-yard run (Josh Jackson kick)
OSU - Josh Jackson 35-yard field goal

Top passers

OSU – Bobby Hoying – 14/22, 272 yards, 4 TD
ND - Ron Powlus - 13/26, 243 yards, 1 INT

Top rushers

OSU – Eddie George – 32 rushes, 207 yards, 2 TD
ND – Randy Kinder – 28 rushes, 143 yards, 3 TDs

Top receivers

OSU – Terry Glenn – 4 receptions, 128 yards, 2 TDs
ND - Derrick Mayes - 5 receptions, 125 yards

Top tacklers

ND - Lyron Cobbins - 5 solo, 9 assists (14 total)
OSU - Greg Bellisari - 4 solo, 8 assists (12 total)

Interceptions

OSU - Shawn Springs (1)

Fumbles Recovered

OSU - Matt Bonhaus (1)

Washington

#23 Notre Dame Fighting Irish at #15 Washington Huskies

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Notre Dame	7	0	0	22	29
Washington	7	0	7	7	21

at Husky Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana

Date: October 7, 1995
Game time: 3:30 p.m. EST
Game attendance: 74,023
Box Score

Game information

First quarter

ND - Mayes 10 pass from Powlus (Kopka kick)
UW - Shehee 1 run (Wales kick)

Second quarter

No scoring

Third quarter

UW - Desaussure 13 pass from D. Huard (Wales kick)

Fourth quarter

ND - Mayes 30 pass from Powlus (Kopka kick)
UW - Shehee 22 run (Wales kick)
ND - A. Denson 7 run (Mayes reception for two-point conversion)
ND - A. Rossum 77 interception return (Kopka kick)

Army

#17 Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Army Cadets

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Notre Dame	14	7	7	0	28
Army	7	0	7	13	27

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

Date: October 14, 1995
Game time: 3:30 p.m. EST
Game attendance: 74,218
Box Score

Game information

^[8]

USC

#5 USC Trojans at #17 Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
USC	0	7	3	0	10
Notre Dame	6	15	0	17	38

at Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, Indiana

Date: October 21, 1995
Game time: 2:30 p.m. EST
Game attendance: 59,075
TV: NBC
Box Score

Game information

First quarter

ND - M. Edwards 9-yard run (kick failed)

Second quarter

USC - K. Johnson 17-yard pass from Wachholtz (Renden kick)
ND - M. Edwards 2-yard run (R. Powlus reception for two-point conversion)
ND - A. Denson 4-yard run (Kopka kick)

Third quarter

USC - Renden 25-yard field goal

Fourth quarter

ND - Safety, K. Minor tackled K. Wachholtz in end zone
ND - P. Chryplewicz 2-yard pass from Powlus (Edwards run for two-point conversion)
ND - M. Edwards 1-yard run (Kopka kick)

Boston College

Boston College Eagles at #12 Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Boston College	0	7	3	0	10
Notre Dame	7	3	7	3	20

at Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, Indiana

Date: October 28, 1995
Game time: 2:30 p.m. EST
Game attendance: 59,075
TV: NBC
Box Score

Game information

First quarter

ND - Edwards 17 pass from Powlus (Cengia kick)

Second quarter

BC - O. Walker 2 run (McGuire kick)
ND - FG Cengia 22

Third quarter

ND - Edwards 2 run (Cengia kick)
BC - FG McGuire 41

Fourth quarter

ND - FG Cengia 26

Navy

Navy Midshipmen at #8 Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Navy	7	10	0	0	17
Notre Dame	7	7	14	7	35

at Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, Indiana

Date: November 4, 1995
Game time: 1:30 p.m. EST
Game attendance: 59,075
Box Score

Game information

Air Force

#8 Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Army Cadets

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Notre Dame	10	10	17	7	44
Air Force	0	0	7	7	14

at Falcon Stadium, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Date: November 18, 1995
Game time: 7:45 p.m. EST
Game attendance: 54,482
Box Score

Game information

1996 Orange Bowl

#8 Florida State Seminoles vs. #6 Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Florida State	7	7	0	17	31
Notre Dame	10	0	7	9	26

at Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida

Date: January 1, 1996
Game time: 8:00 p.m. EST
Game attendance: 72,198
Referee: Jimmy Harper (SEC)
TV announcers (CBS): Sean McDonough and Pat Haden
Box Score

Game information

First quarter

Second quarter

Third quarter

Fourth quarter

^[9]

Roster

1995 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team roster

Players

Coaches

Offense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
WR	`82`	Bobby Brown	Fr
TE	`98`	Pete Chryplewicz	Sr
FB	`44`	Marc Edwards	Jr
RB	`31`	Robert Farmer	Jr
QB	`7`	Jarious Jackson	Fr
WR	`83`	Malcolm Johnson	So
RB	`26`	Randy Kinder	Jr
QB	`11`	Thomas Krug	Jr
WR	`1`	Derrick Mayes	Sr
OT	`54`	Luke Petitgout	Fr
QB	`3`	Ron Powlus	Jr
G	`79`	Mike Rosenthal	Fr
OT	`71`	Jerry Wisne	Fr
C	`77`	Dusty Zeigler	Sr

Defense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
LB	`13`	Bertrand Berry	Jr
LB	`6`	Lyron Cobbins	Jr
CB	`23`	Autry Denson	Fr
DT	`93`	Paul Grasmanis	Sr
LB	`27`	Bobbie Howard	Fr
LB	`4`	Kory Minor	Fr
CB	`15`	Allen Rossum	So
LB	`2`	Kinnon Tatum	Jr
CB	`22`	Shawn Wooden	Sr
DE	`48`	Renaldo Wynn	Sr

Special teams

Pos.	#	Name	Class
K	`20`	Kevin Kopka	Fr
P	`8`	Hunter Smith	Fr

Head coach

Lou Holtz

Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend

(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible

Injured
Redshirt

Awards and honors

Former Fighting Irish player Red Sitko was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame

References

^ "Get-well card to Holtz: Irish blowout". Chicago Tribune. September 17, 1995. Retrieved February 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Florida St. figures out Irish puzzle". Chicago Tribune. January 2, 1996. Retrieved February 9, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Northwestern vs. Notre Dame". USA Today. September 2, 1995. Retrieved June 23, 2019.
^ "NORTHWESTERN DETERMINED TO BUCK THE ODDS". Chicago Tribune. August 23, 1995. Retrieved June 23, 2019.
^ "Northwestern vs. Notre Dame". USA Today. September 2, 1995. Retrieved June 23, 2019.
^ "NOTRE DAME STUNNED BY NORTHWESTERN". The Washington Post. September 3, 1995. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
^ "Witnesses recall Northwestern's 1995 upset of Notre Dame". Chicago Tribune. November 13, 2014. Retrieved June 23, 2019.
^ Gainesville Sun. 1995 Oct 15.
^ "Not So Golden: Florida State 31, Notre Dame 26". Chicago Tribune. January 2, 1996. Retrieved January 23, 2021.

[1] "Get-well card to Holtz: Irish blowout". Chicago Tribune. September 17, 1995. Retrieved February 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.

[2] "Florida St. figures out Irish puzzle". Chicago Tribune. January 2, 1996. Retrieved February 9, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.

[3] "Northwestern vs. Notre Dame". USA Today. September 2, 1995. Retrieved June 23, 2019.

[4] "NORTHWESTERN DETERMINED TO BUCK THE ODDS". Chicago Tribune. August 23, 1995. Retrieved June 23, 2019.

[5] "Northwestern vs. Notre Dame". USA Today. September 2, 1995. Retrieved June 23, 2019.

[6] "NOTRE DAME STUNNED BY NORTHWESTERN". The Washington Post. September 3, 1995. Retrieved June 22, 2019.

[7] "Witnesses recall Northwestern's 1995 upset of Notre Dame". Chicago Tribune. November 13, 2014. Retrieved June 23, 2019.

[8] Gainesville Sun. 1995 Oct 15.

[9] "Not So Golden: Florida State 31, Notre Dame 26". Chicago Tribune. January 2, 1996. Retrieved January 23, 2021.

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