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1966 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team

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1966 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Consensus national champion
ConferenceIndependent
Ranking
CoachesNo. 1
APNo. 1
Record9–0–1
Head coach
Offensive schemeT formation
Base defense4–4
CaptainJim Lynch
Home stadiumNotre Dame Stadium
Seasons
← 1965
1967 →
1966 NCAA University Division independents football records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 1 Notre Dame   –   –   9 – 0 – 1
Colgate   –   –   8 – 1 – 1
No. 8 Georgia Tech   –   –   9 – 2 – 0
Army   –   –   8 – 2 – 0
Dayton   –   –   8 – 2 – 0
Houston   –   –   8 – 2 – 0
Memphis State   –   –   7 – 2 – 0
No. 9 Miami (FL)   –   –   8 – 2 – 1
Virginia Tech   –   –   8 – 2 – 1
Syracuse   –   –   8 – 3 – 0
Colorado State   –   –   7 – 3 – 0
New Mexico State   –   –   7 – 3 – 0
West Texas State   –   –   7 – 3 – 0
Villanova   –   –   6 – 3 – 0
Holy Cross   –   –   6 – 3 – 1
Southern Miss   –   –   6 – 4 – 0
Texas Western   –   –   6 – 4 – 0
Tulane   –   –   5 – 4 – 1
Florida State   –   –   6 – 5 – 0
Buffalo   –   –   5 – 5 – 0
Penn State   –   –   5 – 5 – 0
Air Force   –   –   4 – 6 – 0
Boston College   –   –   4 – 6 – 0
Navy   –   –   4 – 6 – 0
Utah State   –   –   4 – 6 – 0
Xavier   –   –   4 – 6 – 0
Pacific   –   –   4 – 7 – 0
San Jose State   –   –   3 – 7 – 0
Pittsburgh   –   –   1 – 9 – 0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1966 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame as an independent during the 1966 NCAA University Division football season. The Irish, coached by Ara Parseghian, ended the season undefeated with a record of 9–0–1, and won a national championship. The Fighting Irish earned a consensus title after beating No. 10 Oklahoma, 38–0, in Norman, tying unbeaten and No. 2 Michigan State, 10–10, and ending the season defeating No. 10 USC, 51–0, in the Coliseum[1] The 1966 squad became the eighth Irish team to win the national title and the first under Parseghian. The Irish outscored their opponents 362–38.[1] The 10–10 tie between The Spartans and the Irish remains one of the controversial games of college football, and is considered today to be one of the great "games of the century".[2]

Schedule

[edit]
DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 24No. 7 PurdueNo. 8
W 26–1459,075
October 1at NorthwesternNo. 4
W 35–755,356
October 8ArmyNo. 3
  • Notre Dame Stadium
  • Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)
W 35–059,075
October 15North CarolinaNo. 2
  • Notre Dame Stadium
  • Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)
W 32–059,075
October 22at No. 10 OklahomaNo. 1
W 38–063,439
October 29vs. NavyNo. 1
W 31–770,101
November 5PittsburghNo. 1
  • Notre Dame Stadium
  • Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)
W 40–059,075
November 12DukeNo. 1
  • Notre Dame Stadium
  • Notre Dame, IN
W 64–059,075[3]
November 19at No. 2 Michigan StateNo. 1
T 10–1080,011
November 26at No. 10 USCNo. 1
W 51–088,520
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Roster

[edit]
1966 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
RB 28 Rocky Bleier Jr
RB 32 Larry Conjar
RB 21 Frank Criniti
RB 38 Ron Dushney
RB 47 Nick Eddy
G 68 Roger Fox
RB 20 Bob Gladieux So
TE 80 Don Gmitter
C 54 George Goeddeke
G 57 Tim Gorman
RB 22 Dave Haley
WR 86 Curt Heneghan
QB 5 Terry Hanratty So
C 58 Gerald Kelly
OT 73 Rudy Konieczny
G 75 Bob Kuechenberg So
TE 78 Mike Kuzmicz
G 69 Joe Marsico
RB 31 Paul May
OT 79 Tom McKinley
C 55 Tim Monty
QB 3 Coley O’Brien
G 62 Steve Quinn
WR 89 Kevin Rassas
G 76 Tom Regner
OT 70 Fred Schnurr
OT 71 Paul Seiler
WR 85 Jim Seymour
WR 49 Brian Stenger
G 59 Dick Swatland
TE 96 Jim Winegardner
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
DT 77 Harry Alexander
S 33 Mike Burgener
DT 64 Pete Duranko
DT 75 Kevin Hardy
CB 34 Dan Harshman
LB 51 John Horney
LB 65 Ron Jeziorski
DE 93 Chick Lauck
LB 41 John Lavin
CB 40 Tom O’Leary
LB 61 Jim Lynch Sr
LB 56 Dave Martin
LB 60 Mike McGill
DT 72 Eric Norri
DE 81 Alan Page Sr
LB 50 John Pergine Jr
CB 19 Tom Quinn
DE 87 Tom Rhoads
DE 88 Allen Sack
S 7 Tom Schoen Jr
DE 94 Bill Skoglund
CB 25 Jim Smithberger
LB 89 Al VanHuffel
LB 54 Ed Vuillemin
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
P 90 Joe Azzaro
K 11 Jim Ryan
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Rankings

[edit]
Main article: 1966 NCAA University Division football rankings

Game summaries

[edit]

Purdue

[edit]
Purdue at Notre Dame
1 234Total
No. 8 Boilermakers 7 007 14
• No. 6 Fighting Irish 7 7012 26
Scoring summary
1PURLeroy Keyes 94-yard fumble return (kick good)PUR 7-0
1NDNick Eddy 96-yard kickoff return (kick good)Tied 7-7
2NDJim Seymour 84-yard pass from Terry Hanratty (kick good)ND 14-7
4NDJim Seymour 39-yard pass from Terry HanrattyND 20-7
4PURPerry Williams 1-yard run (kick good)ND 20-14
4NDJim Seymour 7-yard pass from Terry HanrattyND 26-14
See also: 1966 Purdue Boilermakers football team

[4]

Northwestern

[edit]
Notre Dame at Northwestern
1 234Total
• No. 4 Fighting Irish 7 6814 35
Wildcats 0 007 7
Scoring summary
1NDNick Eddy 56-yard run (kick good)ND 7-0
2NDLarry Conjar 1-yard run (kick failed)ND 13-0
3NDRocky Bleier 12-yard run (2-pt. good)ND 21-0
4NDFrank Criniti 2-yard run (kick good)ND 28-0
4NDTom Schoen 37-yard interception return (kick good)ND 35-0
4NURoger Murphy 22-yard pass from Bill Melzer (kick good)ND 35-7
See also: 1966 Northwestern Wildcats football team

[5]

Army

[edit]
Army at Notre Dame
1 234Total
Cadets 0 000 0
• No. 3 Fighting Irish 21 1400 35
  • Date: October 8
  • Location: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN
  • Game start: 1:30 pm CDT
  • Game attendance: 59,075
  • Game weather: Fair, 76 degrees
Scoring summary
1NDRocky Bleier 2-yard run (kick good)ND 7-0
1NDJim Seymour 33-yard pass from Terry Hanratty (kick good)ND 14-0
1NDTerry Hanratty 7-yard run (kick good)ND 21-0
2NDNick Eddy 3-yard run (kick good)ND 28-0
2NDNick Eddy 3-yard run (kick good)ND 35-0
See also: 1966 Army Cadets football team

[6]

North Carolina

[edit]
North Carolina at Notre Dame
1 234Total
Tar Heels 0 000 0
• No. 2 Fighting Irish 7 1366 32
  • Date: October 15
  • Location: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN
  • Game start: 1:30 pm CDT
  • Game attendance: 59,075
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 50 degrees, wind 22-40 MPH
Scoring summary
1NDLarry Conjar 1-yard run (kick good)ND 7-0
2NDLarry Conjar 1-yard run (kick failed)ND 13-0
2NDJim Seymour 56-yard pass from Terry Hanratty (kick good)ND 20-0
3NDNick Eddy 52-yard run (2-pt. failed)ND 26-0
4NDBob Gladieux 5-yard run (2-pt. failed)ND 32-0
See also: 1966 North Carolina Tar Heels football team

[7]

Oklahoma

[edit]
Notre Dame at Oklahoma
1 234Total
• No. 1 Fighting Irish 0 17210 38
No. 10 Sooners 0 000 0
Scoring summary
2NDNick Eddy 3-yard run (Joe Azzaro kick)ND 7-0
2NDTerry Hanratty 2-yard run (Joe Azzaro kick)ND 14-0
2NDJoe Azzaro 32-yard field goalND 17-0
3NDNick Eddy 1-yard run (Joe Azzaro kick)ND 24-0
33:30NDRocky Bleier 9-yard run (Joe Azzaro kick)ND 31-0
3NDColey O'Brien 5-yard run (Joe Azzaro kick)ND 38-0
See also: 1966 Oklahoma Sooners football team

[8]

[edit]
1 234Total
• No. 1 Fighting Irish 3 7147 31
Midshipmen 0 007 7
Scoring summary
1NDAzzaro 42-yard field goalND 3-0
2NDConjar 7-yard run (Azzaro kick)ND 10-0
3NDHanratty 1-yard run (Azzaro kick)ND 17-0
3NDGladieux 1-yard run (Azzaro kick)ND 24-0
4NAVYBergner recovered blocked punt in end zone (Church kick)ND 24-7
4NDHanratty 6-yard run (Azzaro kick)ND 31-7
See also: 1966 Navy Midshipmen football team

[9]

Pittsburgh

[edit]
Pittsburgh at Notre Dame
1 234Total
Panthers 0 000 0
• No. 1 Fighting Irish 0 71419 40
  • Date: October 8
  • Location: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN
  • Game start: 1:30 pm CST
  • Game attendance: 59,075
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 40 degrees
Scoring summary
2NDTerry Hanratty 3-yard run (kick good)ND 7-0
3NDNick Eddy 85-yard kickoff return (kick failed)ND 13-0
3NDTom Schoen 63-yard punt return (2-pt. good)ND 21-0
4NDLarry Conjar 1-yard run (2-pt. failed)ND 27-0
4NDBob Gladieux 19-yard pass from Terry Hanratty (2-pt. failed)ND 33-0
4NDBob Gladieux 5-yard run (kick good)ND 40-0
See also: 1966 Pittsburgh Panthers football team

[10]

Duke

[edit]
Duke at Notre Dame
1 234Total
Blue Devils 0 000 0
• No. 1 Fighting Irish 22 21147 64
  • Date: October 15
  • Location: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN
  • Game start: 1:30 pm CST
  • Game attendance: 59,075
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 42 degrees
Scoring summary
1NDNick Eddy 77-yard run (2-pt. good)ND 8-0
1NDTom O'Leary 30-yard return on lateral from John Horney after 25-yard interception return (kick good)ND 15-0
1NDRocky Bleier 4-yard run (kick good)ND 22-0
2NDRocky Bleier 45-yard pass from Terry Hanratty (kick good)ND 29-0
2NDLarry Conjar 2-yard run (kick good)ND 36-0
2NDJim Seymour 10-yard pass from Terry Hanratty (kick good)ND 43-0
3NDDave Haley 9-yard run (kick good)ND 50-0
3NDColey O'Brien 3-yard run (kick good)ND 57-0
4NDFrank Criniti 10-yard run (kick good)ND 64-0
See also: 1966 Duke Blue Devils football team

[11]

Michigan State

[edit]
Notre Dame at Michigan State
1 234Total
No.1 Fighting Irish 0 703 10
No. 2 Spartans 0 1000 10
Scoring summary
2MSUCavender 4-yard run (Kenney kick)MSU 7-0
2MSUKenney 47-yard field goalMSU 10-0
2NDGladieux 34-yard pass from O'Brien (Azzaro kick)MSU 10-7
4NDAzzaro 28-yard field goalTied 10-10
Main article: 1966 Notre Dame vs. Michigan State football game
See also: 1966 Michigan State Spartans football team and Megaphone Trophy

[12]

[13]

USC

[edit]
Notre Dame at USC
1 234Total
• No. 1 Fighting Irish 14 17137 51
No. 10 Trojans 0 000 0
Scoring summary
1NDLarry Conjar 2-yard run (Joe Azzaro kick)ND 7-0
1NDTom Schoen 40-yard interception return (Joe Azzaro kick)ND 14-0
2NDJoe Azzaro 38-yard field goalND 17-0
2NDJim Seymour 13-yard pass from Coley O'Brien (Joe Azzaro kick)ND 24-0
2NDJim Seymour 39-yard pass from Coley O'Brien (Joe Azzaro kick)ND 31-0
3NDDan Harshman 23-yard pass from Coley O'Brien (Joe Azzaro kick)ND 38-0
3NDNick Eddy 9-yard run (kick failed)ND 44-0
4NDDave Martin 33-yard interception return (Joe Azzaro kick)ND 51-0
See also: 1966 USC Trojans football team and Notre Dame–USC football rivalry

[14][15]

Post-season

[edit]

Award winners

[edit]

Heisman Voting:

Nick Eddy, 3rd,[17]
Terry Hanratty, 6th[17]

All-Americans:

Name AP UPI NEA FC SN L T CP FN
† Nick Eddy, HB 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1
† Jim Lynch, LB 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
‡ Tom Regner, G 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Alan Page, DE 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1
Pete Duranko, DT 3 1 1 2
Kevin Hardy, DT 2 2 3 1 1 1
Jim Seymour, E 3 2 2 3 1
Paul Seiler, T 3 2
George Goeddeke, C 3 2 3 3
Tom Schoen, DB 3 2
Larry Conjar, FB 3 3 3 1
Terry Hanratty, QB 3 3
†denotes unanimous selection
‡denotes consensus selection      Source:[1]

College Football Hall of Fame Inductees:

Name Position Year Inducted
Jim Lynch Linebacker 1992
Alan Page Defensive End 1993
Ara Parseghian Coach 1980

Notre Dame leads all universities in players inducted.[18]

1967 NFL Draft

[edit]
Player Position Round Pick Franchise
Paul Seiler Guard 1(12) 12 New York Jets
† Alan Page Defensive End 1(15) 15 Minnesota Vikings
Thomas Regner Guard 1(23) 23 Houston Oilers
Larry Conjar Running Back 2(20) 46 Cleveland Browns
Jim Lynch Linebacker 2(21) 47 Kansas City Chiefs
George Goeddeke Center 3(6) 59 Denver Broncos
Tom Rhoads Defensive End 3(17) 70 Buffalo Bills
Allen Sack Linebacker 16(15) 408 Los Angeles Rams
† Pro Football Hall of Famer      Source:[19]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "2007 Notre Dame Media Guide: History and Records (pages 131-175)". und.cstv.com. Archived from the original on June 10, 2008. Retrieved December 29, 2008.
  2. ^ Celzic, Mike (1992). The Biggest Game of Them All: Notre Dame, Michigan State and the Fall of 1966. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0-671-75817-9.
  3. ^ "Duke tops Navy 9–7". Tallahassee Democrat. November 6, 1966. Retrieved January 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Irish Uncover Soph Aerial Attack, Smash Purdue." Eugene Register-Guard. 1966 Sep 25.
  5. ^ South Bend Tribune, Oct. 2, 1966, p. 1
  6. ^ South Bend Tribune, Oct. 9, 1966, p. 1
  7. ^ South Bend Tribune, Oct. 16, 1966, p. 1
  8. ^ "ND Stomps Sooners." Palm Beach Post. 1966 Oct 23.
  9. ^ South Bend Tribune, Oct. 30, 1966, p.
  10. ^ South Bend Tribune, Nov. 6, 1966, p. 1
  11. ^ South Bend Tribune, Nov. 13, 1966, p. 1
  12. ^ Jenkins, Dan (November 28, 1966). "An Upside-Down Game". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
  13. ^ "Ocala Star-Banner - Google News Archive Search".
  14. ^ "Irish Trouncing of U.S.C. Worst in Trojans' History". The New York Times. November 27, 1966. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
  15. ^ "Army Borrows 'Air Force'; Irish Rout Troy." Eugene Register-Guard. 1966 Nov 27.
  16. ^ "The Maxwell Award Collegiate Player of the Year: Past Recipients". The Maxwell Football Club. Archived from the original on February 14, 2009. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
  17. ^ a b "Heisman Voting". und.cstv.com. Archived from the original on December 17, 2008. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
  18. ^ "Hall of Fame: Select group by school". College Football Hall of Fame. Football Foundation. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
  19. ^ "Notre Dame NFL Draft History". uhnd.com. Archived from the original on January 6, 2009. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
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