1993 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team

1993 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
National champion (Matthews, NCF)
Cotton Bowl Classic champion
Cotton Bowl Classic, W 24–21 vs. Texas A&M
ConferenceIndependent
Ranking
CoachesNo. 2
APNo. 2
Record11–1
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorSkip Holtz (2nd season)
Offensive schemeMultiple
Defensive coordinatorRick Minter (2nd season)
Base defense4–3
Captains
Home stadiumNotre Dame Stadium
1993 NCAA Division I-A independents football records
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 2 Notre Dame   –   11 – 1 – 0
No. 24 Louisville   –   9 – 3 – 0
Cincinnati   –   8 – 3 – 0
Army   –   6 – 5 – 0
Memphis State   –   6 – 5 – 0
Tulsa   –   4 – 6 – 1
Navy   –   4 – 7 – 0
Tulane   –   3 – 9 – 0
Southern Miss   –   2 – 8 – 1
East Carolina   –   2 – 9 – 0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1993 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame as an independent during the 1993 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by eighth-year head coach Lou Holtz, the Fighting Irish compiled a record of 11–1 with a win over Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl Classic. The team played home games at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana.


Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 22:30 p.m.NorthwesternNo. 7
NBCW 27–1259,075
September 1112:00 p.m.at No. 3 MichiganNo. 11
ABCW 27–23106,851[1]
September 182:30 p.m.Michigan StateNo. 4
  • Notre Dame Stadium
  • Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)
NBCW 36–1459,075
September 253:30 p.m.at PurdueNo. 4
ABCW 17–067,861
October 23:30 p.m.at StanfordNo. 4
ABCW 48–2080,300
October 92:30 p.m.PittsburghNo. 4
  • Notre Dame Stadium
  • Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)
NBCW 44–059,075
October 167:30 p.m.at BYUNo. 3
ESPNW 45–2066,247
October 232:30 p.m.USCNo. 2
  • Notre Dame Stadium
  • Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)
NBCW 31–1359,075
October 3012:00 p.m.vs. NavyNo. 2
ABCW 58–2761,813
November 132:30 p.m.No. 1 Florida StateNo. 2
NBCW 31–2459,075
November 201:30 p.m.No. 17 Boston CollegeNo. 1
  • Notre Dame Stadium
  • Notre Dame, IN (Holy War)
NBCL 39–4159,075
January 1, 19944:30 p.m.vs. No. 7 Texas A&MNo. 4
NBCW 24–2169,855

Rankings

Main article: 1993 NCAA Division I-A football rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
( ) = First-place votes
Week
PollPre123456789101112131415Final
AP77114444322221 (62)4 (1)54 (1)2 (12)
Coaches6 (1)6105444 (1)3 (2)2 (3)2 (3)2 (2)2 (2)1 (60)4 (1)4 (1)4 (1)2 (25)

Season summary

The 1993 season opened with tempered expectations for the Irish following the loss of four first-round NFL draft picks, among them quarterback Rick Mirer and running back Jerome Bettis. Notre Dame entered the year ranked seventh in the AP preseason poll.

The team also suffered a major setback when Ron Powlus, a highly touted freshman quarterback and the nation's top high school recruit, was lost to injury during the final preseason intrasquad scrimmage. “There was a strong chance he would be No. 1,” Holtz said, but with Powlus sidelined, he named Kevin McDougal the starter for Notre Dame's 1993 season opener.[2]

On November 13, Notre Dame played Florida State in a matchup of unbeatens, with the two ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the AP poll. The Irish won the game, 31–24, to put themselves in position to lock up a chance to play for the national championship [3] with a win over Boston College in their final game. However, the Eagles kicked a field goal as time expired to secure the upset, winning 41–39. Although both the Irish and the Seminoles had one loss, and Notre Dame won the head‑to‑head meeting, it was Florida State that was selected to face Big 8 champion Nebraska in the Orange Bowl. The Irish would settle for a Cotton Bowl bid, where they defeated Texas A&M.

Game summaries

Northwestern

Team 1 234Total
Northwestern 0 660 12
• Notre Dame 7 01010 27
Scoring summary
1NDBercich 21 yard interception return (Pendergast kick)ND 7-0
2NWLundy 6 yard pass from Williams (kick failed)ND 7-6
3NWLundy 11 yard run (pass failed)NW 12-7
3NDZellers 6 yard run (Pendergast kick)ND 14-12
3NDPendergast 29 yard field goalND 17-12
3NDPendergast 27 yard field goalND 20-12
3NDBurris 2 yard run (Pendergast kick)ND 27-12
See also: 1993 Northwestern Wildcats football team and Northwestern–Notre Dame football rivalry

Michigan

See also: 1993 Michigan Wolverines football team
Team 1 234Total
• Notre Dame 10 1430 27
Michigan 3 7013 23
Scoring summary
1NDMcDougal 43 yard run (Pendergast kick)ND 7-0
1MichElezovic 32 yard field goalND 7-3
1NDPendergast 24 yard field goalND 10-3
2NDM. Miller 56 yard punt return (Pendergast kick)ND 17-3
2MichWheatley 1 yard run (Elezovic kick)ND 17-10
2NDMcDougal 11 yard run (Pendergast kick)ND 24-10
3NDPendergast 19 yard field goalND 27-10
4MichWheatley 4 yard run (Elezovic kick)ND 27-17
4MichHayes 13 pass from Collins (Collins pass failed)ND 27-23

[4]

Michigan State

Team 1 234Total
Michigan St 7 007 14
• Notre Dame 0 16137 36
Scoring summary
1MSUThomas 1 yard run (Stoyanovich kick)MSU 7-0
2NDFarmer 1 yard (kick failed)MSU 7-6
2NDPendergast 26 yard field goalND 9-7
2NDZellers 4 yard pass from McDougal (Pendergast kick)ND 16-7
3NDPendergast 23 yard field goalND 19-7
3NDPendergast 31 yard field goalND 22-7
3NDEdwards 1 yard run (Pendergast kick)ND 29-7
4NDBecton 12 yard pass from McDougal (Pendergast kick)ND 36-7
4MSUColeman 5 yard pass from Miller (Stoyanovich kick)ND 36-14
See also: 1993 Michigan State Spartans football team and Michigan State–Notre Dame football rivalry

Purdue

See also: 1993 Purdue Boilermakers football team and Notre Dame–Purdue football rivalry

Stanford

See also: 1993 Stanford Cardinal football team

Pittsburgh

Team 1 234Total
Pittsburgh 0 000 0
• Notre Dame 7 61021 44
  • Date: October 9
  • Location: Notre Dame Stadium
Scoring summary
Q1NDBecton 8 yard run (Pendergast kick)ND 7–0
Q2NDZellars 19 yard run (kick failed)ND 13–0
Q3NDPendergast 27 yard field goalND 16–0
Q3NDZellars 11 yard run (Pendergast kick)ND 23–0
Q4NDKinder 31 yard run (Pendergast kick)ND 30–0
Q4NDFarmer 3 yard run (Marsh kick)ND 37–0
Q4NDBurris 60 yard punt return (Schroffner kick)ND 44–0
See also: 1993 Pittsburgh Panthers football team

[5]

BYU

See also: 1993 BYU Cougars football team

USC

Team 1 234Total
USC 0 706 13
• Notre Dame 14 1430 31
Scoring summary
1NDBecton 70 yard run (Pendergast kick)ND 7-0
1NDEdwards 2 yard run (Pendergast kick)ND 14-0
2NDBurris 4 yard run (Pendergast kick)ND 21-0
2USCStrother 13 yard pass from Johnson (Salmon kick)ND 21-7
2NDZellars 29 yard pass from Failla (Pendergast kick)ND 28-7
3NDPendergast 43 yard field goalND 31-7
4USCMcWilliams 8 yard pass from Johnson (pass failed)ND 31-13
See also: 1993 USC Trojans football team and Notre Dame–USC football rivalry

[6]

Team 1 234Total
• Notre Dame 3 142120 58
Navy 10 1430 27
Scoring summary
1NAVYBucchianeri 38 yard field goalNAVY 3-0
1NDPendergast 32 yard field goalTied 3-3
1NAVYDixon 31 yard pass from Kubiak (Bucchianeri kick)NAVY 10-3
2NDEdwards 3 yard run (Pendergast kick)Tied 10-10
2NAVYStramanak 1 yard run (Bucchianeri kick)NAVY 17-10
2NDEdwards 10 yard run (Pendergast kick)Tied 17-17
2NAVYScreen 53 yard pass from Kubiak (Bucchianeri kick)NAVY 24-17
3NDDawson 44 hard pass from McDougal (Pendergast kick)Tied 24-24
3NDKinder 70 yard run (Pendergast kick)ND 31-24
3NDFarmer 9 yard run (Pendergast kick)ND 38-24
3NAVYBucchianeri 34 yard field goalND 38-27
4NDBurns 3 yard run (Pendergast kick)ND 45-27
4NDEdwards 1 yard run (kick failed)ND 51-27
4NDTaylor 31 yard interception return (Pendergast kick)ND 58-27
See also: 1993 Navy Midshipmen football team

[7]

Florida State

Team 1 234Total
Florida State 7 0710 24
• Notre Dame 7 1437 31
Main article: 1993 Florida State vs. Notre Dame football game
See also: 1993 Florida State Seminoles football team and Game of the Century (college football)

The #2 Fighting Irish prevailed over the #1 Florida State Seminoles as ESPN's College GameDay made its first campus visit.

Boston College

Team 1 234Total
• Boston College 10 14710 41
Notre Dame 0 14322 39
Scoring summary
18:02BCDavid Gordon 28 yard field goalBC 3-0
1BCIvan Boyd 5 yard pass from Glenn Foley (Gordon kick)BC 10-0
211:58NDRay Zellars 39 yard pass from Kevin McDougal (Pendergast kick)BC 10-7
2BCIvan Boyd 35 yard pass from Glenn Foley (Gordon kick)BC 17-7
25:52ND#9 1 yard run (Pendergast kick)BC 17-14
20:21BCPete Mitchell 3 yard pass from Glenn Foley (Gordon kick)BC 24-14
311:24BCDarnell Campbell 22 yard run (Gordon kick)BC 31-14
33:20NDPendergast 29 yard field goalBC 31-17
411:13BCPete Mitchell 2 yard pass from Glenn Foley (Gordon kick)BC 38-17
410:12NDLee Becton 29 yard run (Becton pass to McDougal)BC 38-25
44:02NDRay Zellars 4 yard run (Pendergast kick)BC 38-32
41:09NDDawson 4 yard pass from McDougal (Pendergast kick)ND 39-38
40:00BCDavid Gordon 41 yard field goalBC 41-39
See also: 1993 Boston College Eagles football team and Holy War (Boston College–Notre Dame)

Texas A&M

See also: 1993 Texas A&M Aggies football team and 1994 Cotton Bowl Classic

Roster

1993 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
RB 37 Travis Davis Jr
WR 87 Lake Dawson Sr
WR 1 Derrick Mayes So
FB 30 Marc Edwards Fr
TE 80 Oscar McBride Sr
QB 15 Kevin McDougal Sr
C 61 Tim Ruddy Sr
OT 75 Aaron Taylor Sr
RB 34 Ray Zellars Jr
C 77 Dusty Zeigler So
RB 25 Randy Kinder Fr
QB 8 Paul Failla Jr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
LB 47 Pete Bercich Sr
S 9 Jeff Burris Sr
CB 32 Willie Clark Sr
CB 29 John Covington Sr
DT 44 Jim Flanigan Sr
DT 55 Oliver Gibson Sr
DT 93 Paul Grasmanis So
LB 49 Tony Peterson Sr
CB 21 Bobby Taylor So
CB 22 Shawn Wooden So
DE 48 Renaldo Wynn So
DE 97 Bryant Young Sr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured
  • Redshirt

Awards and honors

Team players in the NFL

See also: 1994 NFL draft
Player Position Round Pick NFL club
Bryant Young Defensive tackle 1 7 San Francisco 49ers
Aaron Taylor Tackle 1 16 Green Bay Packers
Jeff Burris Cornerback 1 27 Buffalo Bills
Tim Ruddy Center 2 65 Miami Dolphins
Jim Flanigan Defensive tackle 3 74 Chicago Bears
Willie Clark Cornerback 3 82 San Diego Chargers
Lake Dawson Wide Receiver 3 92 Kansas City Chiefs
John Covington Safety 5 133 Indianapolis Colts
Tony Peterson Linebacker 5 153 San Francisco 49ers
Pete Bercich Linebacker 7 211 Minnesota Vikings

References

  1. ^ Angelique S. Chengelis (September 12, 1993). "U-M season under siege". The Detroit News. pp. 1E, 6E – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Injury Drops Powlus For Loss A Broken Collarbone Puts The Berwick Native, Who Was Vying For Starting Quarterback At Notre Dame, Out For At Least Two Months And Possibly". Times Leader. Retrieved January 24, 2026.
  3. ^ Fighting Irish Win Game of the Century The Tech (MIT newspaper) Mike Duffy and Andrew Heitner. Volume 113, Issue 59 : Friday, November 19, 1993
  4. ^ Blue & Gold Illustrated 1994 Notre Dame Football Preview
  5. ^ Gainesville Sun. 1993 Oct 10. Retrieved 2018-Oct-28.
  6. ^ Gainesville Sun. 1993 Oct 24.
  7. ^ Gainesville Sun. 1993 Oct 31.
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