1987 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team

1987 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Cotton Bowl Classic, L 10–35 vs. Texas A&M
Conference	Independent
1987 record	8–4
Head coach	Lou Holtz (2nd year)
Defensive coordinator	Foge Fazio (2nd year)
Captain	Chuck Lanza
Captain	Byron Spruell
Home stadium	Notre Dame Stadium (c. 59,075, grass)
Seasons ← 1986 1988 →

1987 Division I-A independents football records
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
#1 Miami (FL)		–		–				12	–	0	–	0
#4 Syracuse		–		–				11	–	0	–	1
#2 Florida State		–		–				11	–	1	–	0
#15 South Carolina		–		–				8	–	4	–	0
Pittsburgh		–		–				8	–	4	–	0
Penn State		–		–				8	–	4	–	0
#17 Notre Dame		–		–				8	–	4	–	0
Southern Miss		–		–				6	–	5	–	0
Rutgers		–		–				6	–	5	–	0
Southwestern Louisiana		–		–				6	–	5	–	0
Memphis		–		–				5	–	5	–	1
Northern Illinois		–		–				5	–	5	–	1
West Virginia		–		–				6	–	6	–	0
Tulane		–		–				6	–	6	–	0
Army		–		–				5	–	6	–	0
Boston College		–		–				5	–	6	–	0
East Carolina		–		–				5	–	6	–	0
Akron		–		–				4	–	7	–	0
Cincinnati		–		–				4	–	7	–	0
Louisville		–		–				3	–	7	–	1
Temple		–		–				3	–	8	–	0
Tulsa		–		–				3	–	8	–	0
Navy		–		–				2	–	9	–	0
Virginia Tech		–		–				2	–	9	–	0
Rankings from AP Poll

#16 Notre Dame at #9 Michigan

1 2 3 4 Total • Notre Dame 10 0 7 9 26 Michigan 0 0 7 0 7 Date: September 12 Location: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI Game start: 3:30 p.m. EST Game attendance: 106,098 Television network: ABC

Scoring summary Q1 ND Gradel 44 yard field goal ND 3–0 Q1 ND T. Brown 11 yard pass from Andrysiak (Gradel kick) ND 10–0 Q3 ND Banks 1 yard run (Gradel kick) ND 17–0 Q3 MICH McMurtry 12 yard pass from D. Brown (Gillette kick) ND 17–7 Q4 ND Gradel 38 yard field goal ND 20–7 Q4 ND Watters 18 yard run (pass failed) ND 26–7

Scoring summary
Q1		ND	Gradel 44 yard field goal	ND 3–0
Q1		ND	T. Brown 11 yard pass from Andrysiak (Gradel kick)	ND 10–0
Q3		ND	Banks 1 yard run (Gradel kick)	ND 17–0
Q3		MICH	McMurtry 12 yard pass from D. Brown (Gillette kick)	ND 17–7
Q4		ND	Gradel 38 yard field goal	ND 20–7
Q4		ND	Watters 18 yard run (pass failed)	ND 26–7

1 2 3 4 Total Michigan St 0 0 0 8 8 • Notre Dame 19 5 7 0 31 Date: September 19 Location: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN Game start: 7:45 p.m. EST Game attendance: 59,075 Television network: ESPN

Scoring summary Q1 ND Ezor downed ball in end zone ND 2–0 Q1 ND Gradel 27 yard field goal ND 5–0 Q1 ND Brown 71 yard punt return (Gradel kick) ND 12–0 Q1 ND Brown 66 yard punt return (Gradel kick) ND 19–0 Q2 ND McAllister tackled in end zone ND 21–0 Q2 ND Gradel 37 yard field goal ND 24–0 Q3 ND Johnson 3 yard run (Gradel kick) ND 31–0 Q4 MSU Rison 57 yard pass from McAllister (Wilson pass from McAllister) ND 31–8

Scoring summary
Q1		ND	Ezor downed ball in end zone	ND 2–0
Q1		ND	Gradel 27 yard field goal	ND 5–0
Q1		ND	Brown 71 yard punt return (Gradel kick)	ND 12–0
Q1		ND	Brown 66 yard punt return (Gradel kick)	ND 19–0
Q2		ND	McAllister tackled in end zone	ND 21–0
Q2		ND	Gradel 37 yard field goal	ND 24–0
Q3		ND	Johnson 3 yard run (Gradel kick)	ND 31–0
Q4		MSU	Rison 57 yard pass from McAllister (Wilson pass from McAllister)	ND 31–8

1 2 3 4 Total • Notre Dame 10 7 14 13 44 Purdue 0 17 3 0 20 Date: September 27 Location: Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN Game start: 12:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 68,528

Scoring summary Q1 ND Gradel 35 yard field goal ND 3–0 Q1 ND Johnson 6 yard run (Gradel kick) ND 10–0 Q2 PUR Schumacher 4 yard pass from Downing (Briggs kick) ND 10–7 Q2 PUR C. Williams 20 yard pass from Downing (Briggs kick) PUR 14–10 Q2 PUR Briggs 18 yard field goal PUR 17–10 Q2 ND Johnson 1 yard run (Gradel kick) Tie 17–17 Q3 PUR Briggs 50 yard field goal PUR 20–17 Q3 ND Johnson 8 yard run (Gradel kick) ND 24–20 Q3 ND Brown 49 yard pass from Andrysiak (Gradel kick) ND 31–20 Q4 ND Gradel 28 yard field goal ND 34–20 Q4 ND Gradel 44 yard field goal ND 37–20 Q4 ND Southall 57 yard interception return (Gradel kick) ND 44–20

Scoring summary
Q1		ND	Gradel 35 yard field goal	ND 3–0
Q1		ND	Johnson 6 yard run (Gradel kick)	ND 10–0
Q2		PUR	Schumacher 4 yard pass from Downing (Briggs kick)	ND 10–7
Q2		PUR	C. Williams 20 yard pass from Downing (Briggs kick)	PUR 14–10
Q2		PUR	Briggs 18 yard field goal	PUR 17–10
Q2		ND	Johnson 1 yard run (Gradel kick)	Tie 17–17
Q3		PUR	Briggs 50 yard field goal	PUR 20–17
Q3		ND	Johnson 8 yard run (Gradel kick)	ND 24–20
Q3		ND	Brown 49 yard pass from Andrysiak (Gradel kick)	ND 31–20
Q4		ND	Gradel 28 yard field goal	ND 34–20
Q4		ND	Gradel 44 yard field goal	ND 37–20
Q4		ND	Southall 57 yard interception return (Gradel kick)	ND 44–20

1 2 3 4 Total • Notre Dame 14 0 14 7 35 Air Force 0 7 0 7 14 Date: October 17 Location: Falcon Stadium, Colorado Springs, CO Game start: 3:30 p.m. EST Game attendance: 51,112

Scoring summary Q1 ND Rice 1 yard run (Gradel kick) ND 7–0 Q1 ND Rice 4 yard run (Gradel kick) ND 14–0 Q2 AFA Booker 4 yard run (Yarborough kick) ND 14–7 Q3 ND Johnson 1 yard run (Gradel kick) ND 21–7 Q3 ND Banks 1 yard run (Gradel kick) ND 28–7 Q4 AFA Dowis 1 yard run (Yarborough kick) ND 28–14 Q4 ND Brown 74 yard punt return (Gradel kick) ND 35–14

Scoring summary
Q1		ND	Rice 1 yard run (Gradel kick)	ND 7–0
Q1		ND	Rice 4 yard run (Gradel kick)	ND 14–0
Q2		AFA	Booker 4 yard run (Yarborough kick)	ND 14–7
Q3		ND	Johnson 1 yard run (Gradel kick)	ND 21–7
Q3		ND	Banks 1 yard run (Gradel kick)	ND 28–7
Q4		AFA	Dowis 1 yard run (Yarborough kick)	ND 28–14
Q4		ND	Brown 74 yard punt return (Gradel kick)	ND 35–14

The 1987 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented Notre Dame University during the 1987 NCAA Division I-A football season. Tony Rice became the starting quarterback for Notre Dame following an injury to Terry Andrysiak. The Irish would finish the season 8–4 and earn a berth to the Cotton Bowl Classic.

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.

The following players were drafted into professional football following the season.

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