2004 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team
| 2004 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football | |
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Insight Bowl, L, 38–21 Oregon State
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| Conference | Independent |
| 2004 record | 6–6 |
| Head coach |
Tyrone Willingham (3rd year) Kent Baer (bowl game) |
| Offensive coordinator | Bill Diedrick |
| Offensive scheme | West Coast |
| Defensive coordinator | Kent Baer |
| Base defense | 4–3 |
| Home stadium | Notre Dame Stadium (c. 80,795, grass) |
| 2004 Division I-A independents football records | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Navy | – | 10 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Florida Atlantic | – | 9 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Florida International * | – | 3 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notre Dame | – | 6 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Scoring summary | ||||
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| 1 |
8:29
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Michigan | Garrett Rivas 38-yard field goal | Michigan 3-0 |
| 1 |
0:11
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Michigan | Garrett Rivas 33-yard field goal | Michigan 6-0 |
| 2 |
0:00
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Michigan | Garrett Rivas 22-yard field goal | Michigan 9-0 |
| 3 |
11:02
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Notre Dame | Matt Shelton 46-yard pass from Brady Quinn (D.J. Fitzpatrick kick) | Michigan 9-7 |
| 3 |
5:57
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Michigan | Garrett Rivas 47-yard field goal | Michigan 12-7 |
| 4 |
13:48
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Notre Dame | Darius Walker 6-yard run (D.J. Fitzpatrick kick) | Notre Dame 14-12 |
| 4 |
11:23
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Notre Dame | Darius Walker 5-yard run (D.J. Fitzpatrick kick) | Notre Dame 21-12 |
| 4 |
5:49
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Notre Dame | Rashon Powers-Neal 8-yard pass from Brady Quinn (D.J. Fitzpatrick kick) | Notre Dame 28-12 |
| 4 |
2:27
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Michigan | Steve Breaston 25-yard pass from Chad Henne (Steve Breaston pass from Chad Henne) | Notre Dame 28-20 |
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| Scoring summary | ||||
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| 1 |
12:18
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MSU | Jerramy Scott recovered blocked punt in end zone (Dave Rayner kick) | Michigan St 7–0 |
| 1 |
4:42
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ND | Brady Quinn 1-yard run (D.J. Fitzpatrick kick) | Tie 7–7 |
| 1 |
:07
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ND | Tom Zbikowski 75-yard fumble return (D.J. Fitzpatrick kick) | Notre Dame 14–7 |
| 2 |
8:52
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ND | Matt Shelton 35-yard pass from Brady Quinn (D.J. Fitzpatrick kick) | Notre Dame 21–7 |
| 3 |
5:39
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ND | Ryan Grant 6-yard run (D.J. Fitzpatrick kick) | Notre Dame 28–7 |
| 3 |
5:28
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MSU | DeAndra' Cobb 89-yard kick return (Dave Rayner kick) | Notre Dame 28–14 |
| 4 |
14:55
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MSU | Dave Rayner 46-yard field goal | Notre Dame 28–17 |
| 4 |
:57
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ND | D.J. Fitzpatrick 23-yard field goal | Notre Dame 31–17 |
| 4 |
:09
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MSU | Drew Stanton 4-yard run (Dave Rayner kick) | Notre Dame 31–24 |
The 2004 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame in the 2004 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Tyrone Willingham and played its home games at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana.
The 2004 season began with doubts and criticism for the Irish. With Julius Jones graduating as fourth-leading rusher in Notre Dame history, the Irish hoped to replace him with a talented recruiting class. However, Willingham struggled in his second full year of recruiting and the new class was ranked 30th in the nation. Despite signing highly sought after recruit Darius Walker, the 17 man class only included three four-star recruits.
The season began poorly for the Irish with a loss at BYU. Despite Brady Quinn improving at the quarterback position, completing over 50 percent of his passes for 265 yards, the Irish only managed to gain 11 yards rushing. They next faced a highly ranked Michigan team at home and Willingham stated that an improved running game would be important if the Irish were to be able to beat the Wolverines. Darius Walker answered Willingham in his first collegiate game, gaining 115 yards and scoring two late touchdowns to lead the Irish in the upset. With the win the Irish were rejuvenated, and rallied to move to 3–1 on the season with wins over Michigan State and Washington. Some in the media began comparing Willingham to some of Notre Dame's legendary coaches and said the team would win seven or eight games in the season, and be back in national championship contention by 2005.
With renewed expectations, the Irish hoped to continue their streak and beat 15th ranked Purdue, who hadn't won at Notre Dame in 30 years. The Boilermakers' quarterback, Kyle Orton, torched the Irish defense handing them a 25 point loss to end the rally. The Irish got back on track and beat Stanford, making Notre Dame the second school to reach 800 wins, and Navy for the 41st straight time, to move into the rankings for the first time since their 2004 loss to Michigan.
The Irish didn't stay ranked for long, as Boston College once again beat the Irish on a late score. The Irish had three games left, and needed one win to become bowl eligible, but looked as if that win wouldn't come in their next game as they faced the 9th ranked Tennessee Volunteers in Knoxville. The Irish defense, however, stepped up, and, after knocking out quarterback Eric Ainge on a sack, returned an interception for a touchdown to upset the Volunteers and become bowl eligible. Once again ranked, the Irish returned home for their final home game against Pittsburgh. Losing on a late score, the team allowed five passing touchdowns by an opponent for the first time ever at home. Visiting USC for the final regular season game, the Irish again lost to the Trojans by 31. The Irish accepted a bowl bid to play in the Insight Bowl, however, in a highly criticized move, two days later fired Willingham. Defensive coordinator, Kent Baer, led the Irish, hoping to "win one for Ty," however, the Oregon State Beavers, led by four touchdown passes from Derek Anderson, beat the Irish in their seventh consecutive bowl loss. The Irish ended 2004 with a 6–6 record and in need of a coach.
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