1995 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team

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 team played home games at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana.

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

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

See also: 1995 Northwestern Wildcats football team and Northwestern–Notre Dame football rivalry

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

See also: 1995 Purdue Boilermakers football team and Notre Dame–Purdue football rivalry

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

See also: 1995 Vanderbilt Commodores football team

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

See also: 1995 Texas Longhorns football team

#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

See also: 1995 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

#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

See also: 1995 Washington Huskies football team

#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

See also: 1995 Army Cadets football team and Army–Notre Dame football rivalry

#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

Scoring summary 1 Notre Dame Denson 2 yard run (Kopka kick) Notre Dame 7-0 1 Army Leshinski 1 yard pass from McAda (Parker kick) Tie 7-7 1 Notre Dame Edwards 2 yard run (Kopka kick) Notre Dame 14-7 2 Notre Dame Denson 2 yard run (Kopka kick) Notre Dame 21-7 3 Notre Dame Edwards 46 yard pass from Powlus (Kopka kick) Notre Dame 28-7 3 Army Conroy 5 yard run (Parker kick) Notre Dame 28-14 4 Army Conroy 3 yard run (Parker kick) Notre Dame 28-21 4 Army Gantt 7 yard pass from McAda (pass failed) Notre Dame 28-27 [8]

USC

See also: 1995 USC Trojans football team and Notre Dame–USC football rivalry

#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

See also: 1995 Boston College Eagles football team and Holy War (Boston College–Notre Dame)

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

See also: 1995 Navy Midshipmen football team and Navy–Notre Dame football rivalry

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

Scoring summary 1 Navy Scott 15 yard run (Covarubias kick) Navy 7-0 1 Notre Dame Wallace 8 yard pass from Powlus (Cengia kick) Tied 7-7 2 Navy Fay 3 yard run (Covarubias kick) Navy 14-7 2 Notre Dame Powlus 1 yard run (Cengia kick) Tied 14-14 2 Navy Graham 216 yard field goal Navy 17-14 3 Notre Dame Mayes 42 yard pass from Krug (Cengia kick) Notre Dame 21-17 3 Notre Dame Mayes 3 yard pass from Krug (Cengia kick) Notre Dame 28-17 4 Notre Dame Denson 24 yard run (Cengia kick) Notre Dame 35-17

Air Force

See also: 1995 Air Force Falcons football team

#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

Scoring summary 1 Notre Dame Kinder 17 yard run (Cengia kick) Notre Dame 7-0 1 Notre Dame Cengia 30 yard kick Notre Dame 10-0 2 Notre Dame Denson 3 yard run (Cengia kick) Notre Dame 17-0 2 Notre Dame Cengia 26 yard kick Notre Dame 20-0 3 Notre Dame Cengia 30 yard kick Notre Dame 23-0 3 Air Force Addison 8 yard pass from Morgan (Thompson kick) Notre Dame 23-7 3 Notre Dame Denson 30 yard run (Cengia kick) Notre Dame 30-7 3 Notre Dame Kinder 5 yard run (Cengia kick) Notre Dame 37-7 4 Notre Dame Thorne 5 yard run (Cengia kick) Notre Dame 44-7 4 Air Force Brooks 11 yard pass from Morgan (Thompson kick) Notre Dame 44-14

1996 Orange Bowl

See also: 1995 Florida State Seminoles football team

#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 Dave Roberts (OC) Bob Davie (DC) Charlie Strong (DL) 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