1949 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team

The 1949 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame during the 1949 college football season. The Irish, coached by Frank Leahy, ended the season with 10 wins and no losses, winning the national championship.[1] The 1949 team became the seventh Irish team to win the national title and the third in four years. Led by Heisman winner Leon Hart, the Irish outscored their opponents 360–86.[1] The 1949 team is the last team in what is considered to be the Notre Dame Football dynasty, a stretch of games in which Notre Dame went 46–0–2 and won three national championships and two Heisman Trophies. The Irish squad was cited by Sports Illustrated as the part of the second best sports dynasty (professional or collegiate) of the 20th century[2] and second greatest college football dynasty.[3]

1949 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
National champion
ConferenceIndependent
Ranking
APNo. 1
1949 record10–0
Head coach
Offensive schemeT formation
Captains
Home stadiumNotre Dame Stadium
1949 Midwestern college football independents records
Conf  Overall
TeamW L T  W L T
No. 1 Notre Dame   –    10 –0 –0
Ball State   –    8 –0 –0
Xavier   –    10 –1 –0
Valparaiso   –    8 –1 –1
Washington University   –    7 –2 –0
Baldwin–Wallace   –    6 –2 –0
Wabash   –    5 –2 –1
Dayton   –    6 –3 –0
John Carroll   –    6 –3 –0
No. 19 Michigan State   –    6 –3 –0
Toledo   –    6 –4 –0
Youngstown   –    4 –3 –1
Bowling Green   –    4 –5 –0
Marquette   –    4 –5 –0
Central Michigan   –    3 –4 –0
Wayne   –    3 –5 –0
Indiana State   –    1 –9 –0
Michigan State Normal   –    0 –8 –0
Rankings from AP Poll

Schedule
DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendance
September 24Indiana
W 49–653,844
October 1at Washington
W 27–741,500
October 8at PurdueNo. 2
W 35–1252,000
October 15No. 4 TulaneNo. 1
  • Notre Dame Stadium
  • South Bend, IN
W 46–758,196
October 29vs. NavyNo. 1
W 40–062,000
November 5at No. 10 Michigan StateNo. 1
W 34–2151,277
November 12vs. North CarolinaNo. 1
W 42–667,000
November 19IowaNo. 1
  • Notre Dame Stadium
  • South Bend, IN
W 28–756,790
November 26No. 17 USCNo. 1
  • Notre Dame Stadium
  • South Bend, IN (rivalry)
W 32–057,214
December 3at SMUNo. 1
W 27–2075,457
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[4]

Personnel

Depth char
POS Name Name Name Name
QBBob WilliamsJohn MazurBill Whiteside
LHBFrank SpanielErnie ZalejskiBill GayLeo McKillip
RHBLarry CoutreBilly BarrettDick Cotter
FBEmil SitkoJack LandryDel Gander
LEBill WightkinJim MutschellerDoug Waybright
LTJim MartinAl ZmijewskiJohn Zancha
LGFrank JohnsonPaul BurnsArt Perry
CWalt GrothausJim Hamby
RGBob LallyFred WallnerBill Higgins
RTRalph McGeheeGus CifelliJohn Nusskern
RELeon HartRay EspenanChet Ostrowski

[4]

Coaching staff

Head coach: Frank Leahy

Assistants: Bernie Crimmins (first assistant / backfield), John F. Druze (chief scout), Bill Earley (backfield), Joe McArdle (guards), Robert McBride (tackles), Fred Miller (volunteer assistant), Benjamin Sheridan (freshmen)

[4]

Postseason

Award winners

Heisman voting:

Leon Hart, 1st[5]
Bob Williams, 5th[5]
Emil Sitko, 8th[5]

All-Americans:

Name AP UP NEA INS COL AA SN L
† Emil Sitko, FB11111111
† Leon Hart, E11111111
Bob Williams, QB21111
Jim Martin, T121122
†denotes unanimous selection      Source:[1]

College Football Hall of Fame Inductees:

Name Position Year Inducted
Jerry GroomCenter1994
Leon HartEnd1973
Frank LeahyCoach1970
Jim MartinEnd/Tackle1995
Emil "Red" SitkoHalfback/Fullback1984
Bob WilliamsQuarterback1988

Notre Dame leads all universities in players inducted.[7]

1950 NFL Draft

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

PlayerPositionRoundPickFranchise
Leon HartEnd11Detroit Lions
Jim MartinGuard226Cleveland Browns
Larry CoutreHalfback443Green Bay Packers
Mike SwistowiczHalfback555New York Yanks
Frank SpanielHalfback558Washington Redskins
Ernie ZalejskiDefensive Back562Chicago Bears

[8]

References
  1. "2007 Notre Dame Media Guide: History and Records (pages 131-175)". und.cstv.com. Archived from the original on 2008-06-10. Retrieved 2008-12-31.
  2. "SI's Top 20 Dynasties of the 20th Century". sportsillustrated.cnn.com. 1999-06-03. Archived from the original on 29 January 2009. Retrieved 2008-12-31.
  3. "College Football's 12 Greatest Dynasties". sportsillustrated.cnn.com. Retrieved 2008-12-31.
  4. 2010 Notre Dame information guide
  5. "Heisman Voting". und.cstv.com. Archived from the original on 2008-12-17. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
  6. "The Maxwell Award Collegiate Player of the Year: Past Recipients". The Maxwell Football Club. Archived from the original on 2009-02-14. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
  7. "Hall of Fame: Select group by school". College Football Hall of Fame. Football Foundation. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
  8. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1950.htm
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