The 1989 Sunkist Fiesta Bowl, played on Monday, January 2, was the 18th edition of the Fiesta Bowl. It featured the top-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the third-ranked West Virginia Mountaineers. With both teams undefeated, the Fiesta Bowl was the stage for the "national championship" for the second time in three years. As in 1987, the Fiesta Bowl featured two independents squaring off for the national title. The Fighting Irish defeated the Mountaineers to win their first national championship since 1977, and their most recent to date.
Also, as in 1987, the game was played on January 2, but this was because New Year's Day fell on a Sunday in 1989 and, per protocols, all of the bowls that would normally take place that day were played on January 2. With NBC no longer televising the Rose Bowl, the kickoff for the Fiesta Bowl was moved three hours later, to 2:30 p.m. MST,[2] and the game now had NBC's top broadcast team of Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen.
This was the last national championship game before the start of the Bowl Coalition system in 1992, which was intended to ensure that the national championship would be decided on the field in bowl games such as this one. It would later be replaced by the Bowl Alliance, BCS, and later the College Football Playoff systems, which took greater steps to prevent a split national championship from ever happening again.
Game summary
After West Virginia quarterback and Heisman candidate Major Harris separated his shoulder on the third play of the game, Notre Dame took control to claim their record eleventh national championship. Though Harris would return to the game he was severely hampered by his injury.[3] Coach Nehlen later admitting that WVU had to abandon a large portion of its gameplan due to the injury of Harris.[4] WVU also suffered the loss of three other starters during the 1st half which did not help matters. They were NG Jim Gray, OG John Stroia, and productive reserve running back Undra Johnson also left the game early with a knee injury on his first carry.[3][5] Johnson had rushed for over 700yds and 11 TDs during the 1988 season.[6] WVU had already went into the game without its starting FS Darrell Whitmore who was injured in the final game of the season.[7]
Billy Hackett started the scoring with a 45-yard field goal to give Notre Dame an early 3–0 lead. Running back Anthony Johnson then scored on a 1-yard touchdown run, but the ensuing extra point missed, and the score remained 9–0. Early in the second quarter, Rodney Culver added a 5-yard touchdown run to increase Notre Dame's lead to 16–0.Charlie Baumann of West Virginia scored on a 29-yard field goal to cut the lead to 16–3.
Later in the second quarter, Tony Rice threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Raghib Ismail, to extend the lead to 23–3. Mountaineer Charlie Baumann added a 31-yard field goal before halftime to make it 23–6.
Early in the third quarter, Reggie Ho added a 32-yard field goal to increase the Irish lead to 26–6. WVU quarterback Harris hit Grantis Bell for a 17-yard touchdown pass, cutting the lead to 26–13. He later left the game with an injury. Rice threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Frank Jacobs. Rice later took it in himself for the 2-point conversion, giving Notre Dame a 34–13 lead. WVU scored with a 3-yard touchdown run by Reggie Rembert, who also converted the 2-point conversion, making the score 34–21. Notre Dame sealed the win by intercepting a pass in the end zone.[8]
Notre Dame retained its top ranking in the final AP poll and West Virginia fell to fifth.As of 2024, this remains the most recent national championship for the Irish.
Scoring summary
Scoring Summary
Score
1st Quarter
ND – Billy Hackett 45-yard field goal
ND 3–0
ND – Anthony Johnson 1 Yard rush (pat failed)
ND 9–0
2nd Quarter
ND – Rodney Culver 5-yard rush (Reggie Ho kick)
ND 16–0
WV – Charlie Baumann 29-yard field goal
ND 16–3
ND – Tony Rice 29-yard pass to Raghib Ismail (Reggie Ho kick)
ND 23–3
WV – Charlie Baumann 32-yard field goal
ND 23–6
3rd Quarter
ND – Reggie Ho 32-yard field goal
ND 26–6
WV – Major Harris 17-yard pass to Grantis Bell (Charlie Baumann kick)
ND 26–13
4th Quarter
ND – Tony Rice 3-yard pass to Frank Jacobs (Tony Rice run)
ND 34–13
WV – Reggie Rembert 3-yard rush (Greg Jones pass to Reggie Rembert)
