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http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2012/12/02/bcs-title-game-notre-dame-alabama/1740705/
Lopresti: From Heisman winners to iconic coaches, these schools have it all
1:35PM EST December 2. 2012 - SOUTH BEND, Ind.
— Notre Dame football tradition. Who matches it?
Well, I can think of one place that believes it does.
Funny, how they've ended up in the same national championship game. Touchdown Jesus vs. Tuscaloosa. So before they start thinking about knocking heads Jan. 7, let's put the Irish and Alabama together and let them match auras at 20 paces.
Being ranked No. 1, Notre Dame gets to go first.
Notre Dame has been to 31 previous bowl games.
Alabama has won 33 of them.
Notre Dame and Alabama have had six meetings.
Notre Dame won five of them.
Notre Dame has not won a BCS-level bowl in 20 years.
Alabama has won three national championships in those 20 years.
Notre Dame claims 11 national titles.
Alabama claims 14.
That gets a little tricky, though. On two occasions, in 1930 and '73, both call themselves champions.
In 1973, the 11-0 Tide were No. 1 in the final poll of one wire service at the end of the regular season, and before the Sugar Bowl. Which they lost. To Notre Dame.
Notre Dame's mascot is an angry-looking guy in a green hat, waving a shillelagh.
Alabama's mascot is an elephant named Big Al.
The Irish patron saint was a Norwegian immigrant who worked part-time as a janitor in college. That's how Knute Rockne helped pay for his schooling.
The Crimson Tide patron saint was the 11th of 12 children, who wrestled an animal as a kid for a buck. That's how Paul Bryant became known as Bear.
Notre Dame built its famous stadium in 1930.
Alabama built its famous stadium in 1929.
Notre Dame has won 865 football games and never has had any vacated by the NCAA over violations.
Alabama has won 826, with 21 vacated.
Notre Dame's first title was in the bag when the Irish won the Rose Bowl after the 1924 season.
Alabama's first title was in the bag when the Tide won the Rose Bowl after the 1925 season
Notre Dame's first win came in 1892, against South Bend High School. The score was 56-0.
Alabama's first win in history came in 1892, against Birmingham High. The score was 56-0.
Notre Dame has seen only 13 losing seasons in its history.
Alabama has seen only 14.
Notre Dame has had seven Heisman winners, but none for 25 years.
Alabama has had one. Mark Ingram, just three seasons ago.
Notre Dame has never played Auburn.
Alabama has done that 77 times.
Notre Dame's echoes have seldom stretched into March. The Irish men's basketball team has been to one Final Four.
Alabama has been to none.
Notre Dame has never played in a conference.
Alabama has won the Southeastern Conference 23 times.
One of Rockne's quarterbacks at Notre Dame was named Frank Thomas.
Frank Thomas coached Alabama to a national championship in 1934. One of his players was Bear Bryant.
Notre Dame, along with Southern California and UCLA, are the only FBS schools to never have scheduled an FCS opponent.
Alabama played Western Carolina two weeks ago.
Notre Dame sent Joe Montana out into the world to win the Super Bowl.
Alabama sent Joe Namath out into the world to guarantee winning the Super Bowl.
Notre Dame, a national university, has players on the roster this season from 27 states. Plus Kenya.
Alabama, king of Dixie, has 45 players on the roster from in-state. And 30 more from Georgia and Florida.
The Notre Dame fight song pleads to ``shake down the thunder.''
The Alabama fight song exhorts to ``teach the Bulldogs to behave.''
Notre Dame's Brian Kelly is 51, and in 2003, won the NCAA Division II championship at Grand Valley State (Mich.).
Alabama's Nick Saban is 61, and in 2003, won the national championship at LSU.
Rockne died at the age of 43 in a plane crash. He won his last 19 regular-season games.
Bryant died at the age of 69 of a heart attack. He lost his last three regular-season games.
Frank Leahy, Ara Parseghian, Dan Devine and Lou Holtz all won national championships in their third seasons at Notre Dame.
So did Saban at Alabama.
This is Kelly's third season.
Notre Dame is the team half of of you love to hate.
Alabama, and the SEC in general, the other half of you loathe.
It's a dream date Jan. 7.
Lopresti: From Heisman winners to iconic coaches, these schools have it all
1:35PM EST December 2. 2012 - SOUTH BEND, Ind.
— Notre Dame football tradition. Who matches it?
Well, I can think of one place that believes it does.
Funny, how they've ended up in the same national championship game. Touchdown Jesus vs. Tuscaloosa. So before they start thinking about knocking heads Jan. 7, let's put the Irish and Alabama together and let them match auras at 20 paces.
Being ranked No. 1, Notre Dame gets to go first.
Notre Dame has been to 31 previous bowl games.
Alabama has won 33 of them.
Notre Dame and Alabama have had six meetings.
Notre Dame won five of them.
Notre Dame has not won a BCS-level bowl in 20 years.
Alabama has won three national championships in those 20 years.
Notre Dame claims 11 national titles.
Alabama claims 14.
That gets a little tricky, though. On two occasions, in 1930 and '73, both call themselves champions.
In 1973, the 11-0 Tide were No. 1 in the final poll of one wire service at the end of the regular season, and before the Sugar Bowl. Which they lost. To Notre Dame.
Notre Dame's mascot is an angry-looking guy in a green hat, waving a shillelagh.
Alabama's mascot is an elephant named Big Al.
The Irish patron saint was a Norwegian immigrant who worked part-time as a janitor in college. That's how Knute Rockne helped pay for his schooling.
The Crimson Tide patron saint was the 11th of 12 children, who wrestled an animal as a kid for a buck. That's how Paul Bryant became known as Bear.
Notre Dame built its famous stadium in 1930.
Alabama built its famous stadium in 1929.
Notre Dame has won 865 football games and never has had any vacated by the NCAA over violations.
Alabama has won 826, with 21 vacated.
Notre Dame's first title was in the bag when the Irish won the Rose Bowl after the 1924 season.
Alabama's first title was in the bag when the Tide won the Rose Bowl after the 1925 season
Notre Dame's first win came in 1892, against South Bend High School. The score was 56-0.
Alabama's first win in history came in 1892, against Birmingham High. The score was 56-0.
Notre Dame has seen only 13 losing seasons in its history.
Alabama has seen only 14.
Notre Dame has had seven Heisman winners, but none for 25 years.
Alabama has had one. Mark Ingram, just three seasons ago.
Notre Dame has never played Auburn.
Alabama has done that 77 times.
Notre Dame's echoes have seldom stretched into March. The Irish men's basketball team has been to one Final Four.
Alabama has been to none.
Notre Dame has never played in a conference.
Alabama has won the Southeastern Conference 23 times.
One of Rockne's quarterbacks at Notre Dame was named Frank Thomas.
Frank Thomas coached Alabama to a national championship in 1934. One of his players was Bear Bryant.
Notre Dame, along with Southern California and UCLA, are the only FBS schools to never have scheduled an FCS opponent.
Alabama played Western Carolina two weeks ago.
Notre Dame sent Joe Montana out into the world to win the Super Bowl.
Alabama sent Joe Namath out into the world to guarantee winning the Super Bowl.
Notre Dame, a national university, has players on the roster this season from 27 states. Plus Kenya.
Alabama, king of Dixie, has 45 players on the roster from in-state. And 30 more from Georgia and Florida.
The Notre Dame fight song pleads to ``shake down the thunder.''
The Alabama fight song exhorts to ``teach the Bulldogs to behave.''
Notre Dame's Brian Kelly is 51, and in 2003, won the NCAA Division II championship at Grand Valley State (Mich.).
Alabama's Nick Saban is 61, and in 2003, won the national championship at LSU.
Rockne died at the age of 43 in a plane crash. He won his last 19 regular-season games.
Bryant died at the age of 69 of a heart attack. He lost his last three regular-season games.
Frank Leahy, Ara Parseghian, Dan Devine and Lou Holtz all won national championships in their third seasons at Notre Dame.
So did Saban at Alabama.
This is Kelly's third season.
Notre Dame is the team half of of you love to hate.
Alabama, and the SEC in general, the other half of you loathe.
It's a dream date Jan. 7.
