Notre Dame-Alabama: Amazing Parallels, Until Now
On Monday night, Alabama will be going for its fifth national title in eight years. Meanwhile, Notre Dame is licking its wounds from a 4-8 campaign. They might seem light years apart today in football.
However, the football history of the two schools from about the mid-1920s until Jan. 7, 2013, when the two met for the national title, has been astoundingly similar. Over the past nine decades, they have practically mirrored each other in their rise, fall and return to prominence.
1924-25: Coming Up Roses
Notre Dame: In the Jan. 1, 1925 Rose Bowl, Knute Rockne’s Fighting Irish captured the school’s first consensus national title with a 27-10 victory over Pop Warner’s Stanford program. This also created the genesis of the Notre Dame-USC rivalry in 1926.
Alabama: A year later on Jan. 1, 1926, the Crimson Tide under Wallace Wade became the first Southern team to play in the Rose Bowl and it upset Washington, 20-19, to capture its first consensus national title. Today, it is recognized as "the game that changed the South."
1930: Grand Finale
Notre Dame: Rockne’s final season finishes 10-0 with a consensus national title.
Alabama: Wallace’s final season finishes 10-0 and gains a small consolation prize when the Parke Davis rankings names it No. 1.
1931: The Rockne Protégés
Notre Dame: From 1931-53, former Rockne players Elmer Layden and Frank Leahy lead the Irish to a 132-24-12 [.821] record and four national titles.
Alabama: From 1931-46, former Rockne player Frank Thomas guides the Crimson Tide to a 115-24-7 [.812] mark and two national titles.
1950s: Crazy 8s
Notre Dame: In an eight-year period from 1956-63, the Irish are 34-45 [.430].
Alabama: In an eight-year period from 1951-58, the Crimson Tide is 34-44-8 [.442].
]964: Ara & Bear
Notre Dame: In 1964, first-year head coach Ara Parseghian leads the Irish to a 9-0 record and No. 1 ranking before losing in the closing minute of the finale at USC, 20-17.
Alabama: In 1964, Bear Bryant guides the Crimson Tide to 10-0 and No. 1 before losing in the closing minute of the Orange Bowl finale versus Texas, 21-17.
Note: Because the AP and UPI did not vote after bowls back then, Alabama was declared the national title winner by those polls, while Notre Dame won the MacArthur Bowl from the National Football Foundation, also emblematic of a national title. (Unbeaten Arkansas was awarded the national title by the Football Writers Association of America.)
1964-80: Glory Days
Notre Dame: 148-33-5 [.809] with three AP national titles.
Alabama: 165-32-4 [.831] with four AP national titles.
Note: The Irish were 4-0 against Alabama during this stretch.
1988-92: Third-Year Turnaround & National Titles
Notre Dame: In 1988, third-year head coach Lou Holtz leads a 12-0 record with a ground-oriented attack, highlighted by a victory over No. 1/defending champ Miami.
Alabama: In 1992, third-year head coach Gene Stallings leads an unbeaten record with a ground-oriented attack, highlighted by a victory over No. 1/defending champ Miami.
1997: On The Defensive
Notre Dame: Irish defensive coordinator Bob Davie is hired as a first-time head coach to succeed Holtz, but is fired after five years.
Alabama: Tide defensive coordinator Mike DuBose is hired as a first-time head coach to succeed Stallings, but is fired after four years.
2001-2002: Hired … But Never Coached
Notre Dame: Veteran head coach George O’Leary is hired in December 2001, but is fired before he coaches a game because of the revelation of a false resume.
Alabama: Veteran head coach Mike Price is hired in December 2002, but is fired before he coaches a game because of a drinking binge in Pensacola, Fla. Both O’Leary and Price were born in 1946.
Early 21st Century: Alumni Charlie Weis & Mike Shula
Notre Dame: Irish alumnus Charlie Weis is hired after working as an NFL offensive assistant. He comes from an esteemed NFL pedigree [Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick], is given a 10-year contract extension in 2005, never beats his archrival [USC] and finishes 26-24 in his last four seasons.
Alabama: Crimson Tide alumnus Mike Shula is hired after working as an NFL offensive assistant. He comes from an esteemed NFL pedigree [Don Shula], is given a six-year contract extension in 2005, never beats his archrival [Auburn] and finishes 26-23 in his four seasons.
2008: Recruiting Renaissance
Notre Dame: Its recruiting class is ranked No. 2, to Alabama, but moves to No. 1 in some services after the summer when several Tide players become ineligible.
Alabama: Its recruiting class is the consensus No. 1, until the Irish slip ahead in some services later that year.
The Present
Alabama: In 2009, the Crimson Tide turned around its sagging fortunes on the field by winning the national title under third-year head coach Nick Saban. It won its eighth Associated Press national title — tying Notre Dame for the most — with a victory against Texas.
Notre Dame: In December 2009, the University hired Brian Kelly, who in his third season led the Irish to a 12-0 mark, a No. 1 ranking and the national title game — versus No. 2 Alabama.
Since that 42-14 loss to Saban’s crew, the Crimson Tide has gained separation as a current dynasty.
Can Notre Dame catch up again some time in the future?
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