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T u e s d a y , J a n u a r y 8, 2013
Section C
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four-leaf clobber Alabama dominates from the start to beat Notre Dame, claims third national championship in four years
staff photo | michelle lepianka carter
Alabama linebackers C.J. Mosley (32) and Adrian Hubbard (42) tackle Notre Dame running back Theo Riddick (6) during the first half of the BCS National Championship Game at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., on Monday night.
Tide comes out swinging, rolls to 15th national title
Alabama’s achievement deserves recognition
1) were thoroughly outmanned, clearly CHICK-FIL-A BOWL HEART OF DALLAS BOWL the slower and less talented team. Sports Editor Atlanta Dallas Dec. 31 Jan.1 The 28-point margin of victory was MIAMI GARDENS, F la . | Picture Al- the largest in BCS championship hisabama’s greatest moment in its previ- tory with the exception of Southern ous history with Notre Dame, Corne- California’s 55-19 win over Okalahoma lius Bennett’s crushing hit on Steve in 2005, a result that was later vaBeuerlein in 1986. Now imagine that cated. Alabama rolled through the Notre hit lasting not for a split second, but Dame defense on each of its first three for 60 minutes. That provides some idea of what possessions, accumulating more than OUTBACK BOWL happened Monday night. ROSE BOWL 200 yards in the first quarter alone. Tampa, Fla. Pasadena, Calif. Eddie Lacy scored the first Alabama Alabama (13-1) hit Notre Dame Jan. 1 Jan.with 1 Ferrari speed and Mack Truck force touchdown on a 20-yard run, capping in the BCS Championship Game, roll- an 82-yard touchdown march that being to a 42-14 victory and securing a gan when Notre Dame, after winning third Bowl Championship Series title the opening toss, deferred and chose to give UA the ball to start the game. in four years. A fter a three-and-out by Notre T he win was also the seventh straight national championship vic- Dame, Alabama went on a 61-yard tory for a Southeastern Conference march with Michael Williams of Reform capping the drive on a 3-yard team and perhaps the most impressive FIESTA BOWL COTTON BOWL Glendale, as the No. Ariz 1-ranked Fighting Irish (12Arlington, Texas See T ide | 8C Jan. 3 Jan. 4
page 5c tide offense:
Tide overwhelms No. 1-ranked Irish defense BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP New Orleans Jan. 7
quarter glance: Breakdown of each quarter
staff photo | robert sutton
Alabama running back Eddie Lacy holds The Coaches’ Trophy after the Crimson Tide beat Notre Dame for its third national title in four years and 15th overall.
page 6c numbers:
An inside look at the BCS title game
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. labama’s win over Notre Dame on Monday night was epic. Historic. And an afterthought. There is no way to underestimate the difficulty of repeating as champion in any NCA A sport, particularly football. The rarity of the achievement cries out for recognition. Tremendous mental focus and physical toughness is required. Alabama displayed those qualities from the opening minutes, not just of Monday night’s 42-14 win over Notre Dame but from the opening minutes of preparation last winter. Praise of such an accomplishment cannot be excesCecil sive. Hurt But the truth is, Alabama won the national championship in Atlanta. Once Alabama defeated Georgia in what was truly college football’s Game of the Year — to be fair, AlabamaLSU and Alabama-Texas A&M deserve votes for best game as well, but they lacked the postseason power of the SEC Championship Game — wise observers suspected that a BCS title would follow. See Hurt | 8C
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By Cecil Hurt
Tide defense:
Irish falls flat against relentless Tide defense
page 7c big impact:
Five plays that made the difference
notebook:
Tide’s Jones wins battle with Notre Dame’s Nix
analysis:
Tide coaches make all the right calls
online For video and a photo gallery of the BCS title game go to www.tidesports.com