Alabama trounces Notre Dame in BCS Championship
Notre Dame’s incredible undeseted season is over. At the BCS Championship game on Monday night, Alabama blew out the Irish, 42-14. It was a change for Alabama, who in their previous two national championships didn’t allow a touchdown.
The University of Alabama had their third championship in four years locked up by halftime, leading Notre Dame by a score of 28-0. For the Irish, who came into the game ranked number one in the county, that was just demoralizing. Notre Dame’s season was the incredible run from a school that hasn’t seen a title since the 1980’s. They garnered fans from east to west for their heart will to win. However, it seems that it just wasn’t meant to be. Alabama came in fast and strong, never giving Notre Dame a chance to catch up.
The offensive duo of quarterback AJ McCarron and Eddie Lacy seemed to seal the deal for the crimson tide. McCarron completed 20 of 28 passes, four of which were for touchdowns, with 264 total yards. Lacy had 140 yards on 20 carries and had two touchdowns–running for one, catching for the other.
Lacy delivered a touchdown for the Crimson Tide on their first drive of the game. This was Notre Dame’s first first-quarter touchdown allowed all season.
Of the way they felt at halftime, Notre Dame guard Chris Watt said, “It felt like we were sinking in quicksand, we couldn’t get out of it.”
Alabama kicked off the second half with another touchdown, making the score 35-0 before Notre Dame could at last put something on the board. Everett Golson ran the ball 2 yards into the end zone, giving Notre Dame it’s first points of the game. Alabama, however, answered almost immediately with another touchdown, the nail in the coffin for the Irish.
Alabama head coach Nick Saban told reporters after the game that he was proud of his team.
“We’ve had a lot of really great football players who’ve worked really hard,” Saban said. “Because we’ve had a great team, we’ve been able to have a significant amount of success.”
For fans of the Irish, the routing was heartbreaking. No one expected them to be in this position at the beginning of the season. It was like they had luck and magic on their side. For Crimson Tide fans, it seemed like business as usual. This is what they’ve come to expect from their team in the last four years–big championship wins.
