Alabama-Notre Dame: A Showdown of Respect

Number 1. Number 2. 25 combined national championships combined.  Teams will not play for the national championship on January 7^th, 2013, no, college football royalty will fight it out for the crown jewel of the college football season.

In looking at Alabama and Notre Dame it is eerie how similar these two teams really are. Prestigious programs who have seen their share of glory days and moments at the foot of the mountain.  However, just as they had in the past, in their glory years decades ago each finds themselves atop the college football mountain at the same exact time.

With trophy cases seemingly filled to capacity, it is hard to argue that there are two more beloved and hated college football programs in the country. But, just as the emotions have always stayed the same, respect from college football fans across the country has never wavered.

Don Criqui, the radio play-by-play voice for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish joined The Game, Thursday evening and was quick to point out, the respect their program has for the Crimson Tide dates way back-honoring on of Alabama’s greats.

Through the years Notre Dame has faced its share of success and ridicule.  In 2008 Brian Kelly was named the head coach of Notre Dame, finishing 8-5 in his first two seasons.  Now, in year three Kelly has finished with a perfect 12-0 record, recapturing the respect of the country while reinforcing the Irish’s respect of their opponents.  Criqui says that will be a big reason why Notre Dame won’t overlook Alabama.

The Game is Tuscaloosa’s only daily sports talk program featuring Ryan Fowler and Mick Gillispie.  The show airs Monday-Friday on Tuscaloosa’s Sports Authority, 99.1 WDGM. The entire interview can be found here.