MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Buttoned down in a gray suit, white shirt and Crimson bow tie, AJ McCarron, the quarterback with “Bama Boy” tattooed on his chest and Miss Alabama on his arm, arrived at Sun Life Stadium Monday a reformed riverboat gambler.
He walked out Monday night the picture of piercing efficiency, having thrown four touchdown passes and collecting his second consecutive crystal ball.
Led by McCarron, Alabama leveled Notre Dame, 42-14, and elevated itself to dynastic status with its third national championship in four years under coach Nick Saban.
He walked out Monday night the picture of piercing efficiency, having thrown four touchdown passes and collecting his second consecutive crystal ball.
Led by McCarron, Alabama leveled Notre Dame, 42-14, and elevated itself to dynastic status with its third national championship in four years under coach Nick Saban.
IRISH BLOWOUT IS NOTRE SHAME
Afterward, atop a dais on the field, Saban lifted his ban on use of the word “repeat.”
“Whether I look it or not, I’m happy as hell,” Saban said.
McCarron’s offense undressed Notre Dame over the opening 30 minutes.
First came the runs.
Tailback Eddie Lacy ducked, dipped and danced into the second level of defenders, devastating them with an uncommon balance of patience and punishing hits. Then came the long balls, leather spirals lofted by McCarron that dropped over defensive backs’ heads and into the sure hands of Amari Cooper and Kevin Norwood.
By halftime, Lacy had logged 96 rushing yards, with McCarron tallying 156 yards to go with two touchdowns passes. It was 28-0 then, and Notre Dame’s condition never improved.
“We couldn’t get off the field,” Irish coach Brian Kelly said.
Billed as “Catholics vs. Baptists” and “Rudy vs. Forrest Gump,” the matchup resembled a varsity team tutoring it jayvee counterparts. Ranked No. 1 in the nation according to the BCS calculations, the Irish entered as double-digit underdogs despite a 12-0 record. Vegas had drawn the line between Alabama’s relentless talent and Notre Dame’s close calls in wins over Pittsburgh and Stanford. No. 2 Alabama, meanwhile, entered at 12-1, tested by the powerful SEC.
The Irish insisted they belonged, but fell fast and hard. Once the waves of Alabama’s attack came crashing down, Notre Dame proved unable to stem the Tide.
