Cavalier Corner Digital

✦ News & notes DaVaris Daniels began contact work Dec. 28 after missing the last two games because of a broken clavicle suffered in the second half of the 21-6 victory at Boston College Nov. 10. He had surgery the next day and was projected to be out for six weeks, but he responded well to contact after first partaking in light workouts in early December. Daniels is fourth on the team in receptions with 25, and his 15.0 yards per catch average is the best among Irish players with at least eight catches. His vertical threat could be a pivotal X-factor. "We'll be fine with him," Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly said. "I'm certain that he'll play a role in the game." The one trouble spot health-wise is the No.  2 offensive line. Because freshman left tackle Ronnie Stanley, sophomore center Matt Hegarty and junior right tackle Tate Nichols are all sidelined with season-ending injuries, sophomore Nick Martin is the third option at either tackle spot, while classmate Conor Hanratty has the same role at guard. Should fifthyear senior starter Braxston Cave get injured at center, classmate and right guard Sophomore wide receiver DaVaris Daniels, who missed two games because of a broken clavicle suffered in the second half at Boston College Nov. 10, is expected to play in the national championship game. photo by lon horwedel Miscellaneous Notes • The Associated Press poll began in 1936, and Notre Dame and Alabama are tied at No. 1 for most AP national titles with eight apiece. The Fighting Irish were AP champions in 1943, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1966, 1973, 1977 and 1988, while the Crimson Tide captured the title in 1961, 1964, 1965, 1978, 1979, 1992, 2009 and 2011. In terms of consensus titles recognized by the NCAA, Notre Dame has 11 (1924, 1929 and 1930 to go with the aforementioned eight) and Alabama 10, with 1925 and 1926 included with the other eight. The Crimson Tide advertises 14 national titles, but those either aren't consensus titles or ones officially recognized by the NCAA. If Notre Dame did the same, it Alabama's Nick Saban is attempting could advertise 21 national titles since 1919. to become only the second coach • Since the start of the Bowl Championship Series era in ever to win his first four meetings 1998, Alabama is the fourth program that will attempt to against Notre Dame (he led Michigan repeat as national champs. All of the previous three lost: State to wins from 1997‑99). photo courtesy alabama Florida State (1999) lost to Oklahoma in 2000, Miami (2001) fell to Ohio State in 2002 and USC (2004) was vanquished by Texas in 2005. • The Fighting Irish are 0-3 in BCS games, losing 41-9 to Oregon State in the 2001 Fiesta Bowl, 34-20 to Ohio State in the 2006 Fiesta Bowl and 41-14 to LSU in the 2007 Sugar Bowl. Twenty-nine different programs have won a BCS game — but Notre Dame is not among them. • The Crimson Tide is gunning for its third national title in four years. Only two other programs have achieved that feat since the advent of the AP poll. Notre Dame accomplished it from 1946-49 under head coach Frank Leahy, while Nebraska did the same from 1994-97 under Tom Osborne, with the '97 title a split decision. • Notre Dame is attempting to become the first team since Brigham Young in 1984 to go from unranked in the Associated Press poll at the start of the season to No. 1 at the finish. Clemson also achieved the feat in 1981. • Alabama's Nick Saban is attempting to become only the second coach ever to record a 4‑0 ledger against Notre Dame after winning his first three versus the Fighting Irish (1997‑99) as Michigan State's boss. He would join Ara Parseghian, who did it at Northwestern from 1959-62. • Notre Dame is 4-0-1 in its five No. 1-versus-No. 2 matchups when the Fighting Irish were ranked No. 1 by the AP. The victories were against both Michigan and Iowa Pre-Flight in 1943, USC in 1988 and Michigan in 1989, with the tie versus Michigan State in 1966. • Sophomore Everett Golson joins Hall-of-Famer Bob Williams, who helped the Irish to the 1949 national title, as the only two Irish quarterbacks to win their first 10 starts. If Golson directs the victory against the Crimson Tide, he would tie Williams' standard for most consecutive wins as a starter at the beginning of his career. • Junior wideout TJ Jones and sophomore guard Conor Hanratty could become part of the third father-son tandem to win a football national title at Notre Dame. Jones' father, Andre Jones, who passed away in 2011, was a sophomore outside linebacker on the '88 unit. Terry Hanratty was the sophomore starting quarterback for the '66 champs. The first we know of is 1949 Heisman winner Leon Hart and son Kevin, a backup tight end for the 1977 national champs. ✦ Page 10

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