Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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Victory ��� And Spoils Notre Dame has cost Alabama numerous national titles I By Lou Somogyi n the Notre DameUSC rivalry that stretches back to 1926, the enmity of Fighting Irish fans toward USC stems in large part from the 1964-80 era when the Trojans ruined four national title runs by Notre Dame. The 9-0 Irish teams in 1964 and 1970 both lost at Los Angeles in the regular-season finale, as did the No.�� 2 and 9-0-1 unit in 1980. The 1974 Notre Dame crew was 9���1 and on the cusp of playing 11-0 Alabama in a rematch for the national title after taking a 24-0 lead ��� only to lose 55-24. Now you know how Alabama fans might feel about Notre Dame. During those nearly same stretch of years ��� 1966-80 ��� the Fighting Irish cost the Crimson Tide five national titles, consensus or otherwise. The Missing Ring In 1966, Alabama was attempting to become the first program ever to win three consecutive national titles since the advent of the Associated Press poll in 1936. It began No. 1, finished unbeaten and untied (11-0), including a 34-7 Sugar Bowl win against Nebraska ��� but finished No.��3 to Notre Dame and Michigan State, who had played to a 10-10 tie Nov. 19. Two factors came into play. One was that northern football was generally deemed a cut above the East and South. Only seven Alabama players were taken in the ensuing two NFL drafts, whereas Notre Dame had 16, half of them in the first three rounds. Second, popular belief held that the segregation policies that still existed in the South (football teams in the SEC wouldn���t be integrated until the early 1970s) were held against teams from the region. When Notre Dame and Michigan State ��� the Spartans had four of the top eight players selected in the 1967 NFL Draft ��� remained Nos. 1-2 in the polls after their tie, the outrage was palpable, including signs in the Alabama stands the next week that read, ���Bama Plays Football; ND Plays Politics.��� Even Alabama head coach Paul ���Bear��� Bryant, always a gracious sportsman in victory or