Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/98978
Note: Because the AP and UPI did not vote after bowls back then, Alabama was declared the national title winner by those polls, while Notre Dame won the MacArthur Bowl from the National Football Foundation, also emblematic of a national title. information on his r��sum��. Alabama: Veteran head coach Mike Price is hired in December 2002, but is fired before he coaches a game because of a drinking binge in Pensacola, Fla. Both O���Leary and Price were born in 1946. 1964-80: Glory Days Notre Dame: Irish alumnus Weis is hired after working as an NFL offensive assistant. He comes from an esteemed NFL pedigree (Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick), is given a 10-year contract extension in 2005, never beats his archrival (USC) and finishes 26-24 in his last four seasons with one 10-win campaign. Alabama: Crimson Tide alumnus Shula is hired after working as an NFL offensive assistant. He comes from an esteemed NFL pedigree (Don Shula), is given a six-year contract extension in 2005, never beats his archrival (Auburn) and finishes 26-23 in his four seasons with one 10-win campaign. Notre Dame: 148-33-5 (.809) record with three AP national titles. Alabama: 165-32-4 (.831) record with four AP national titles. Note: The Irish were 4-0 against Alabama during this stretch. Third-Year Turnaround Notre Dame: In 1988, third-year head coach Lou Holtz posts a 12-0 record with a ground-oriented attack, highlighted by a victory over No. 1 and defending national champ Miami. Alabama: In 1992, third-year head coach Gene Stallings posts a 12���0 record with a ground-oriented attack, highlighted by a victory over No.�� 1 and defending national champ Miami. 1997: On The Defensive Notre Dame: Irish defensive coordinator Bob Davie is hired as a first-time head coach to succeed Holtz, but is fired after five years. Alabama: Tide defensive coordinator Mike DuBose is hired as a first-time head coach to succeed Stallings, but is fired after four years. Hired ��� But Never Coached Notre Dame: Veteran head coach George O���Leary is hired in December 2001, but is fired before he coaches a game because of the revelation of false Charlie Weis & Mike Shula 2008: Recruiting Renaissance Notre Dame: Its recruiting class is ranked No. 2, to Alabama, but moves to No. 1 in some services after the summer when several Crimson Tide players become ineligible. Alabama: Its recruiting class is the consensus No. 1, until the Irish slip ahead in some services later that year. In 2009, Alabama did its part to turn around its sagging fortunes on the field over the last decade by winning the national title under third-year head coach Saban. Will Notre Dame follow suit in 2012 under third-year head coach Kelly? ���