Much ado about Notre Dame's 5-1 record against Alabama

[0LDSCH00L]

Much is being made about Notre Dames 5-1 record against Alabama in games that all took place over 25 years ago and some that go as far back as 40 years.

Here are the facts concerning those games for those of you that weren't around during that period that might help you understand the circumstances and meaning of those games.

First let me begin by saying that 2 of the 6 games we played against Notre Dame were for the National Championship. Those games took place in 1973 and 1975 in which Alabama lost to the Irish by a single point in 1973 and 2 points in 1975.

The other games were played in 1976 in one of Alabama's rare down years under Paul Bryant where we lost to the irish by 4 points at Notre Dame. The 1980 game was played just before Coach Bryant retired and died where we lost by just a single touchdown.

The 2 later games were in a rare home and home series post Coach Bryant in which we won at home with Pay Perkins as coach in 1986 and the loss came after Perkins left Alabama for Tampa Bay and we played at Notre Dame in Bill Curry's first year at Alabama in 1987.


The bottom line is that the 4 most important games that took place during the Bryant period were all lost by a grand total average of just 3.5 points per game.

That is why this game means so much and is so exciting to us Old-timers, it is a chance to set things right for Alabama and Coach Bryant.

Date		Opponent (record)	Result	Score		Site
11/14/1987	@	Notre Dame (8-4)	L	6	37
10/4/1986	vs.	Notre Dame (5-6)	W	28	10	@ Birmingham, AL
11/15/1980	vs.	Notre Dame (9-2-1)	L	0	7	@ Birmingham, AL
11/13/1976	@	Notre Dame (9-3)	L	18	21
1/1/1975	vs.	Notre Dame (10-2)	L	11	13	@ Miami, FL	Orange Bowl
12/31/1973	vs.	Notre Dame (11-0)	L	23	24	@ New Orleans, LA	Sugar Bowl

[TerryP]

There's nothing trivial about the loses we had to Notre Dame in my mind.

No bearing on this year, granted. But it's far, far from something I consider to be a waste of time considering.

[XXL TideFan]

Been sticking in my craw all of my life.

[planomateo]

Meh, we were 1-7-1 against Texas :)

Our record shouldn't impact how the team prepares...

[TerryP]

Meh, we were 1-7-1 against Texas :)

Our record shouldn't impact how the team prepares...

Our wanting to think about it and want a W over Notre Dame in the midst of a championship run?

Hey, neither you or I are putting the pads on!

[planomateo]

Our wanting to think about it and want a W over Notre Dame in the midst of a championship run?

Hey, neither you or I are putting the pads on!

oops, hit edit vs reply (damn iPhone...just kidding)

I guess I'm saying, who cares what our record is against ND. It didn't have anything to do with the outcome of the Texas game. Its a statistic that should have no bearing on the outcome of the game - unless the coaches spin the we have a record of 1-5 against ND.

I hope we give ND a heavy dose of Gump.

[bcracker]

In 1966, Alabama finished the season at 11-0. It was the year the Bear was trying for a 3-peat. Notre Dame and Michigan State finished 9-0-1. They tied each other during the regular season. Alabama was ranked #1 preseason. At the end of the year the powers that be ranked Notre Dame national champions, Michigan State #2 and Alabama #3. We were, of course ROBBED! A good slogan for this year would be, "Remember '66!"

[0LDSCH00L]

In 1966, Alabama finished the season at 11-0. It was the year the Bear was trying for a 3-peat. Notre Dame and Michigan State finished 9-0-1. They tied each other during the regular season. Alabama was ranked #1 preseason. At the end of the year the powers that be ranked Notre Dame national champions, Michigan State #2 and Alabama #3. We were, of course ROBBED! A good slogan for this year would be, "Remember '66!"

Ah yes, "The Missing Ring", one of the very best books I ever read...

Here is how Notre Dame ranks among the nation over the last 20 years:

Period: Last 20

Rank Team Total Points Win. Pct. Points Schedule Points Nat. Champs Points Big 4 Bowl Points 1 Florida 1322.38 538.57 498.81 150.00 135.00 2 Nebraska 1271.40 527.73 488.66 150.00 105.00 3 Florida St. 1248.38 522.11 476.27 100.00 150.00 4 Southern California 1208.33 490.89 517.44 100.00 100.00 5 Ohio St. 1154.62 539.58 435.03 50.00 130.00 6 Oklahoma 1130.37 491.11 494.27 50.00 95.00 7 Alabama 1126.54 439.39 472.15 150.00 65.00 8 Louisiana St. 1125.38 472.78 482.59 100.00 70.00 9 Texas 1097.88 510.36 462.52 50.00 75.00 10 Michigan 1084.94 492.54 452.40 50.00 90.00 11 Miami (FL) 1055.25 500.00 420.25 50.00 85.00 12 Tennessee 1050.50 490.00 475.50 50.00 35.00 13 Auburn (AL) 1043.91 483.74 480.17 50.00 30.00 14 Oregon 1032.00 481.78 490.22 0.00 60.00 15 Georgia 1006.28 487.75 478.53 0.00 40.00 16 Virginia Tech 983.92 516.73 377.19 0.00 90.00 17 Mount Union (OH) 977.38 670.11 157.28 150.00 0.00 18 Notre Dame (IN) 962.76 436.07 476.70 0.00 50.00

Below Mount Union?

[0LDSCH00L]

Here is how Notre Dame ranks over the last 5 years:

Period: Last 5

Rank Team Total Points Win. Pct. Points Schedule Points Nat. Champs Points Big 4 Bowl Points 1 Alabama 969.74 403.23 426.51 100.00 40.00 2 Louisiana St. 897.32 395.52 426.80 50.00 25.00 3 Oregon 885.53 401.52 449.01 0.00 35.00 4 Florida 868.79 373.13 415.65 50.00 30.00 5 Oklahoma 864.47 389.71 439.76 0.00 35.00 6 Southern California 849.55 390.63 428.93 0.00 30.00 7 Auburn (AL) 813.08 338.46 409.62 50.00 15.00 8 Texas 812.04 369.23 417.81 0.00 25.00 9 Oklahoma St. 802.04 369.23 417.81 0.00 15.00 10 Georgia 800.08 340.91 444.17 0.00 15.00 63 Notre Dame (IN) 564.43 253.97 310.46 0.00 0.00

Need I say more?

[0LDSCH00L]

And last but not least____ All TIME!

All Time Team Rankings

Rank Team Total Points Win. Pct. Points Schedule Points Nat. Champs Points Big 4 Bowl Points 1 Alabama 2396.24 709.86 846.39 510.00 330.00 2 Notre Dame (IN) 2284.98 730.96 844.02 475.00 235.00 3 Southern California 2234.19 703.32 780.87 395.00 355.00 4 Oklahoma 2185.75 715.31 800.44 350.00 320.00 5 Michigan 2135.78 734.14 886.64 235.00 280.00 6 Ohio St. 2089.31 713.15 801.16 280.00 295.00 7 Texas 2067.87 714.29 848.59 200.00 305.00 8 Nebraska 2057.22 703.45 803.77 250.00 300.00 9 Louisiana St. 1937.66 646.88 840.78 165.00 285.00 10 Tennessee 1828.23 687.03 781.20 130.00 230.00

http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data...m_rankings.php