Alabama's hatred of Notre Dame runs long, deep

Yahoo Sports ^ | Jan 4, 2013 12:21 AM EST | Pat Forde

[Hoodat]

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Jeremy Pike is a 37-year-old native and resident of Tuscaloosa, Ala. Like all proper fans of the Alabama Crimson Tide, he maintains an abiding hatred of Southeastern Conference rivals Auburn and Tennessee.

But there is a third member of his unholy fan trinity, and always has been.

"Oh, I hate Notre Dame," Pike said. "I never pull for them."

On Nov. 3, Pike and about 50 other Alabama fans were in Louisiana getting ready to watch the Tide play LSU – the most anticipated game of the year. But before the game, they were glued to the TV screaming for Pittsburgh to upset Notre Dame. All of them.

"Notre Dame, Auburn and Tennessee, I can't pull for them ever," Pike said. "I can't put them in order; it just depends on the year and what's at stake."

What's at stake next week is the national championship, and the opponent is the Fighting Irish. So for now, they are No. 1 on Pike's Enemies List.

He has a lot of company.

For two schools that haven't played each other in 25 years, and have met just six times in history, there is a very active contempt between the powerhouses. And for a whole host of reasons that extend far beyond this particular matchup, the hate seems to flow with particular fervor from South to North. . . .

[Hoodat]

There are still stop signs in Tuscaloosa that show 'NOTRE DAME' in white stenciled in under the word 'STOP'.

[EEGator]

The SEC will win the championship...again.

[BenLurkin]

No reason to hate.

But Notre Dame does NOT belong in the “Championship”

It plays too easy a schedule.

[Hoodat]

SEC 2012 season Bowl record so far:

• SEC #1 v. Independent #1
• SEC #2 beats Big Ten #2
• SEC #3 loses to Big East #1
• SEC #4 beats Big Ten #4
• SEC #5 loses to ACC #2
• SEC #6 beats Big Twelve #2
• SEC #7 beats ACC #6
• SEC #8 loses to Big Ten #3
• SEC #9 is beating Big East #5

[blam]

I think the word hate is used a little to often.

-Roll Tide-

[BenLurkin]

After that game last night, I’m thinking that the “Championship” should be played between Oregon and Texas A&M.

[blam]

"After that game last night, I’m thinking that the “Championship” should be played between Oregon and Texas A&M."

The seniors on the Alabama team already have TWO championship rings (2009/2011), this could be their third.

What can be said for the seniors at Oregon or A&M?

[EEGator]

Texas A&M lost 2 games in the SEC and didn’t play in the conference championship. Alabama and Oregon each had one loss, but UA gets the nod on strength of schedule. It’s a season long rating, not just who is currently playing best. (T-A&M)

[BenLurkin]

Alabama is going to crush Ntre Dame.

[Hoodat]

I'm sitting here rolling through Youtube videos, and came across what is in my opinion the greatest play ever - George Teague taking the ball away from Lamar Thomas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1umT1OAnAc0

[oh8eleven]

It plays too easy a schedule.
A quick hop around the Internet and I found 3-4 sites (like this one ) listing ND's pre-season 2012 schedule anywhere from 1st to 8th hardest.
I don't think that's "too easy."

[OldNavyVet]

Notre Dame's new coach is making a big difference in their football teams performance. Provoing to some extene that great coaches turn out great teams.

The coming Alabama - Notre Dame game is today's equivalent to the Super Bowl game.

[hinckley buzzard]

Notre Dame is like the Yankees. If you don't hate them you're not a true sports fan.

[hinckley buzzard]

That would have been a great game to see. A&M was very impressive.

[BwanaNdege]

“...listing ND’s pre-season 2012 schedule anywhere from 1st...”

My boys at Georgia Tech (6-7 going into the game) beat USC, Preseason - Week 2 #1) worse than Notre Dame did.

GT 21 - USC 7
ND 22 - USC 13

Preseason does not always mean much.

[logitech]

Here’s an abbreviated video of Bama/Notre Dame 1973 Sugar Bowl in Tulane stadium.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_v6UPz8d9sI

[vetvetdoug]

I'd have more sympathy or support for ND if the sports media wouldn't write about them like they do. The Sports Media to ND are like the MSM is to Obama. I hope that Alabama destroys ND where there is not one iota of certainty that they were far too good of a team for ND to have been selected to play in the game. I'd like to see a score of somewhere in the range of 70-14.

[Fiji Hill]

My boys at Georgia Tech (6-7 going into the game) beat USC, Preseason - Week 2 #1) worse than Notre Dame did.

That Trojan team that showed up in El Paso couldn't have beaten Whittier High School. Coach Lane "Unabomber" Kiffin and his boss, Athletic Director Benedict Alger Haden--a Trojan football hero turned Domer fan--have got to go.

[FreeReign]

"When you rank in the bottom five in the nation … in almost every quality-of-life category, and get hammered in the national media about how backward you are,..."

The state of Alabama didn't vote for Obama. "Backward" are the states that did.

[Fiji Hill]

I might root for Notre Dame--if they played Gaza Islamic, Patrice Lumumba, Havana or Harvard.