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I think you are correct. Notre Dame is superior and has been superior to all SEC schools for at least 20 years. I just hope they don’t beat up on my Tide too much. They are not only the third youngest group of players in college football this year, but they are beat up and have so many players out with season ending injuries. I am amazed they have made it this far. I hope Notre Dame will have mercy. RTR

Please don't put words in my mouth. I did not say that they had been better for the last 20 years. Of course, like Alabama, they went through a downturn for a number of years. Davie, ugh, Willingham, who sooner would play golf than recruit, and Weis, who knew a little something about offense but not defense, and all three had disastrous third years. Notre Dame fans . . . . who are everywhere . . . suffered terribly. Brian Kelly, however, is not only a good coach, with 8 wins in each of his first two years, 12 this year, but he has also built the foundation of a top-level program. His recruiting class right now, for next year, is stellar, top-ranked in fact, trailed by Michigan, USC, Texas A&M. Seven of his commitments are guys who had offers from Bama, by the way. And the 2014 class is looking good, already, too.

I will say, however, that there is one area in which Notre Dame is clearly superior, because they live and breathe under one handicap that most of its opponents do not: a belief that excellence in football and academics are compatible. And other schools resent them for it. ND gives 4-year scholarships, too. Saban gives 1 year scholarships. SEC fans are actually saying ND has an unfair advantage and are outraged that ND has players who actually go to school for all 4 years so they can graduate. It's just not fair! And believe me, there is no underwater basket-weaving at ND. Nor remedial reading. Every freshman takes calculus. But, the high standard is good for college football. The resentment isn't.

Sorry so many of your guys are beat up. Making excuses already? I should think that with the sheer depth Bama has on the bench, you'd have no worries. But, yes, we will have mercy. When we are about to run up the score from your two yard line at game's end, we'll show a little class and take a knee. I doubt that Bama would do the same.