Ralph D. Russo | Jan. 2, 2013 | Associated Press
MIAMI (AP) — At a time when college football was generally considered the domain of eastern blue bloods, Notre Dame and Alabama were upstart teams that gave blue collar fans a chance to tweak the elite.
About 90 years later, the Fighting Irish and Crimson Tide are the elite — two of college football's signature programs, set to play a national championship next Monday in Miami that could break records for television viewership.
No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 1 Notre Dame. Even casual sports fans understand this is a college football classic.