Alabama football and the word destiny seem to go together.
The Crimson Tide (12-1 overall) faced its toughest test against Georgia (11-2 overall) in the Southeastern Conference Championship game, narrowly escaping with a 32-28 victory.
In a game that featured six lead changes, including three in the fourth quarter, Alabama found a way to make one more play than its opponent.
The Tide pounded away at Georgia’s defense for an SEC Championship record of 350 rushing yards. Most of the damage was done behind right tackle D.J. Fluker and right guard Anthony Steen.
“Up front, we’re based on pride,” Steen said. “We look at each other, and we know we’re about to get a first down. We’re looking in the other guy’s eyes, and they know they can’t stop us. That feeds me and D.J.”
Eddie Lacy earned the honor of Most Valuable Player with his 181 yards and two-touchdown performance. Lacy averaged an otherworldly 9.1 yards a carry, showing speed, power and toughness throughout the game.
“I came a long way from the surgeries and the offseason injuries, and to be able to come out and be the MVP of the game is a great feeling,” Lacy said. “I thank God for it, because without him, I wouldn’t be able to do that or accomplish things I have.”
Two of the biggest plays of the game came from true freshmen. On a third-and-five in the fourth quarter, T.J. Yeldon got just enough to pick up the first down. On the following play, Amari Cooper got loose for the 45-yard go-ahead touchdown, putting the Tide up for good.
“It’s a dream come true,” Cooper, who finished with seven receptions, 162 yards and a touchdown, said. “This is the stage I dreamed of being on in high school. That’s why I came to Alabama.”
Cooper’s touchdown set up a national championship matchup even Hollywood producers couldn’t have scripted. Alabama clinched its spot by winning the SEC Championship, but it was made official Sunday when the final BCS standings were announced.
No. 1 Notre Dame (12-0 overall) will face No. 2 Alabama in the 2013 Discover BCS National Championship Game on Monday, January 7, 2013, at Sun Life Stadium in Miami, Fla. The game will be televised by ESPN and will kick off at 7:30 p.m. (CST).
The two have met six times in their storied histories but will be meeting for the first time since 1987. Notre Dame owns a 5-1-0 series lead over the Crimson Tide, with two of the games taking place in the postseason.
The teams first met in the 1973 Sugar Bowl, when the Irish won a memorable 24-23 verdict over the Crimson Tide in a game that decided that season’s national championship. The squads matched up again following the next season with Notre Dame squeaking past Alabama, 13-11, in the 1975 Orange Bowl game to cap the 1974 season. Alabama and Notre Dame met in regular season contests in 1976 (a 21-18 Notre Dame win at South Bend, Ind.), 1980 (a 7-0 Notre Dame win in Birmingham, Ala.), 1986 (a 28-10 Alabama victory in Birmingham) and 1987 (a 37-6 Notre Dame win in South Bend).
“The opportunity to play in our second straight BCS Championship Game is special,” linebacker C.J. Mosley said. “One of the goals that we set for this team at the beginning of each season is to play for a national championship. It has not been easy this season, and there are several different times we could have let the opportunity slip away, but we pulled together, fought through adversity and found a way to make it to Miami.”
