I am an avid Alabama Crimson Tide fan. I graduated from the University of Alabama many years ago. Since the BCS National Championship was played in Miami this year, I was excited to be able to go to the game. I was equally excited when the Crimson Tide won the national championship and beat Notre Dame. I had a very bad experience going to Notre Dame for a game when I was a student at the University of Alabama. So, it was doubly gratifying to win the game this year.
There was a
n interesting article recently on the website, “Fansided,” that was titled, Nick Saban Inspires Brian Kelly to have Notre Dame focus on Special Teams. The bottom line of the article was that Brian Kelly realized that Alabama had its best players playing each aspect of the game to include special teams. Many teams put the second stringers on their special teams. Alabama had its starters playing on special teams and Notre Dame did not. So from the get-go Notre Dame was behind. Brian Kelly was quoted in the article saying, “I want starters to be part of our special teams units…we’re going to be about it in the spring to really put our best players on special teams.”
Brian Kelly is obviously a life-long learner. Just because he’s become the head coach of the storied Notre Dame program, he has not stopped learning. I admire that in anyone.
The writer of Proverbs says, Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man, and he will learn more. Proverbs 9:9 I’ve met a lot of men who thought they knew everything about a subject and weren’t willing to learn something new. I’ve met them in the military, in the ministry, and in organizations I’ve been a part of. If a man is not willing to admit he doesn’t know everything in a certain area and become a learner, even when he’s arrived at one of the positions at the pinnacle of his profession, he’s destined to fail again and again.
I don’t think Brian Kelly will make the same mistake twice. My hope is that I’ll never be arrogant enough to think I can’t learn from someone else. And my hope is that if Alabama meets Notre Dame in another athletic contest that Alabama will win again!
Bull in a China Shop! 
My hope also is that if The Crimson Tide meets Notre Dame in any contest – we will prevail.
I appreciated your post. I had the fortune of seeing the Alabama Crimson Tide defeat Notre Dame in Birmingham in 1986 (when Cornelius Bennett totally annihilated Steve Beuerlein) in a 28-10 victory – and then we decided that a road trip was in order. So we went to Chicago in 1987 – we saw the Sears Tower, we visited the Stock Exchange, and we took in a Chicago Bulls game (where Michael Jordan was playing – another story for another day) and then we went to South Bend Indiana. Oh my – that was not fun. We lost 37-6 and my best friend stated with 2 minutes to go in the game “Guys, I am about to do something I haven’t done since the 1972 Orange Bowl – – – I am about to leave an Alabama Game Early”. And so we bolted. We ended up in a fine Chicago restaurant and had a really fine steak dinner. That didn’t ease the pain – but it was a good steak. SO – This years victory was especially enjoyable. Thanks John.
Hey Jim,
Thanks for commenting. I enjoy connecting with you here. When I went to the ND game in my sophomore year at Alabama, the ND fans were very rude to us; “Go back home you damn southerners.” I made sure when I was at the BCS National Championship this year that I treated all the ND fans around us with respect and dignity. Even though they wore shirts that said, “Domers vs. the Moblehomers and Catholics vs. Cousins.” But, I can’t lie, I was pleased to see them lose and us win! Roll Tide!!