Latest title says Bama is greatest by number

Posted: Tuesday, January 8, 2013 7:00 pm

By RALPH D. RUSSO
AP College Writer
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Alabama is No. 1 at being No. 1.
The Crimson Tide (13-1) was voted national champion by The Associated Press for the ninth time, more than any other program in college football, after routing Notre Dame 42-14 on Monday night.
Notre Dame, No. 1 coming into the BCS championship, dropped to No. 4.
The Tide entered the title game with as many AP titles as the Fighting Irish, and emphatically broke the tie for first. It’s Alabama’s second straight title and third in four years. The only other team to win three AP titles in four seasons was Notre Dame from 1946-49.
“It won’t sink in until everything settles down,” Alabama senior linebacker Nico Johnson said. “To play for three national championships in my career … that’s special.”
Alabama finished No. 1 five times under Paul “Bear” Bryant during his 25 years as coach, and Gene Stalling coached to the Crimson Tide to another championship in 1992.
Saban is now more than halfway to matching the Bear in six seasons as Alabama coach.
The Tide received all 59 of the first-place votes in the final media poll of the season, and will be a candidate to start next season No. 1. This season Alabama started second, was ranked No. 1 for 10 weeks before losing to Texas A&M in November and falling to fourth.
The Tide quickly moved back to No. 2 and for the second straight season beat No. 1 in the BCS title game to finish on top.
Oregon (12-1) finished second, matching its best final ranking from 2001.
Published in The Messenger 1.8.13