Alabama and Notre Dame: Then and now

MIAMI (WALA) -  

It’s a historic matchup between two teams, both of which have a successful past. It's the BCS national championship game between number 1 Notre Dame and number 2 Alabama, and it’s getting closer and closer.

On Monday, Jan. 7, Sun Life Stadium will be filled with thousands of fans and Jim Carroll is one of them.

“It will be exciting to see them in the stadium. A lot of rich traditions, a lot of great rivalry to live up to for this game,” said Carrol.

Carroll grew up in Fort Lauderdale but Alabama is close to his heart.

He graduated from the school in 1989 and experienced Alabama's first and only win against the fighting Irish in 1986.

The 1986 Alabama vs. Note Dame Game is one etched in many Bama fans' memories. It's the only time Alabama came away with a win against Notre Dame.

“It was at Legion field, it was a nice crisp cool Southern night. We're all dressed up in kakis and blue blazers back then at school and hasdour dates with us,” said Carroll. “I just remember the great times we had playing Notre Dame and Penn State and other schools we normally don't play today.”

This go round, Carroll's looking forward to seeing the seniors play in the last game of the season and he’s hoping it will be an awarding experience for the team and the fans.

He said it’s hard to compare the 1986 team to the current one. With different coaches and players, there’s going to be some changes in how the game is played at executed. But at the end of the day there’s one rivalry, one football game, and one Champion. Carroll just hopes it’s Alabama.

“Because of the tradition, because of the history of the two teams, I think this is going to be the biggest game ever,” Carroll said.

He’s very Alabama’s Alumni’s Fort Lauderdale chapter president. He said there are several events going on until the national championship game including several watch parties in the area.

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