Sports

Alabama hammers Notre Dame for third title in four seasons

VICTORY BATH: Alabama players douse head coach Nick Saban with Gatorade after the Crimson Tide’s 42-14 victory over Notre Dame in the BCS championship game last night in Miami. (Reuters)

BUSS STOP: Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron kisses the Coaches’ Trophy after leading the Crimson Tide to another national championship with their 42-14 victory over Notre Dame. (AP)

MIAMI — When the second quarter began with the football on the Notre Dame 1-yard line and Alabama’s foot pressing on the throat of the Fighting Irish, there was a strange quiet in Sun Life Stadium.

It was the hush one hears when a serious injury has been suffered or a stock car has slammed into a wall.

This had been a season for the ages for Notre Dame — the first undefeated one since 1988 — but after 15 minutes of being pounded by the Crimson Tide, it was obvious that the better team was on the other sideline, that Notre Dame was not destiny’s team, that all the luck in the world couldn’t help the Irish this night.

When T.J. Yeldon bulldozed over the goal line for a 21-0 lead — the second rushing touchdown against a defense that had allowed two rushing touchdowns all season — there was one undisputed truth in college football.

Alabama, now with 15 claimed championships, has set a new standard. The Tide are the team to beat, a program for the ages, the most dominating force known in the modern era of college football.

Despite losing eight players to the NFL Draft from last season’s title squad, the Tide became the first team since Nebraska in 1994-95 to repeat as national champions. It was their third title in four years, and, truth be told, coach Nick Saban believes the 2010 squad that didn’t win the title underachieved.

But last night the Tide stamped themselves in history with a 42-14 triumph. They join Bear Bryant’s 1964-65 and 1978-79 teams as repeat champions.

“Their legacy as a team sort of gets defined by what they were able to accomplish this season,’’ Saban said.

’Bama (13-1) did it with a brutal, physical defense, a punishing running game and a pinpoint quarterback in AJ McCarron (20-of-28 for 264 yards, four touchdowns, no interceptions).

“We recruit guys that want to play in the last game of the year and play in BCS games every year,’’ defensive tackle Damion Square said.

If so simple, why can’t other programs do it?

There are several answers, but none more paramount than Saban. His attention to detail and to staying ahead of the curve is relentless.

“I think it’s pretty special what we accomplished,’’ Saban said. “One of these days when I’m sitting by the side of the hill, watching the stream go by, maybe I’ll figure it out.’’

The Tide, coming off a 38-day layoff, played with astounding mental sharpness, committing no turnovers and just one penalty in the first half. Notre Dame (12-1), coming off a 45-day layoff, was called for three damaging penalties in the first quarter and muffed a punt in the second.

The Irish, seeking their 12th national championship but first since 1988, found out quickly how badly they were overmatched. ’Bama took the opening kickoff and needed just five plays and two ND penalties to drive 82 yards.

Eddie Lacy turned a second-and-3 into a 20-yard touchdown run. The Tide forced a three-and-out, and when the Irish were called for interference on the fair catch, ’Bama went back to work at its 39.

Lacy, running left behind guard Chance Warmack, tackle Cyrus Kouandijo and center Barrett Jones, who reportedly took a cortisone shot in his left foot that was injured in the SEC title game, crunched back down the field.

On first-and-goal at the 3, the Irish defense, which twice won games with aggressive goal-line stands, needed a big stop. It didn’t happen. McCarron perfectly executed a play-action pass and hit wide-open tight end Michael Williams in the end zone for a 14-0 lead.

Notre Dame finally picked up a first down on its third drive, but had to punt. ’Bama, mixing the run and pass, drove to the ND 1.

When the quarter ended the scoreboard in Sun Life Stadium flashed a message congratulating Notre Dame on having the No. 1 graduation rate in college football. Earlier this year a clever Notre Dame fan mocked the SEC with a sign that read, “SEC, This is What a Library Looks Like.”

The SEC, of which Alabama is a member, now boasts the last seven national champions. It’s not as if Notre Dame didn’t come to play, it just couldn’t compete.

“You need to see what it looks like,’’ said Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly. “When I say, know what it looks, a championship football team. They’re back-to-back national champs. So that’s what it looks like. Measure yourself against that.’’

People will be measuring themselves against Alabama for a long time — maybe forever.

lenn.robbins@nypost.com