ATLANTA — One of the most bitingly clever signs to appear at a college football game this season was paraded around South Bend, Ind., in mid-September.
A creative Notre Dame fan proudly held up his placard, which read: “SEC, this is what a library looks like.’’
The SEC’s answer came yesterday: “Notre Dame, this is what a BCS National Championship team looks like.”
That team looks like Alabama — a squad with a monstrous offensive line that paved the way for an SEC Championship Game record 350 yards rushing in the Crimson Tide’s 32-28 win over Georgia in the Georgia Dome.
“We’re a dominant offensive line,’’ said Alabama tackle Cyrus Koulanduo. “We’re all power.’’
Power to the BCS. It has a matchup for the ages.
It has No. 1 Notre Dame (12-0), America’s Team, versus No. 2 Alabama (12-1), the marquee team from America’s top conference, a league which has claimed six straight national champs. Notre Dame owns 11 national titles; Alabama 14.
The game is Jan. 7 in Miami Gardens, Fla. The worst tickets for that night at Sun Life Stadium were going for $1,665, so good luck with attending that game.
It took an SEC title game for the ages to set up Notre Dame-Alabama. Georgia’s last possession ended on the Alabama 5 when time expired.
The clock management by the Bulldogs (11-2) in the final minute was the only flaw in a riveting contest. A 23-yard pass from Aaron Murray to Tavarres King gave Georgia a first down and a dead ball at the Alabama 34 with 30 seconds left, but the Bulldogs, with no time outs left, weren’t ready to snap it and didn’t try to spike it. Nine precious seconds ticked off before a 26-yard pass to Arthur Lynch got the ball to the 8. Again, the Dawgs let the clock run, and when Murray’s final pass was tipped and caught by Chris Conley at the 3, the clock ran out.
“Someone just asked me what I thought the difference in the game was,’’ said Georgia coach Mark Richt. “We just ran out of time.’’
And the Dawgs couldn’t stop the run. Alabama’s Eddie Lacy (181 yards and two touchdowns) averaged 9.1 yards on 20 carries. Freshman T.J. Yeldon added 153 yards.
Can the Fighting Irish do better against the Tide? They were fifth in the nation in rushing defense this season, allowing a meager 92 yards per game.
“I wouldn’t bet against my offensive line in any situation,’’ said Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron, whose 45-yard touchdown pass to Amari Cooper with 3:15 left was the difference. “That’s the faith I have in my guys. It’s nothing against Notre Dame.’’
While the Irish looked on from South Bend, they saw a remarkable game. Georgia led 7-0, trailed 10-7 at the half, rallied to go ahead 21-10 on a blocked field goal that was returned 50 yards in the third quarter, fell behind 25-21 and regained the lead at 28-25.
By the time McCarron, who said he was given the green light to check to a run on every play in the second half, surveyed the field on first-and-10 late in the fourth, he saw enough Dawgs in the box to open a kennel club. His play-action fake and throw to Cooper was textbook.
But the play that defined The Tide was a third-and-5, just before the touchdown. Alabama ran it — against eight in the box and a safety cheating. They ran it and Yeldon converted.
The Tide (12-1) will look to become the first program since Nebraska in 1994 and 1995, before the BCS, to win back-to-back consensus national titles. Notre Dame will try to win its first title since 1988.
“I know that they’re going to come with everything that they have,’’ said Alabama guard Chance Warmack. “They play off of emotion from what I could see. Regardless of what the stats say, you can’t define a team based on stats. We got come with our ‘A’ game just like they’re going to come with they’re ‘A’ game.’’
Notre Dame had better come with its A-plus game on defense — or the Tide will run the Irish into the Atlantic Ocean.