Split title.
Alabama won't be sharing the title if it beats Notre Dame on Monday night. If the Crimson Tide wins, that will be its third outright title in four seasons. Only one other team has done that in the modern era, and it's been more than 60 years.
The last time was Notre Dame in the late '40s. The Fighting Irish won outright titles in 1946, 1947 and 1949. Frank Leahy was the coach. Johnny Lujack and Leon Hart were among the stars.
But the truth is, that was a different time. There was much less parity than there is today. There were no scholarship limits, so the powerhouses could stockpile talent. They were more powerful but way less plentiful.
Still, winning three titles in four seasons — and four in seven years as Notre Dame won one in 1943 — made the Fighting Irish deserving of the dynasty tag.
So it would go with Alabama, too.
“I think what we're really focused on is what we have to do in this particular game,” Alabama coach and potential dynasty architect Nick Saban told reporters after his team arrived in South Florida. “Michael Jordan always says, ‘It doesn't make any difference how many game-winning shots I've made in the past. The only one that matters is the next one.'”
Alabama is playing to win this game and this title, but in the process, it could claim so much more — a spot on college football's short list of dynasties.
Jenni Carlson: Jenni can be reached at (405) 475-4125. Like her at facebook.com/JenniCarlsonOK, follow her at twitter.com/jennicarlson_ok or view her personality page at newsok.com/jennicarlson.
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