ELKHART COUNTY – Excitement is building as Notre Dame prepares to take on Alabama on January 7 for the national championship in college football.
Both schools have a rich and long-standing tradition.
We've heard a lot lately about the Fighting Irish heritage and tradition but little about the lore of the Crimson Tide.
So WSBT sent reporter Ed Ernstes to talk with an Elkhart County man who played on two national championship Alabama teams under legendary coach Bear Bryant.
For Scott Homan, his days playing for the University of Alabama seem like yesterday.
His coach -- the legendary Bear Bryant.
The Elkhart Central High School grad was a redshirt freshman at Bama in 1978 when the Tide won the national title. He played the next year when Alabama again won the championship.
Number 93 was 6 foot 7, 265 pounds.
"In 1978, I arrived at Alabama, Coach Bryant redshirted nearly the whole freshman squad except for a few Parade Magazine All-Americans," said Homan. "1978 through 1981, I played defensive tackle. In 1982, I was converted to tight end."
Even in that era, he says Alabama fans were expecting national championships there and often.
"Speaking for the University of Alabama as a former player, it was just business each day. Each game was literally the next game. It was not something we thought about. End of the season was not something we thought about. As far as the national championship, we did play one game at a time."
Like Notre Dame, Alabama has a football tradition that goes back years, especially with Bear Bryant and now Nick Saban. Like Notre Dame, fans for the Crimson Tide are diehard and will follow the team anywhere.
"Both universities have a great tradition, college football, storied programs, neck to neck with national championships."
With his experience with the team, Homan expects Alabama to come out on top in the upcoming title match with Notre Dame.
"Oh, absolutely!"
