With the BCS championship will debut January 7th this year in Miami where Notre Dame (BCS No. 1) will play Alabama (BCS No. 2). With the big game just days away, one could only look back on some of the top NFL players that came out the two football power houses. Both schools have enormous pride for there teams, as do their Alumni players that made it to the NFL. Let’s take a look at the former and current NFL heros from the championship teams.
The Crimon Tide has produced 30 current NFL stars. Some notable “rolling tide” players include : Saint’s Mark Ingram , Julio Jones (Falcons), Marcell Dareus (Bills), and Dont’a Hightower (Patriots). Two top rookies who saw a lot of playing time this year were proud Alabama alumni, Trent Richardson (Browns) and Courtney Upshaw (Ravens). 
Notre Dame has 29 current NFL players. It is interesting that five of the 29 play on the Vikings. Looks like that locker room has fighting Irish mentality. Notable Irish include: rookie Michael Floyd (Cardinals), Golden Tate (Seahawks), Robert Blanton (Vikings), and John Carlson (Vikings). Two other notable Irish Alumni include Giant’s Justin Tuck and Chief’s Brady Quinn.
Notre Dame Alumni and Current NFL Players:
Alabama Alumni and Current NFL Players:
Old School Bama and Notre Dame Heros:-Tim Brown (Notre Dame)- 9 Pro Bowls, NFL’s 1990 all decade team, 1,094 receptions, 14,934 receiving yards, and 105 touchdowns- Curly Lambeau (Notre Dame)- Member of six championship winning squads with Green Bay as a player and coach- Paul Hornung (Notre Dame)- 3,711 rushing yards, 1,480 receiving yards, 72 touchdowns, 2 pro bowls- Alan Page (Notre Dame)- 9 time Pro Bowl selection, won 2 Super Bowls- Joe Montana (Notre Dame)- 8 time Pro Bowler, 2 time NFL MVP, 40,551 passing yards, 273 TD passes- Ozzie Newsome (Alabama)- 3 Pro Bowls, as a TE he had 662 career receptions and 7,980 receiving yards- John Hannah (Alabama)- All Pro ten straight years- Joe Namath (Alabama)- 1st QB ever to throw for over 4,000 yards in a single season, MVP of Super Bowl III-Bart Starr (Alabama)- 3 championships, 2 Super Bowls, MVP of Super Bowls I and II- Don Hutson (Alabama)- Holds 3 records in the NFL for most consecutive seasons leading the league in scoring (5), most points scored in a quarter (29), and most seasons leading league in receiving touchdowns (9)
–By Theresa Villano and Alec Short
