BCS National Championship, Notre Dame vs. Alabama: Irish will be all business in Miami

Bowl games are rewards for college football players, and are often treated with good reason as glorified vacations. Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly and his players all admit that last year's visit to the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando involved a fair bit of extracurricular fun, but all of that is changing as the team prepares to face the Alabama Crimson Tide in the BCS Championship game in Miami.

"We're there on a business trip," Kelly said. "That's how we approach it ... they all understand what it's about going down to Miami. It's not enjoy South Beach. This is about preparing for a National Championship."

(via CSN Chicago)

Last year in Orlando, Kelly set a 2 a.m. curfew for his players in the run-up to Notre Dame's matcup with Florida St. When the team arrives in Miami, however, they'll be in their rooms for good by 11 p.m. as the team takes extra precautions to make sure that everyone is well rested and out of trouble.

The Irish will face the Crimson Tide next Monday night at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN.