Go Irish? Tua Tagovailoa says he rooted for Notre Dame over Alabama in 2012 title game

Tua Tagovailoa has helped Alabama get to the brink of another national championship this season, but not so long ago he was cheering against the Crimson Tide in a title game.

The sophomore quarterback revealed to reporters Wednesday that he wanted Notre Dame to beat Alabama in the 2013 BCS National Championship Game. Tagovailoa was drawn to fellow Hawaiian and Irish star linebacker Manti Te’o, but he also hinted that he was dissatisfied with the Crimson Tide’s dominance.

Tua Tagovailoa didn't like #Alabama as a kid: "When they played Notre Dame (in 2012), I was rooting for Notre Dame because of Manti (Te'o). I didn't like Alabama, … because they were winning, nobody could stop them. But, I don't know, we're here now, so God bless & Roll Tide."

— Alex Byington (@_AlexByington) December 26, 2018

Tagovailoa probably didn’t come away from that game much happier — Alabama, of course, throttled Notre Dame 42-14 in one of the most lopsided national championship games ever.

Now Tagovailoa is part of the Crimson Tide’s legacy, and he could even face off against the Irish if both teams win their respective College Football Playoffs semifinal games Saturday. If that’s the case, there’s no way he’ll be rooting for Notre Dame for a second time.