Facebook Making a Phone, Sort Of

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  ABC News - Facebook Making a Phone, Sort Of (ABC News)

Facebook is building a phone right in front of our faces. Maybe not a real phone, but all the apps and features you'd expect one to have.

Facebook has just added a voice message feature to its Messenger app for iOS and Android. Within the app you can now send a recording to your friends. If you've downloaded the new update you can tap the + button next to the box where you input a message, then tap Record, speak your message and then send it off.

But that's only the start of the voice capabilities Facebook is thinking about. In Canada, Facebook is testing live calls using Voice over IP (VoIP) calling similar to Skype. If you have the iPhone app and live in Canada you can tap the "i" button in the corner of the app and tap "Free Call." You can then make a free call to a Facebook friend who is using the same app. You can't call landline or cellphone numbers.

The system can work over 3G and 4G cellular networks, but it's cheaper if you use Wi-Fi. If you are on a cellular network it will eat at your data plan.

Facebook didn't make a big announcement about the services, but it's a very big move for the social networking company. While Facebook declined to comment on whether it would come to the U.S. or if they could charge for the service, it is a step into voice calling for the company. Not only could that be ultimately disruptive for cellular carriers that offer monthly calling packages, it represents an alternative revenue stream for Facebook.

This is just one of many mobile announcements Facebook has made in the past few months. It upgraded both its iPhone and Android apps to make them faster and it released is new Poke app, which destroys messages 10 seconds or less after you look at them.

In addition to its main app and its Poke app, Facebook also has a Facebook Camera app. You'll also recall that Facebook bought Instagram in April 2012.

Rumors of a Facebook branded phone have swirled around for quite a while now. The New York Times and AllThingsD both reported that the company had internal plans to build its own hardware. However, Mark Zuckerberg denied the rumor in July.

"There are a lot of things you can build in other operating systems as well that aren't really taking, that aren't really like building out a whole phone, which wouldn't make much sense for us to do," he said on an earnings call.

That might make sense, but with all of its apps and now voice features, it sure looks like Facebook is transforming our phones into Facebook phones or it's building its own right in front of our faces.

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NBA-Lakers guard Bryant finally joins Twitter world

Jan 4 (Reuters) - Los Angeles Lakers All-Star guard Kobe Bryant finally succumbed to the social network Twitter when he opened his own verified account on Friday.
"The antisocial has become social #mambatweets," Bryant, who is nicknamed "Black Mamba", said in his first tweet.
Within five hours of his account being open, the 14-time All-Star and five-time NBA champion had attracted nearly 300,000 followers.
One of the most popular players in the game and a regular user of Facebook, Bryant had flirted with Twitter when he briefly took over Nike basketball's account last week.
"You're able to get a lot of great feedback about the game but also about the product as well -- what they thought, what they like, what they didn't like," the 34-year-old told reporters about the benefits of Twitter.

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The Most and Least Influential Social Media Celebs

While he isn't currently available for promotional work, businesses would have the most success on social media with President Barack Obama endorsing their goods and services, new research shows.
A study by social marketing platform SocialToaster revealed that Obama is considered the most influential celebrity on social media. Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Ashton Kutcher and Anderson Cooper followed the president on the rankings of social influencers.
On the flip side, the research found that former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney was the least influential celebrity on social media, finishing just below Madonna, Kanye West and Sean Hannity.
While celebrities might be influential on social media in some aspects, it's those closest to us who make the largest impact when it comes to the important issues. Nearly all of the social media users surveyed agreed that a social media post from a close friend or family member was most likely to influence them on important subjects, with politicians and athletes the least likely to influence them.
"While it was no surprise that in this election year Barack Obama would be ranked the most influential person in social media, it was surprising to us that Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga would beat Madonna and Kanye West," said Brian Razzaque, CEO of SocialToaster. "We were also surprised to see that friends had more pull than family when it came to influencing the sharing of social media content."
Regardless of whom it comes from, there are some posts that will quickly result in an unfollowing, the study discovered. Nearly three-quarters of those surveyed said a racist post would cause them to immediately unfollow someone on social media. Other types of posts that result in a loss of followers include sexism, pornography, repetitive, overly personal posts and those that use poor grammar.
The researcher was based on surveys of 3,000 SocialToaster Super Fans, which consist of social media experts and professionals, many of whom work with some of the nation’s leading brands. The experts range from those who work in the entertainment industry who represent numerous television shows and movies to those who work in professional sports, including the Baltimore Ravens and the Detroit Pistons.

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Autonet Insurance support the 10 year anniversary of Arch

Autonet Insurance support Arch 10 year.

(PRWEB UK) 10 January 2013
Autonet Insurance is pleased to announce that they will be supporting the 10 year anniversary of the charity Arch.
Arch is a charity that offers support and advice to a range of people around North Staffordshire and Cheshire. The charity works with people that are in housing need, families who are in need of support, victims of domestic violence and people seeking to return to employment or education.
Each year Arch holds a sleep out to raise money for the charity and also it’s a chance for people, who take part, to see what it is like to sleep rough for the night.

The annual sleep outs have been a success and to celebrate their 10 year anniversary Arch will be holding different sleep outs around Staffordshire on February 1st.
Autonet will be holding their very own sleep out on the Autonet car park to support Arch as a charity and their celebration of giving back to the local community. Many employees and friends will be taking part in the sleep out each hoping to raise as much money as possible for a worthy cause.
Ian Donaldson Managing Director of Autonet Insurance said: “We are happy to hold the Arch sleep out here at Autonet to celebrate the charity’s 10 year anniversary.

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Author Pete Delohery Lets Readers into the Boxing World

Compelling novel revolves around the lives of boxers—inside and outside the ring

Marietta, GA (PRWEB) January 10, 2013
A particular blog in the internet states that, “Boxing is about more than just how many opponents you can knock out. It’s not a way of life, but a way you view your life and the world around you.” But how much do people understand about this perception? Do they have a concrete grasp on how boxers live their life and those close to them? Author Pete Delohery provides a glimpse into the world of boxing and what life in the ring is like in his new book, Lamb to the Slaughter, a novel about love and courage, sin and redemption.
“Iron Mike” McGann, 32 years old, is facing the twilight of his prizefighting career. Desperate for his future, he has refused to honor his promise to his wife to quit the ring and start a family. In despair, his wife, Madge, is leaving him.
Rufus “Hurricane” Hilliard, Mike’s next opponent, is the most menacing presence in prizefighting. He has won all 22 of his fights by knockout and is said to be a former enforcer for something called The Black Mafia. But behind Rufus Hilliard’s menacing ring presence lives a man nobody knows, a complex man who despises his own image. Unexpectedly left alone before his bout with McGann, Rufus “Hurricane” Hilliard is forced to confront the past that haunts him and the future he dreads.
Charles “Charliehorse” O’Connell, Rufus’s cornerman, has been terrorized by a mob kingpin to sabotage him. O’Connell, who is an alcoholic and a compulsive gambler, blames himself for the ring deaths of two prizefighters. Trapped in a moral crisis, Charles “Charliehorse” O’Connell must finally confront his “Cardinal Sin.”
Rufus “Hurricane” Hilliard vs. “Iron Mike” McGann, just another fight shown on The Continuous Sports Network, but by the time it is over the lives of these and many others will be forever different. Readers will witness more thrills and excitement as the surprising end unfolds in Lamb to the Slaughter.
For more information on this book, interested parties may log on to http://www.Xlibris.com.
About the Author

Pete Delohery was born in Washington, D.C. in 1942. He received a B.S. and a M.S. in Civil Engineering from Virginia Tech and taught classes at Virginia Tech; was Town Engineer of Blacksburg, Va., and an engineering consultant in Atlanta, Georgia. Even though he was successful in engineering, his passion was always writing. Pete’s writing style immediately involves readers in the story and the life of all his characters. Lamb to the Slaughter is a novel about love and courage, sin and redemption.
Lamb to the Slaughter * by Pete Delohery

Publication Date: July 29, 2011

Trade Paperback; $19; 172 pages; 978-1-4653-3927-0

Trade Hardback; $29.99; 172 pages; 978-1-4653-3928-7

eBook; $9.99; 978-1-4653-3929-4
To request a complimentary paperback review copy, contact the publisher at (888) 795-4274 x. 7879. To purchase copies of the book for resale, please fax Xlibris at (610) 915-0294 or call (888) 795-4274 x. 7879.

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Author A. American Offers Love, Hope and Survival in New Book

‘Going Home’ unravels a man’s struggles as he tries to make his way home in a new reality, one of no power, no infrastructure and no help.

Lenoir, NC (PRWEB) January 10, 2013
Author A. American brings the world that could be to life in his book, Going Home. The internet sensation, with over one million online views, is being brought to print. In a world where all the things we take for granted suddenly cease to exist, one man must find his way across more than two hundred and fifty miles to make it back to his family. This anthology unravels one man’s odyssey through the cities, towns, woods and wilds of Florida. It also chronicles the trials and tribulations of day to day survival in a world without modern convenience and people’s attempt in dealing with it.
The story revolves around Morgan Carter and his travels and seemingly insurmountable odds. After completing a business trip to Tallahassee, he is ready to get home and start his weekend. However he discovers fate has a different plan for him, which will change his life forever. Morgan tries to suffice all the limited resources that he has to go back to his family but he realizes that home is too far from where he is. This is where he will meet Thad, who appears formidable and threatening, but turns out to be a true friend and asset to Morgan. Along their way, they will also meet Jess, a young twenty something woman who also wants to go home. The three of them will help each other survive the tumultuous journey to go back to their family and loved ones. Sarge is the last character they’ll meet, a hardcore retired first sergeant of the army; he will provide an oasis of peace and safety in Morgan and his friends’ desperate search for solitude and security.
AA aims to present a story that offers myriad of thoughts that will convey a striking inventory of a man, and his relationship with his family, with himself and just how far he is willing to go. Going Home is bound to inspire readers with every turn of the page. It’s a peek into what life could be like without all the trappings of technology people are used to. A story of hope, love and above all, survival, this anthology depicts how a man survives loneliness, grief and pain while trying to get back to them. Every day, every moment, presents decisions that must be made in the blink of an eye, life and sometimes death, ride on the outcome. With its assemblage of unforgettable characters portraying different roles that stir a memorable drama, the book will let readers realize that having a family is the greatest gift life has to offer.
For more information on this book, interested parties may log on to http://www.Xlibris.com.
About the Author

A. American is a Florida native who currently resides in North Carolina. He is an avid outdoorsman, hunter and fisherman. American is also a loving father to his three beautiful daughters, a devoted husband of twenty two years and a devout family man.

Going Home * by A. American
Publication Date: 11/28/2012

Trade Paperback; $19.99; 386pages; 978-1-4797-4323-0

Trade Hardback; $29.99; 386pages; 978-1-4797-4324-7

eBook; $3.99; 978-1-4797-4325-4
Members of the media who wish to review this book may request a complimentary paperback copy by contacting the publisher at (888) 795-4274 x. 7879. To purchase copies of the book for resale, please fax Xlibris at (610) 915-0294 or call (888) 795-4274 x. 7879.
For more information on self-publishing or marketing with Xlibris, visit http://www.Xlibris.com. To receive a free publishing guide, please call (888) 795-4274.

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Local Government Structural Reform, the Australian Model, Discussed in Ian Tiley New Textbook

Ian Tiley has made a close study of mergers of local governments in Australia. He chronicles council amalgamations in each Australian State and Territory, and in a case study of the 2004 forced merger of six councils into the New South Wales Clarence Valley Council entity, of which he was first Mayor, details the net positive outcomes and financial benefits of the successful merger in “Divided We Fall? An Insider’s Perspective on Local Government Amalgamations”

MACLEAN, NSW (PRWEB) January 10, 2013
Recent Australian local government structural reform has manifested as council amalgamations and predominantly as imposed merger processes. Divided We Fall? An Insider’s Perspective on Local Government Amalgamations, is Ian Tiley’s expert textual guide to the complexities of Australian governance. It is clear and concise, making it an invaluable easy to read tool for local governance.
This book examines council amalgamations across Australia over the past two decades, citing the council amalgamations that became the NSW Clarence Valley Council as the case study. The imposed amalgamation of four general-purpose and two county councils could have been a recipe for chaos; instead this book describes the gains and the challenges.
Written from the author’s deep-seated knowledge of local government, the book details the net positive economic outcomes and financial benefits against measurable indicators and describes the impacts on local democracy. Based on detailed research, this long term local government ‘insider’ perspective of the Australian model will be of value to all those interested in driving or understanding change through local government reform.
For more information on this book, interested parties can log on to http://www.Xlibris.com.au.
About the Author

Ian Tiley has almost five decades continuous experience in New South Wales local government, initially in management and administration and, since 1991, as an elected councillor to five councils and serving as Mayor to two councils including as inaugural Mayor of the Clarence Valley Council. He is currently an Adjunct Research Fellow at the University of New England Armidale NSW and was recently appointed by the New South Wales Government to a four person Taskforce to write a new Local Government Act and review the City of Sydney Act. He has served on a number of regional development governance entities and continues to campaign for the future of regional Australia.  
Divided We Fall? An Insider’s Perspective on Local Government Amalgamations by Dr. Ian Tiley

A Case Study of Clarence Valley Council, New South Wales

Publication Date: December 11, 2012

Trade Paperback; AU$39.99; 525 pages; 978-1-4797-3895-3

Trade Hardback; AU$59.99; 525 pages; 978-1-4797-3896-0

Ebook; AU$3.99; 978-1-4797-3897-7
Members of the media who wish to review this book may request a complimentary paperback copy by contacting the publisher at 1-800-618-969. To purchase copies of the book for resale, please fax Xlibris at (02) 8282-5055 or call 1-800-618-969.
Xlibris books can be purchased at Xlibris bookstore. For more information, contact Xlibris at 1-800-618-969 or on the web at http://www.Xlibris.com.au.

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Ancient Theravada Code Showcased in Don G. Athukorala’s Seminal New Book on Buddhism

With a combination of science, technology, and Buddhist wisdom, Don G. Athukorala’s “Buddha’s Principle of Relativity” updates Buddhism as well as Western science that is practical, enjoyable and enlightening for today’s readers

HORNSBY, Australia (PRWEB) January 10, 2013
Buddhism is not a god-based theology like Christianity, Judaism, or Islam. Rather, it is a spiritual philosophy that over the centuries has evolved into many different branches. Born into the Theravada Buddhist philosophy, Don G. Athukorala has written Buddha's Principle of Relativity: Mind Body Stress, a 264-page compendium showcasing “the Buddha’s Code of Practice”
Though considered esoteric, even arcane, in the West, the books contains the methods of a way of achieving better health through an ancient teaching of the Buddha, relatively neglected in the West for more than fifteen hundred years. The underlying premise is that the psychology of the mind can and does have tremendous influence and effect upon the body. Mind, body, and stress have interconnectedness within man’s physical system. With its rewarding combination of science, technology, and Buddhist wisdom, Athukorala’s Buddha's Principle of Relativity is an enjoyable, practical, as well as enlightening reading.
Enhanced with an extended bibliography and a comprehensive index, Buddha's Principle of Relativity is informed, informative, thoughtful, thought-provoking, and a seminal contribution to the growing body of Buddhist literature for western readers.
For more information on this book, interested parties can log on to http://www.Xlibris.com.au.
About the Author

Don G. Athukorala took his B.Sc. Engineering from London University. He is an Honorary Life Fellow, Institution of Engineers (of Sri Lanka), former MICE (London), C. Eng. He was Chairman, State Engineering Corporation of Sri Lanka (1977 – 1981) and was Director, Mahaweli Head works - Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka (1984– 1990).
Buddha's Principle of Relativity * by Don G. Athukorala

Mind Body Stress

Publication Date: December 1, 2012

Trade Paperback; AU$29.99; 204 pages; 978-1-4797-3175-6

Trade Hardback; AU$49.99; 204 pages; 978-1-4797-3176-3

Ebook; AU$3.99; 978-1-4797-3177-0
Members of the media who wish to review this book may request a complimentary paperback copy by contacting the publisher at 1-800-618-969. To purchase copies of the book for resale, please fax Xlibris at (02) 8282-5055 or call 1-800-618-969.
Xlibris books can be purchased at Xlibris bookstore. For more information, contact Xlibris at 1-800-618-969 or on the web at http://www.Xlibris.com.au.

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Johnny "Football" Manziel favorite for Heisman

MIAMI (Reuters) - Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel is in line to become the first 'freshman' winner of the Heisman Trophy when the annual award for the top player in college football is made on Saturday.
Manziel, nicknamed "Johnny Football", is one of three players to be invited to Saturday's ceremony, along with Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o and Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein.
Wednesday's final installment of the Scripps Heisman Poll, which has accurately indicated the winner for 21 off the past 25 years, placed Manziel in the top spot.
The trophy was won last year by Robert Griffin III, who went on to be taken as the number two pick in the 2012 NFL draft by the Washington Redskins.
The previous year's winner Cam Newton, another quarterback, was taken as the number one overall pick by the Carolina Panthers and enjoyed a hugely successful rookie year in the NFL.
Up until Florida quarterback Tim Tebow won the Heisman in 2007, no sophomore had won the award but Manziel could go one better if he wins after his first season.
The Texan finished the regular season with 3,419 passing yards and 1,181 rushing yards to set a new total offense record for the Southeastern Conference (SEC) of 4,600 yards in 12 games.
Manziel also broke the record for total offense in a game, originally set by Archie Mannning, father of Peyton and Eli, back in 1969, when he accumulated 557 yards against Arkansas and he then bettered it with 567 yards against Louisiana Tech.
"It's so surreal for me to be even be able to be mentioned for the Heisman Trophy," Manziel said recently when asked about the award.
Manziel sat out football (redshirted) for his first year at college as the 'Aggies' already had Ryan Tannehill, now the starting quarterback with the Miami Dolphins.
While there is some debate over whether a redshirt freshman should be given the award, Tannehill believes Manziel has proven his worth.
"Look at the numbers. The numbers he has put up are outstanding. He's surpassed Cam Newton and Tim Tebow who both won the Heisman in the years that they set the SEC record for yards in a season," he said.
"Plus the fact of the game changing players he can make. He went to Alabama when they were ranked number one and had an upset victory there," added Tannehill.
The biggest threat to Manziel comes from Te'o who has been outstanding for Notre Dame as they enjoyed a 12-0 record and moved to number one in the nation, earning a shot at the title against the Alabama Crimson Tide in Miami on January 7.
Hawaiian Te'o made 52 solo tackles and assisted on a further 51 in his senior year and he has a total of 427 total tackles from his four year collegiate career.
Unlike Manziel, who has at least one more year left before he can enter the draft and will likely wait more, Te'o is expected to be a first round pick in the 2013 class.

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Can BCS title game challenge TV ratings record?

NEW YORK (AP) — Two undefeated teams, three Heisman Trophy finalists, five lead changes and 19 seconds left when the winning touchdown was scored.
No other BCS title game has come close to matching that perfect formula for broad appeal. The 2006 tilt between Texas and Southern California was on in nearly 22 percent of American homes with televisions; the second-best number is under 18 percent.
Now, seven years later, a matchup may finally challenge that Rose Bowl's TV ratings record.
No. 1 Notre Dame, so popular it can stay independent and negotiate its own television contract, is competing for its first championship since the 1988 season. Notre Dame's opponent, No. 2 Alabama, is a big name in its own right, made bigger by two titles in the last three years and the Southeastern Conference's run of six straight crowns.
"It sets up really remarkable possibilities," said Burke Magnus, ESPN's senior vice president for college sports programming.
Just as fans and media break down position-by-position battles for the Fighting Irish and Crimson Tide, a look at how this year's matchup stacks up against the record-holders from 2006:
— NAME RECOGNITION. Texas and USC are hardly slouches in the tradition and popularity departments, but Notre Dame is in its own category. Plus there's the added intrigue of the Irish's title drought.
"It definitely raises the bar of the hype and the buzz of this national championship compared to any of the other games I've had the good fortune to call," ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit said.
Even if much of the interest sprouts from fans rooting against one of the teams.
"Notre Dame is the Yankees, is the Celtics, the Lakers and so on, the Dallas Cowboys. They're polarizing, which helps," Magnus said. "Actually, both of them are right now because of the SEC factor, and Alabama has been the standard bearer for that."
Herbstreit chuckled at the thought of some fans vowing not to watch because they detest both teams.
"Anybody who takes the time to make a comment like that clearly will be watching the game," he said. "They'll in fact watch the four hours of pregame we have before the game and be blogging and tweeting about how wrong everybody is on those shows."
— STAR POWER. Texas-USC sparkled far brighter here. The three Heisman finalists that season were from those two teams: Trojans quarterback Matt Leinart (who won the previous year) and running back Reggie Bush (who won this time, before later returning the trophy because of NCAA violations) and Longhorns quarterback Vince Young. All were skill position players believed at the time to have promising NFL futures.
Notre Dame's Heisman finalist is a defensive guy, linebacker Manti Te'o. Alabama's four first-team All-Americans are offensive linemen or defenders.
— ANTICIPATION. Texas and USC were the undisputed top teams in college football — the only undefeated squads in the country who led the rankings all season. Alabama has one loss, and while there has been almost no controversy as to whether the Tide deserves to play in the title game, the late-season rankings scramble that led to this game doesn't carry quite the same buzz.
— MARKET SIZE. In the NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball, postseason viewership often varies significantly based on whether the teams involved hail from cities big or small. In college football, that's less of a factor, though it didn't hurt the 2006 title game that a school from Los Angeles, the country's second-largest market, was involved.
The program from South Bend, Ind., of course is a classic example of national appeal.
"(Alabama is) the franchise right now and another mega brand," Magnus said. "It doesn't matter that it's Tuscaloosa — the TV markets don't matter when it comes to teams like that."
— ON-FIELD THEATER. One of the biggest factors in the final rating won't be known until the game kicks off. If the score stays close, more viewers will stick around to the end — and more will join in. Magnus believes the rise of social media will increase the audience of tight games even more than in the past, as casual fans learn through Twitter or Facebook that they can catch a tense finish if they tune in.
The Longhorns' 41-38 win featured 10 touchdowns, and the teams combined to score five times in the fourth quarter. Neither school ever led by more than 12 points.
Notre Dame has had a penchant for close games all season and Alabama also has lately. But the other half of the entertainment equation — high scoring — may be less likely with these two programs. Each allows fewer than 11 points a game.
— RAW NUMBERS. The Texas-USC title game set the record with a 21.7 rating — 22 percent higher than the next best BCS championship. No. 2 all-time was the 2001 Oklahoma-Florida State final with a 17.8. The best ratings since 2006 were a 17.4 for both the 2007 Florida-Ohio State and 2008 LSU-Ohio State matchups.
The 2006 championship was on ABC, but the BCS games have since moved to cable. ESPN is in about 14 percent fewer homes than the traditional broadcast networks, though executives note that college football fans are more likely than the general population to have cable. Ratings since the switch have seemingly been more affected by the matchups and competitiveness of games than by their availability.
Regular-season viewership, while still strong, was down for college football this year. On ESPN's networks, the average audience decreased more than 10 percent on ABC, almost 4 percent on ESPN, and nearly 13 percent on ESPN2 from 2011. SEC games on CBS also dropped 10 percent.
For the four BCS games so far, preliminary ratings are up 1 percent on ESPN from last season.
But Notre Dame and Alabama have already shown their ability to lure big audiences. The rating for the Tide's SEC title game against Georgia — essentially a national semifinal — was up 34 percent from the previous year's LSU-Georgia matchup. With an average of 16.2 million viewers, it was the season's most-watched college football game before the bowls.
No. 2 was Notre Dame's win over USC to clinch a berth in the BCS title game with 16.1 million viewers. That was the highest-rated Saturday night regular-season game on ABC since at least 1991.
Herbstreit is one of those sports fans who watch golf only when Tiger Woods is in contention on a Sunday. He considers Notre Dame-Alabama to be the college football equivalent of that.
"Without a doubt," he said, "if you're a college football fan, or even if you're a fringe college football fan, you're going to watch.

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