FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. » Someone asked, "How does it feel to play in the biggest game of your life?"

Everett Golson was confused. "Is this for me?"

The only other person on the podium was Notre Dame offensive coordinator Chuck Martin, who didn’t miss a beat.

"I’m not playing, dude. The spread would be a lot higher if I was."

Golson, Notre Dame’s second-year freshman quarterback, isn’t the smoothest interview subject … at least not yet. But he’s plenty slick on the field and got better and better as the Fighting Irish’s 12-0 season went along.

He’s considered the biggest X-factor in Monday’s national championship game, but is also talented enough to draw comparisons to another freshman, Texas A&M’s Heisman Trophy winner, Johnny Manziel.

"He’s a great scramble quarterback, he’s a great athlete, so we have to do our best to try and maintain him," Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley said. "He’s a great player so, like Johnny, he’s going to make the plays that he’s going to make, but we just have to do our best to contain him."

Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart said the comparison is apt.

"Sure," Smart said. "He’s got the ability to run the ball. He’s got extremely great arm talent. He scrambles to throw, but is a willing runner. There are a lot of similarities between the two. Both of them are youthful, and sometimes youth is a good thing. He doesn’t have a long memory. He forgets it and he’s right back to the next play and will make another big play."

Golson finished the regular season completing 59 percent of 282 passes for 2,135 yards with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. He rushed for 305 yards and five touchdowns on 89 carries.

He gained confidence as the season went along, despite a couple of late-game relief stints by former starter Tommy Rees.

Golson said a key point was during Notre Dame’s win against Oklahoma, when linebacker Manti Te’o spoke to him at halftime. "(Te’o) was like, ‘We got you. We’re going to take care of our part, we got you, whatever you do, we got you.’"

Broadway Joe

Alabama had a special visitor at practice Friday. Joe Namath, quarterback of the 1964 national championship team, made an appearance.

"When the Crimson Tide plays I’m always excited," said Namath in an interview with rolltide.com. "I’m thrilled as any Alabama fan is.

"I know how tough it is (to win a national championship)," said Namath, who lives in South Florida. "I’m tickled pink. I mean, tickled crimson."

Hot stuff

It was in the 40s in Tuscaloosa and the 20s in South Bend on Friday.

Here? The high was a balmy 81 degrees.

"It’s been great for us to get out in this weather," tight end Michael Williams said after Alabama practiced in shells. "Right now it is all about learning to adapt to this environment. Coach (Nick) Saban is pushing us really hard and we are pushing ourselves."

Notre Dame went full pads, but for just 75 minutes.

"We needed a good day today," Irish coach Brian Kelly said. "It was hotter today and we pushed our guys. I thought they responded very well. I’m pleased with back-to-back days where we got a lot of work done."

Friday’s extended forecast predicted a low of 68 and high of 78 for Monday, with a 30 percent chance of rain.