The last month for South Bend, Ind. native and now Andalusia resident Jeremy Beam has been a tough one.

Beam, a huge Notre Dame fan, is gearing up for the big game, where his Fighting Irish will play Alabama in the 2013 Discover BCS National Championship on Monday night in Miami.

The top-ranked Fighting Irish (12-0) beat the University of Southern California to end their regular season and clinch a spot in the title game. The Crimson Tide narrowly defeated Georgia in the SEC Championship a week later to clinch their spot.

This will be Notre Dame’s first BCS Championship game in school history, and Alabama’s third in the last four years. The BCS bowl system has been in place since 1998.

In the 2014-15 season, the BCS will be replaced by a four-team playoff.

Beam lived in South Bend for 15 years before moving to Alabama with his father and two of his sisters.

“We moved here after my grandfather (Thomas Beam) passed away,” Beam said. “My grandparents had moved here after they retired to be closer to their family in Milton, Fla. They thought Covington County was a nice place to live.”

Within his own family, Beam said he’s a bit of an “outsider.”

“My wife (Brooke) and her family, who are originally from Louisiana, including my daughters (Emilie and Winny), are big LSU fans,” he said. “So, I am a little out numbered.”

In fact, Beam said he has his Notre Dame shelf and his wife has her LSU shelf.

Beam said he started rooting for ND at a young age.

“I started cheering them on and it just stuck,” he said.

When asked if he ever thought Notre Dame would’ve made it this far this season, Beam said there was no doubt in his mind.

“I am very proud of my team for making it this far, and hope to see them holding up the crystal ball after the national championship game,” he said.

As far as the flack he’s received in the last month, Beam said he’s still sporting his Irish gear and it will be on full display Monday night.