Here are just a few examples of an oxymoron (which, as I was taught in high school, is a phrase formed of seemingly contradictory words): “mild-mannered reporter,” “airline food,” “humble opinion” and “Internet privacy. “

Too often in our high-pressured collegiate athletics, the term “student-athlete” has constituted an oxymoron. But that, quite frankly, is not the case with the University of Notre Dame’s football team, currently undefeated and ranked No. 1 in coaches’ and sportswriters’ polls, which plays the University of Alabama on Monday in what amounts to a national championship game. Why?

Because Notre Dame football players — at 97 percent — have the highest graduation rate of any school in the nation playing at the most competitive level.