Lou was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, and we just wanted to say Congratulations.
This honor is clearly deserved, and we're extremely proud of our boy Lou.
Besides, all fans miss the guy. A lot. Lou means a lot to the crew here at HLS as well.
You see, Lou was the Head Coach at ND my freshman year. I went to ND not really knowing much about the football program beyond being a casual observer here and there, and making fun of my friends that loved the Irish so much. I was a soccer player growing up, and I went to ND because of the academics, the scholarship, and that 'thing' it had, along with the Catholic identity. I didn't go because of the football program. I didn't know the fight song, I didn't know the cheers, I didn't even know if I'd ever even care about the team. I just knew I liked being 18 and being able to drink before the games, outside in the sun, as cops walked by.
All that changed because of Lou, and his squad that year. Very first pep rally. Buzzed. Dillion Hall frosh going crazy. Alumni hall across the way accepting our trash talking. Rally rally rally, blah blah blah, and then? Lou. Lou steps to the mic. I don't remember what he said. I just remember laughing a few times, and then at the end of the speech wanting to run down there, don pads and rip the living crap out of anything that even remotely looked like whatever-a-Boilermaker-was. That's what Lou did to you. He inspired.
The next day - Opening kick-off, 1996, Purdue at ND Stadium. I'm half buzzed and confused by all the cheers but trying to follow along and then, kickoff. Rossum gets the ball 2 yards deep in the corner of the end zone and takes it 102 yards for a touchdown. Welcome to Notre Dame football.
Lou coached a team that was average that year in record, but legendary in my mind. And when he gave his farewell speech on the field that winter, none of us even really realized what we were losing. Not only a coaching legend, but some sense of identity to Notre Dame football. We've been flailing ever since.
I got a chance to meet Lou a few years back at a fundraiser, and a nicer, more gracious guy would be tough to find. He spent twenty (20!) minutes regailing a few of us younger alums/fans with stories about his hometown, his charity, and coaching.
Man, I love Lou Holtz.
Congrats Lou. We ALL miss you.
By BJDomer July 20, 2009 - 3:12 pm
I began to really follow Notre Dame during the 2000 Fiesta Bowl season, a few years after Lou’s time. But when I think Notre Dame football, my mind goes immediately to a few names, and Lou Holtz is at the top of that list. Lou is a deserving Hall of Famer and, in my opinion, the greatest college football coach of all time. He coached 6 different teams to bowl games (all within two years of getting the job), despite never inheriting a team with a winning record the previous season. I don’t think any coach can match that record of breathing life into dying programs.
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By trey July 20, 2009 - 11:33 pm
I learned something about the two of you, Biscuit and BJ. I grew up with Lou(been a fan since 87 or so) and if you weren’t around for the greatness that was the Holtz dynasty, you can’t understand how much it hurts to see our performance since then.
I was so soooo lucky to be at ND last year for Lou’s statue unveiling and got to hear him speak at the prep rally Friday night. I’m so glad my dad and I decided to just head out of Chicago ASAP and got to the campus by 5 so we could hit that up. You’re right, Biscuit, after hearing him speak live, it’s like something goes off in your brain and you’re instantly motivated. He told the crowd that the next day, whenever scUM had the ball, to make complete ruckus because they don’t call the plays till after the huddle is broken. And damned if the stadium didn’t oblige the next day. Every time UM(s!) touched the ball, the place was completely rockin!
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By One Foot Down — Blog — The week in news- NCAA Football 10, The Hall of Fame and ND Schedule Stuff March 13, 2010 - 2:59 pm
[...] The list includes several noteworthy players and coaches and the standard head scratcher or two. HLS has a great write up on Coach Holtz that is definitely worth a read if you have yet to make your way over [...]
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