The great Coach Lou Holtz 

In November of 1996, Lou Holtz coached his last game at Notre Dame Stadium. He had just won his 100th game. I was standing right next to the box that he was standing on addressing the crowd. It was a surreal moment. One where statues are made. He stepped down right next to my photog and I, and with mic in hand I asked, “Is this a good day?” He looked me straight on with sad eyes and a somber tone. “It’s a good day. It’s mixed”.

As far as I know, it was the last question he answered on that field as coach. Later at the press conference he talked about “looking up at the Good Mother on the Dome”. As I recall, he said, “I think I left it clean. I think I left it clean”. He didn’t want to go. We didn’t have to hear it. We felt it.

The man was a coaching genius. He could deliver a story and send a message better than anyone I’ve ever encountered. I covered hundreds of his press conferences all over the US and even in Ireland. He was always two steps ahead of everybody in the room. I was fortunate to cover the likes of Bobby Bowden, Bill Walsh, and Bo Schembechler. They all had an “it” factor, but Lou had something more. He could be a competitive tyrant one moment, and Sweet Uncle Lou another.

I was fortunate to MC some pretty amazing events with the Blue and Gold Luncheon and Indiana Hall of Fame Inductions. He made a young sportscaster feel at ease with his small talk and questions about my life and career. He took time with people, and he listened. I can only imagine how charming he was in living rooms on the recruiting trail.

He once answered a question about his Athletic Director with, “You’ll have to ask him. I’m the monkey, he’s the organ grinder”. What a spin on an awkward question.

Coach was playful on those Tuesday nights in the dark when his team would step outside the gates after a long practice. You knew right away if they had a great practice or if he was in that “it’s gonna be a long week” mode. He could convince us that Navy’s line was bigger than Michigan and the Runningbacks were faster than USC. And he believed it. He had to. If he wanted to get his teams attention, the leader couldn’t let his guard down until the clock struck zero and after the final play had been run.

I was shooting a practice during the Michigan week back in 1989 I was standing right next to the Sports Information Director Coach stopped practice and came screaming across the field “I want that tape. I want that tape!” He went on to scream, “You cant tape that play”. Guys like Rocket, Ricky Watters and Zorich are all looking at me. I told coach. “I wont show the tape. But I cant give it to you. I have an interview with the Penn Coach Chris Geesman on there, and they’re getting ready for a big game with South Bend Washington.” You bet i was nervous as he walked away with hands in his pocket. I was later told he was just trying to get the teams attention. He sure got mine.

I’ll never forget him coaching the Ohio State game from the press box with a neck brace on. He figured if Rockne could coach laying on a stretcher, he could call the game with a neck brace.

I only got to play a few holes of golf with him, and ironically the one I most remember was right next to the Notre Dame Cemetery. He played quick, he loved the game, and he could flip a competitive switch as soon as he stood over the ball.

At a Sunday presser, it was the first time I had ever heard of “The Dash”. It’s a poem to some, but the way he described it, it was impactful. It was almost like he was preaching at some of those pressers. Talking about how hard he worked, growing up poor, yet somehow finding his way on the sidelines at the University of Notre Dame. The odds may not have been great at first, but he earned everything he got. His dash to me will include being a humble legend. He played the underdog so well, but he was bigger than life in every room he walked into. 1937-2026. 89 years of greatness.

Lou is now up above celebrating a great life with his sweetheart Beth who preceded him in death in 2020. Ill always appreciate him treating a young reporter with great respect To quote Lou Holtz ine more time. “It’s a good day….. It’s mixed”