Posted on 11/22/2004 7:53:12 PM PST by stainlessbanner
CLEMSON, S.C. -- University of South Carolina coach Lou Holtz announced Monday he will retire, ending one of the most successful and colorful college football careers.
"It's always with mixed emotions whenever you leave somewhere," Holtz said during a news conference where tears filled his eyes.
The 67-year-old coach told the team and his staff on Thursday, although he's said little publicly about his departure or about reports Steve Spurrier will succeed him.
College football was what Holtz held so dear for 33 seasons. He's eighth all time with 249 victories. But what he became known for was reviving dormant programs. He took six schools -- William & Mary, North Carolina State, Arkansas, Minnesota, Notre Dame and South Carolina -- to bowl games by his second year. He won a national championship with the Fighting Irish in 1988.
After leaving South Bend, Ind., in 1996 and thinking he would never coach again, the then 61-year-old Holtz was lured to Columbia to replace fired Brad Scott.
Holtz is the only coach in South Carolina history with two bowl victories.
If ever there was a gentleman coach, Lou Holtz was that man.
For his last game to end in a brawl between brats is an irony of a high order.
A great man and a great coach.
The folks here in Buckeye Country wish Coach Holtz the best. He is an Ohio native and went to Kent State University.
He was an assistant coach under the legendary Coach Wayne Woodrow "Woody" Hayes in 1968 when the Ohio State Buckeyes went undefeated and won the National Championship.
Job well done Coach Holtz!
As an aside - Both Clemson and South Carolina announced today that the schools will not be allowed to accept bowl bids this year.
Anybody who knows the real 'Sweet Lou' is not surprised. Golden Dome, Tarnished Dome and all, hehehe. Lower the standards.
South Carolina now goes from the penthouse to the outhouse in the class department coach wise, but they will climb even higher coaching ability wise.
I wish Illinois would hire him - there is no reason for the Illini to be a perennial second-tier team.
Say what you will, Notre Dame had higher academic standards for the football team than Stanford, and they were up there with Duke at percentage of students who graduated.
Tommy Bowden teaches his players to play like that. He tells them to keep hitting until the echo of the whistle. They usually go beyond that.
I don't know how you got that idea. Clemson is not known for cheapshots or dirty play. Last year when Clemson kicked Tennessee all over the field in their bowl game, the Vols played like dirtbags. Interesting that Syvelle Newton's high school team, Marlboro, was banned from post season play a couple of years ago for a game ending brawl. He was QB in that game against Rock Hill. Old habits hard to break.
This time Syvelle was getting pounded not the other way around.
I saw Syvelle play in the North/South all state game. My nephew was on Syvelle's team.
I've got to agree with you there. The Vols program has a very dirty reputation. There's so much corruption in that program that Fulmer won't even attempt to discipline his players.
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