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Lou Holtz Retires
local6 ^ | November 22, 2004

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.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: South Carolina
KEYWORDS: coach; collegefootball; football; louholtz; retirement; sc
Well done, Coach.
1 posted on 11/22/2004 7:53:12 PM PST by stainlessbanner
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To: stainlessbanner
Coach deserved a better-out than he got. I was there at his press conference today and when I saw the tears running down his face I knew the old guy was hurting.

It was good getting to know him. He has a good heart. He's lost some of his nerve over the years, but he never lost his heart. He just wasn't prepared for the toughness of the SEC nor the meaness and viciousness of the Carolina-Clemson rivalry.

Steve Spurrier is prepared for all of the above ... and Holtz is leaving him with a lot of talent.

www.gamecocknation.com
2 posted on 11/22/2004 7:58:22 PM PST by JRPerry
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To: stainlessbanner

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.


3 posted on 11/22/2004 7:58:57 PM PST by SE Mom (God Bless our troops.)
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To: stainlessbanner

A great man and a great coach.


4 posted on 11/22/2004 7:59:27 PM PST by NeoCaveman ("I expressed myself rather forcefully, felt better after I had done it," -- VP Cheney)
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To: stainlessbanner
Of all the ways to go out....


5 posted on 11/22/2004 8:00:40 PM PST by hole_n_one
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To: dubyaismypresident

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!


6 posted on 11/22/2004 8:58:17 PM PST by Columbus Dawg (Buckeye Country is Bush Country)
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To: hole_n_one
Don;t who that is in the pic, but that is one Clemson player that needs to lose his scholarship and never play collegiate football again.

As an aside - Both Clemson and South Carolina announced today that the schools will not be allowed to accept bowl bids this year.

7 posted on 11/22/2004 9:02:13 PM PST by commish (Freedom Tastes Sweetest to Those Who Have Fought to Preserve It)
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To: hole_n_one

Anybody who knows the real 'Sweet Lou' is not surprised. Golden Dome, Tarnished Dome and all, hehehe. Lower the standards.


8 posted on 11/22/2004 9:02:37 PM PST by panzer_grey
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To: stainlessbanner
Congrats to Lou Holtz on a long an wonderful career. he was one of the good guys and will be sorely missed.

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.

9 posted on 11/22/2004 9:04:14 PM PST by commish (Freedom Tastes Sweetest to Those Who Have Fought to Preserve It)
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To: Columbus Dawg

I wish Illinois would hire him - there is no reason for the Illini to be a perennial second-tier team.


10 posted on 11/22/2004 9:04:27 PM PST by AggieCPA (Howdy, Ags!)
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To: panzer_grey

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.


11 posted on 11/22/2004 9:06:39 PM PST by nickcarraway
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To: hole_n_one

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.


12 posted on 11/22/2004 9:45:58 PM PST by boycott
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To: boycott

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.


13 posted on 11/23/2004 4:11:53 AM PST by doosee (Those who ignore history are bound to repeat it.)
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To: doosee

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.


14 posted on 11/23/2004 4:21:43 AM PST by SeeRushToldU_So (We won !)
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To: Columbus Dawg; All
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.


One of the things that made us all laugh in the Letterman's Lounge yesterday during Lou's press conference was when he said, "Imagine that. Both Woody Hayes and I are both going to be remembered for our last games being fights with Clemson."

Everyone laughed.

BTW - before Lou coaches at Ohio State ... do you know where he coached? Few people realize this.


15 posted on 11/23/2004 8:57:12 AM PST by JRPerry
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To: doosee
Last year when Clemson kicked Tennessee all over the field in their bowl game, the Vols played like dirtbags.

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.

16 posted on 11/23/2004 6:43:44 PM PST by boycott
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To: JRPerry
As a Razorback fan Coach Holtz will be missed and much appreiceited for all he did for college football.
17 posted on 11/23/2004 6:54:14 PM PST by LittleRedRooster
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