Wednesday brought sad news in the world of college football with the passing of Lou Holtz. The legendary former Notre Dame head coach, who won a national title with the Irish in 1988, was 89.
Of course, having served as the head coach at Notre Dame for 11 years, Holtz was quite familiar with USC. During his tenure in South Bend, he dominated the Trojans, going a remarkable 9-1-1 in college football’s greatest intersectional rivalry.
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In fact, Holtz did not lose to USC until has very last game at Notre Dame. In 1996, the Trojans defeated the Irish 27-20 in overtime for their first victory in the series in 14 years. With Notre Dame declining a bowl game invitation, it turned out to be the final game at the school for Holtz, who had announced his retirement earlier in the season.
While the 1990s were not a particularly successful decade for USC, that game will always hold a special place in the hearts of Trojans. Not only did the victory end 14 years worth of frustration against the program’s biggest rival, but it also sent a legendary Notre Dame figure into retirement on a bitter note.
In a way, it is almost fitting that Holtz passed away when he did. With the Trojans and Fighting Irish sadly not set to play each other this fall, those who were close to Holtz can take comfort in knowing that he never had to live in a world without the USC-Notre Dame rivalry.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Lou Holtz dominated USC football with Notre Dame
