On Sept. 13, 2025, the student body stood unified in their dark green. “The Shirt” had traded the usual Four Horseman or Irish football logo for the infamous play from 1988: the Irish national championship win over the University of Miami. While students may be distracted by the drawing of the football player on the back under the words of the alma mater, the front serves a deeper meaning, paying homage to a coach whose legacy remains the gold standard here in South Bend: Lou Holtz.
Holtz’s love for Notre Dame was similar to all of ours, rooted in wearing Irish garb since birth, watching football every Saturday no matter the opponent and believing in the Irish spirit. For Holtz, this was more than a hobby, as he would show his devotion by marching out of his elementary school to the beat of the “Notre Dame Victory March” for recess, already practicing for the tunnel run that he would one day lead. Although the Golden Dome was the dream-destination, Holtz began his coaching career at William and Mary for two years before moving to North Carolina State and having the best four-year record in program history. Holtz spent one year in the NFL, coaching the New York Jets, before deciding to come back to college ball at Arkansas, where he led the team to six-straight bowl games. After moving North and spending two seasons with Minnesota, Holtz came to Notre Dame in 1985 and became the last coach to earn a national championship for the Irish.
Holtz immediately made a lasting impact on the program, choosing to remove player’s last names from the back of their jerseys to emphasize how they are each a crucial part of a greater team, not just individuals. Behind his frame-wired glasses, he immediately demanded respect from the players and wanted them to look him in the eyes when he spoke. Despite the 1986 season being the same record as it was the year prior, the team was entirely different, losing five of their six games by a combined total of 14 points, demonstrating how Holtz transformed the program into a new force to be reckoned with. This would go on to be Holtz’s only losing season with the Irish. In 1987, Holtz coached Heisman Trophy winner Tim Brown, while leading Notre Dame to a 8-4 record, before heading into his strongest season.
The Irish defeated their first five opponents and gained a high ranking that sent them into the national championship against Miami, which became coined as the “Catholic vs. Convicts” game still mentioned today. Pat Terrell knocked down Steve Walsh’s two-point conversion with no time left on the clock, securing the national championship and winning Holtz his second Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year award. What made Holtz special for Notre Dame was that he showed respect for opponents while simultaneously boasting team morale by saying, “You know, we don’t have it in our TV contract, that we have to keep the game close,” and they ultimately shut their opponents down.
Holtz later joined ESPN where he continued to make his love for the Irish known, picking them in even the most lopsided of matchups. He credits the spirits of the students and fans that makes Notre Dame a special place to coach at.
