SOUTH CAROLINA FOOTBALL Holtz makes retirement official
Steve Spurrier could be named his replacement as early as today.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- As South Carolina coach Lou Holtz left the game he's cherished for 33 seasons, he couldn't resist poor-mouthing himself one last time.
"What am I qualified to do? I don't know, maybe carry the cord" of the coach's headset, he joked Monday.
Holtz, who could make playing Navy sound tougher than playing the Dallas Cowboys, stepped into retirement and cleared the way for the Gamecocks to introduce Steve Spurrier as his replacement today.
The 67-year-old Holtz goes out with 249 victories, eighth most in Division I-A, and a reputation for turning stumbling programs into winners. At each of his six schools -- William & amp; Mary, North Carolina State, Arkansas, Minnesota, Notre Dame and the Gamecocks -- Holtz went to bowl games by his second season.
His best accomplishment came in 1988, when he led Notre Dame to the national title only three seasons after the Gerry Faust era ended.
"Lou Holtz has been one of the great coaches in college football history." said Florida State coach Bobby Bowden, the winningest coach in Division I. "He has brought a lot to the game and has coached some great teams. It will seem strange without him."
Rebuilt the Gamecocks
His latest reconstruction project at South Carolina was nearly as remarkable. He came out of retirement in 1998 at 61 to rebuild the Gamecocks. After going 0-11 his first season in Columbia, Holtz brought South Carolina to its best two-year mark in history (17-7) and won consecutive Outback Bowl victories.
"I don't know where I'm going to go. I don't know what I'm going to do. I have faith in the Lord to let him lead me. As long as my family's with me, everything else will be OK," Holtz said.
"But I do feel confident leaving here that the football program is on a firm foundation."
And reportedly ready for Spurrier. The South Carolina Board of Trustees planned to meet this morning at Williams-Brice Stadium to discuss what the university it described as a contractual matter in the athletic department.
Reputation
Holtz worried that his reputation would be damaged by his last game, a 29-7 loss to Clemson that included an ugly brawl. South Carolina officials said Monday the Gamecocks would not accept an expected bowl bid because of the fight, which Holtz was in the middle of trying to restore order.
"Isn't it a heck of a note, Lou Holtz is going to be remembered along with Woody Hayes for having a fight at the Clemson game," Holtz said.
Hayes' career ended after punching Clemson linebacker Charlie Bauman at the Gator Bowl in 1978.
It's more likely Holtz will be remembered as the wiry, little general, whose diminutive size didn't stop him from being a commanding leader.
The lingering picture of Holtz for many will be of him leading a Notre Dame player off the field during a game by the facemask. Or of his woe-is-us news conferences, where he would make his opponent out to be unbeatable and his team out to be hopeless.