Notre Dame defeated No. 1 Miami on Saturday, with WNDU reporting that the matchup paid tribute to former coach Lou Holtz on the exact same field where he previously guided the Irish past a top-ranked Miami squad back in 1988.
The last time Notre Dame beat a No. 1-ranked Miami team, Holtz was on the sideline. That was the year of the game known as Catholics vs. Convicts.
Holtz coached Notre Dame for 11 seasons. In 1988, he led the Irish to a national championship. Notre Dame has not won one since, according to WNDU.
From before kickoff through the fourth quarter, Notre Dame Stadium made room for Holtz, who died in March. WNDU reported that former captains carried out the flags, the band honored him during the halftime show, and he received recognition while the 1812 Overture played.
The Fighting Irish have carried his name on their helmets all season.
Lou Holtz’s No. 4 Notre Dame defeated No. 1 Miami 31–30 at Notre Dame Stadium before going on to win the national championship. 38 years later, AP No. 4 Notre Dame knocks off No. 1 Miami 31–24 at Notre Dame Stadium while honoring the late Lou Holtz, who passed away in March.
When questioned on Saturday regarding whether his father ever discussed how he wished to be remembered outside of family bounds, Skip Holtz explained that his dad concentrated on performing right actions and leaving a positive mark on other people.
I think it was always more about doing the right thing. Because when you’re not here anymore, this is what people remember. Skip Holtz
Skip Holtz said Notre Dame had always been part of who they were as a family. Even during his final week in the hospital, his father routinely asked a familiar question, which Skip recalled as: What can I do for you?
And I think, what an example for all of us to learn from, Skip Holtz said. What can we do for other people? I think he lived his life the way he wanted to be remembered.
During a 2024 conversation with Tricia Sloma of WNDU, Lou Holtz mentioned that he felt a sense of longing for the campus, the student body, and the Grotto. To Notre Dame students, he offered the guidance to make the absolute most of their four years there so they could prove themselves across every facet of their lives.
Away from the gridiron, Holtz’s Heroes operates to sustain and build upon his tradition of love, trust, and dedication by offering assistance to former student-athletes who encounter financial, physical, or mental difficulties, according to WNDU coverage.
The tribute focused on Holtz’s lasting example found an ideal backdrop in Notre Dame’s win, underscoring the idea that while success is important, the way you serve others matters just as much.
Earlier coverage: No. 11 Notre Dame Beats Undefeated No. 1 Miami 31-24 in South Bend
