Am I the only person that misses Lou? Honestly? Sportstalk over the last few days have just been brutal to the man. I honestly can't figure it out. People point to the win/loss record over the last three years of his coaching tenure at USC.16 wins in three years. Considering the history of the USC athletic program, that record really isn't that bad.  Lou's predecessor,Brad Scott only won 23 over a 5 year period. (1994-1998), and Sparky Woods, the man Scott replaced, won 24 over the same amount of time. So why is Lou judged so harshly?

     Some point to his final campaign, 2004, that ended 6-5 with the nasty brawl at Clemson. Supposedly that left a bad taste in the mouth of the Gamecock nation. Apparently something washed out the taste of 1995, 1997, and the horrendous 1-21 stretch over the 1998 and 1999 seasons. What was this delightful toddy that could make those seasons of 6 wins or less disappear? It was the consecutive Outback bowl victories won by Holtz himself. Seriously, the USC football program was dead in the water when Coach Holtz arrived on the scene in 1999. Then athletic director Mike McGee was like a triage nurse in the Emergency Room. The patient was fading fast and what could be done to save it? In a move that is somehow criticized on sportstalk radio, McGee coaxed a legend out of retirement to take the paddles and shock life back into the football program.

      For those with short memories, Holtz took six different teams to post season bowl games by the second year of his tenure. I think that maybe people don't grasp how big of an achievement that really is, especially when considering some of the programs that he inherited. Notre Dame, where Holtz won the 1988 national championship, had become a mere shell of its former self under nice guy Gerry Faust. Coach Holtz was able to wake up the echoes of that traditional powerhouse and they played in the Cotton Bowl in year 2 and won a national title in year 3, and the Fighting Irish remained a top national program until his retirement following the 1996 season. But as unbelievable a coaching job as those years in South Bend proved to be, a larger task awaited him when he wearily answered McGee's page and came to handle the emergency in Columbia.

        The University of South Carolina had no tradition to match Notre Dame, no huge recruiting base, and a roster that was talented, but undeveloped. Yet in year 2 of the Holtz era, South Carolina won 8 games and defeated Ohio State in the Outback Bowl following the 2000 season. South Carolina had not won 8 games in a single season since 1988, yet Holtz was able to deliver another successful season in 2001, winning 9 games. That Lou Holtz was able to take USC to that level is truly an amazing accomplishment. But Holtz is not remembered for his success at USC, but rather the shortcomings of his final 3 seasons.

         The second half of the Holtz era at USC was full of near misses, questionable playcalling, and off the field incidents that brought negative attention to the program. Of course, that would also summarize any number of coaches at any number of programs around the country. Let's focus on 2004, the final year Holtz coached the Gamecocks. Critics will point to his conservative style of offense, which inarguably led to defeats on the field, the game against Georgia would be a good example. Those same critics don't remember that "get a little lead and hold it" strategy also led to wins on the field, including a victory against the University of Alabama that was the program's first victory in Tuscaloosa. Some would have you believe that the inexplicable uniform change and Coach Holtz's relaxed rules on facial hair is somehow indicative of the game "passing him by" . Yet if one looks at success in the form of wins and losses, where has the program gone since he took his leave in 2004? The final game of his career, the brawl against Clemson, was the fifth loss of that season. It should be pointed out that South Carolina has not lost less than 5 games in a single season since that time. At 6-5, the 2004 Gamecocks sure look a lot like the 2007 Gamecocks at 6-6.

              Also unremembered is the fact that Holtz's hiring put USC's football program in the national spotlight. Prior to his arrival, USC was only known for the player's walkout in 1992 that demanded the resignation of then coach Sparky Woods. Had Holtz not been followed by another living legend, Steve Spurrier, perhaps he would get the recognition and rememberance that he deserves. Perhaps, as time passes and the 6 and 7 win seasons blur together in the minds of the fans, Coach Holtz will be remembered in a more favorable light.

         Lou, if you're reading this, thanks for bringing USC back to life. I miss you, even if no one else does.

June 11, 2008

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