Legendary football coach and the man that helped lead Notre Dame to their last championship in football is celebrating a birthday today as Lou Holtz turns 83.
Instead of giving some biography on how Lou Holtz stunk as coach of the New York Jets or how he had the famous out-clause to Notre Dame while head coach at Minnesota, we’ve heard those time and time again and although enjoyable, I’d offer nothing new.
So instead, let’s look at a crazy stat from his time as head coach at Notre Dame, a post he held from 1986-1996.
In 11 years as Notre Dame head coach, Lou Holtz and the Fighting Irish played 54 games against AP Top 25 opponents, an average of just under five per season (4.9). In those games the Irish went 33-19-2 in such games, with nine occuring in bowl appearances of which Holtz and Notre Dame were 5-4.
Holtz departed Notre Dame after that 1996 season and in the 23 seasons since the Fighting Irish have won a total of 36 games against AP Top 25 teams since, going 36-45 in 81 such games since.
By comparison to Bob Davie, Tyrone Willingham and Charlie Weis before him most Notre Dame fans have been pretty aware of the steps the program has taken to winning 10 games in three straight seasons.
However, even Kelly has won just 20 games against ranked teams in ten years while he’s dropped exactly 20 as well. His .500 percentage in such games feels tiny when put next to Holtz’s 33-19-2 (.629).
Even Kelly’s last three years that have seen the program take such a great stride see Notre Dame 9-6 against ranked foes, good for a mark of 60%. As great as that relatively seems, it’s still short of Holtz’s .629 percentage overall, but especially in his best three year run from ’88 to ’90 in which Holtz and the Irish went 15-3 against ranked teams, good for a mark just north of 83%.
A great number to celebrate Lou on his 83rd.
Happy birthday, coach!