NCAA: The failure and success of Lou Holtz

In last week's NFL draft, one SEC team did not have one player drafted by a team. Surprisingly, the University of South Carolina could not boast one of the best 240 athletes in college football. Somehow, though, coach Lou Holtz persuaded this team to win eight games last year, including a dominating win over Ohio State University. What is more remarkable, the Gamecocks were 0-11 the year before. Why could Holtz rejuvenate a floundering program but not keep the University of Notre Dame at the top of the college football heap?

In 1988, Holtz led Notre Dame to its record ninth national championship. Thereafter, the Irish has failed to approach the pinnacle of college football except for 1993 (most Irish fans will tell you that they not Florida State deserved the national championship). Recently, the Irish have not had the talent to compete with the likes of Florida State or the University of Tennessee. After Holtz left Notre Dame after the 1996 season, he left the cupboard bare of talent. Most Irish fans will complain that the high academic standards prevent the Irish from recruiting players, but in college football, this argument does not hold. The University of Oklahoma did not have the best talent this season, but had the best team. Holtz, too, proved that a coach does not need to best talent to win in college football after his transformation of South Carolina.

The problem according to Holtz, who spoke at a function in South Bend this week, is that he fulfilled his objectives at Notre Dame. After winning the national championship in 1988, he peaked as coach. In other words, the job he loved so much did not challenge him. He could not motivate his players - good or bad - and keep Notre Dame at a top level. After a sabbatical from football, Holtz reappeared at South Carolina in the 1999 season and last season motivated his players. They played better than their talent because of Holtz's direction.

The roots of Notre Dame's current problems lie not in 1996 or 1994, but date back to 1988. The master motivator Lou Holtz lost some of the passion for his job. He could not motivate his players as he did in the past and Notre Dame suffered through a drought that will enter its thirteenth season this year. South Carolina fans, though, have reason to rejoice. The old Holtz seems to pace the sidelines at their university. Right now, their prospects for winning a New Year's game look better than Notre Dame's. Actually, they have a winning streak on New Year's Day.

Coaching is an important facet of college football. Something that South Carolina and Notre Dame experience right now.