What It Means To Be A True Winner:

One of the most successful coaches in NCAA history!

Future College Football Hall of Fame Gamecock Head Coach Lou Holtz returned to his roots when he took the job at South Carolina in 1999. Coach Holtz had coached Notre Dame to a national football title in 1988. He was a 2-time Coach of the Year (1977,88). He retired after the 1996 season with a 216-95-7 record in 27 seasons with 5 schools ... Wm. & Mary (3 years), N.C. State (4), Arkansas (7), Minnesota (2) and ND (11).

Coach Holtz, in only his second season in Columbia, SC, led the Gamecocks to two consecutive New Year's Day Outback Bowl Victories over Ohio State. He enters his fifth season with the Gamecocks in 2003 with a 22-25 record after suffering through his first 0-11 season in the first year he commanded USC. Coach Holtz's current overall record (as of the end of the 2002 season) is 238-120-7.

Presently Coach Holtz is tied for number eight on the All-Times wins list with his mentor and friend Woody Hayes. How ironic that Coach Holtz would give SC their first two New Year's Day Bowl Victories over OSU? Coach Holtz currently ranks third on the active coaches' All-Times wins list trailing only Bobby Bowden and Joe Paterno, who have both been at their postions with the same schools for decades. The amazing thing about this is that Coach Holtz garnered his Hall of Fame record by rebuilding and winning at every program (6) in which he has coached.

Trivia ... where did Coach Holtz coach after being fired from USC in 1967 by then Gamecock Coach Paul Dietzel? Why he went to work in Columbus, Ohio for Coach Hayes of course. As Woody's secondary coach.

In 2003, after a rough rebuilding year in 2002 in which three fumbles would have made a difference between a losing season or going to another New Year's Day Bowl, Coach Holtz is readying himself for another big season by putting together a stellar recruiting class for the Gamecocks. His 2001 and 2002 classes were exceptional. But his 2003 class might be something truly extraordinary.

Lou's son Skip joined his Dad in Columbia and serves as his offensive coordinator. Another interesting note; Skip gave up his position as the head coach at Connecticut in order to join his Dad in Columbia, and "to allow his children to grow up near their grandparents," according to Skip. But to leave Connecticut ... Lou Holtz was an assistant coach at Connecticut when his son Skip was born in 1964.

With very good talent returning in 2003, and with most of his coaching staff now having worked together for the past four seasons, look for Holtz and Company to put the Gamecocks back on a winning track in the SEC in 2003.

''I don’t know how we could possibly handle everything if it was not for a strong faith in God. Sometimes, when you get very disoriented ... it is your faith that enables you to succeed.''