Miami-Notre Dame Rivalry Rekindles Lou Holtz's Legacy

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Miami-Notre Dame Rivalry Rekindles Memories of Lou Holtz and 1988

The Miami-Notre Dame rivalry once became so heated that Jimmy Johnson and Lou Holtz considered whether the programs needed a break from it. Although Miami traditionally counted Florida and Florida State among its rivals, the series with Notre Dame developed into an iconic matchup.

Mike Berardino of the South Bend Tribune said the history may not resonate as strongly with modern players, but Marcus Freeman makes an annual effort to educate Notre Dame’s freshmen and the entire team about the program’s past. While the players have been focused on studying the current Miami team, they also received a history lesson ahead of the game.

Holtz, who died in the spring and is buried on campus, will be honored multiple times during the game. Berardino said the spirit of Holtz and the 1988 team will hover over Notre Dame Stadium as the program hopes to recapture some of that magic.

Holtz helped put Notre Dame back on the map following the Gerry Faust era. His charisma also helped define a rivalry that became white-hot in the late 1980s.

Berardino said NBC’s Noah Eagle and the broadcast team plan to bring viewers up to speed on nearly 40 years of history. That history includes Holtz’s famous message to his players: If Miami caused trouble, they should handle it, but save Jimmy Johnson for him.

Berardino does not expect Mario Cristobal and Marcus Freeman to throw down on the sideline, though he joked that it would be quite a battle because both coaches are jacked.