Holtz's Impact on Cowboys History

0:00On March 5, the football world is mourning the loss of Lou Holtz, who passed away at age 89. He was one of college football's all-time greats, racking up 249 wins across more than four decades at schools like Notre Dame, Arkansas, and South Carolina. A Hall of Famer, Holtz took four programs to top 15 finishes and even won a national title with the fighting Irish. Earlier this week, tributes poured in for Holtz's impact, but his story also ties into Dallas Cowboys' history in unexpected ways. Back in 1977, he landed the head coaching job at Arkansas, passing over assistant Jimmy Johnson, and a lumb who'd expected the role. Johnson left for Pittsburgh, then Miami, while Holtz led the Razorbacks to an 11-2 record and a top 3 ranking in his first year. That set up a legendary rivalry. In 1988, Holtz's undefeated Notre Dame hosted top-ranked Miami, coached by Johnson. The hyped showdown, both teams unbeaten, ended with the Irish edging out a 31-30 victory

1:03on a failed two-point try. Notre Dame went on to claim the national championship that season. Years later, after Johnson put the Cowboys into back-to-back Super Bowl champs and split with owner Jerry Jones in 1994, Holtz emerged as a candidate to replace him. Jones had praised Holtz's success at Notre Dame, where he gone 52 and 9 and 1 since their big clash. Holtz never took the Dallas job. Jones picked Barry Switzer instead, who won another title, but its clear Holtz shaped Cowboys' lore from afar-through. Those key crossroads from Johnson treatment seeds from Johnson. These role Studies Holtz never took Dallas job. Jones picked Barry Switzer instead, who won another title, but it's clear Hántz shaped Cowboys' lore from afar-through. Those key crossroads with Johnson.