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Lou Holtz's famous newspaper trick video surfaces after death; 'blows my mind every time

Lou Holtz, College Football Hall of Fame coach who guided Notre Dame to the 1988 championship, has died

Published on: Mar 05, 2026 5:08 AM IST
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Lou Holtz, College Football Hall of Fame coach who guided Notre Dame to the 1988 championship, has died. He was 89. The school announced that he passed in Orlando, Florida, surrounded by his family. His official cause of death was not revealed.

Notre Dame University coach Lou Holtz holds the Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year award in Houston (AP)
Notre Dame University coach Lou Holtz holds the Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year award in Houston (AP)

“Notre Dame mourns the loss of Lou Holtz, a legendary football coach, a beloved member of the Notre Dame family and devoted husband, father and grandfather,” Notre Dame President Rev Robert A Dowd said.

“Among his many accomplishments, we will remember him above all as a teacher, leader and mentor who brought out the very best in his players, on and off the field, earning their respect and admiration for a lifetime... Whenever Notre Dame called to ask for his help, Lou answered with his characteristic generosity, and he will be sorely missed."

Holtz had a record of 249-132-7. He still ranks 10th all-time in career victories by a Football Bowl Subdivision coach, eighth all-time with 388 games coached.

Lou Holtz's famous newspaper trick

Several football fans posted about Holtz's newspaper trick after his death. The iconic coach was speaking to the Texas Longhorns back in 2015 when he decided to perform a magic trick.

“The Lou Holtz newspaper trick has been stuck in my head for more than a decade. Blows my mind every time,” one person wrote on X, platform formerly known as Twitter. They also shared a video of Holtz doing the trick.

“Lou Holtz did the newspaper trick on espn during the USF run, right? This is definitely a blackout drunk memory bc I definitely remember everyone screaming when he did it,” another user added.

Holtz became such a popular personality that after coaching his last game, in 2004 with South Carolina, he parlayed that into a broadcasting career and motivational speaking.

Lou Holtz's coaching career record

1969: William & Mary, 3-7

1970: William & Mary, 5-7

1971: William & Mary, 5-6

1972: NC State, 8-3-1

1973: NC State, 9-3

1974: NC State, 9-2-1

1975: NC State, 7-4-1

1977: Arkansas, 11-1

1978: Arkansas, 9-2-1

1979: Arkansas, 10-2

1980: Arkansas, 7-5

1981: Arkansas, 8-4

1982: Arkansas: 9-2-1

1983: Arkansas, 6-5

1984: Minnesota, 4-7

1985: Minnesota, 6-5

1986: Notre Dame, 5-6

1987: Notre Dame, 8-4

1988: Notre Dame, 12-0

1989: Notre Dame, 12-1

1990: Notre Dame, 9-3

1991: Notre Dame, 10-3

1992: Notre Dame: 10-1-1

1993: Notre Dame, 11-1

1994: Notre Dame: 6-5-1

1995: Notre Dame, 9-3

1996: Notre Dame, 8-3

1999: South Carolina, 0-11

2000: South Carolina, 8-4

2001: South Carolina, 9-3

2002: South Carolina, 5-7

2003: South Carolina, 5-7

2004: South Carolina, 6-5

TOTAL: 33 seasons, 249-132-7 (.651)

  • Yash Nitish Bajaj
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Yash Nitish Bajaj

    Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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