When Lou Holtz Saw Tears
Story★★★★In Lou Holtz’s second season as head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, his team experienced a humiliating loss against Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl. Holtz was utterly dejected as he walked into the locker room, but it seemed to him that most of his players didn’t seem overly distraught.
With one exception. A second-string sub named Chris Zorich sat in front of his locker, weeping deep, gut-heaving sobs. Holtz decided at that moment that next year’s team would be composed of players who loved football as much as Zorich. The next season this young man went from sub to starter to team captain, and helped the Fighting Irish win a National Championship.
Chris Zorich had won the spot on the starting team because he had cared enough to cry. Some things are worth crying over.
The point
Lou Holtz decides to build his Notre Dame team around players who love the game as much as backup Chris Zorich, who wept after a loss and went on to become team captain and win a national championship.