Lou Holtz visitation draws hundreds to Notre Dame
· Yahoo Sports
SOUTH BEND — Hundreds of people braved severe weather to attend the public visitation for former University of Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz on Sunday, March 15, on the Notre Dame campus.
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Holtz, who coached at the university from 1986-96, died on March 4 in Orlando, Fla. He was 89.
Throngs waited outside for room to open up inside the Basilica of the Sacred Heart for more people to cycle through during the 7-10 p.m. services. The impending thunderstorm forced those waiting outside into the administration building at 7:45 p.m.
One person who was thankful to share his condolences inside was former Fighting Irish offensive guard Brian Shannon, who played under Holtz from 1987-91.
"I had four years of his motivation and his inspiration, so I just wanted to pay my respects to Coach," said Shannon, who made the trip from Youngstown, Ohio.
"He had such an amazing influence on my life," Shannon said. "He made so many things possible. He made my life better and he made my life's journey more purposeful. He instilled in us to be our best."
Holtz will be remembered for his philosophy of trust, love and commitment, said Shannon, noting that philosophy was treasured by himself and his teammates, many of whom he was reunited with Sunday.
"I haven't seen some of them in probably a decade," Shannon said. "There are many of them I see every year at the Holtz's Heroes Foundation."
The funeral Mass for Holtz will be private and begin at 1 p.m. on Monday, March 16, the university has announced.
The Mass at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart will be livestreamed online and shown on campus in Washington Hall and at Purcell Pavilion. Seating at those venues will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
After Holtz’s funeral Mass, the public is invited to gather on both sides of Notre Dame Avenue as the Holtz family leads a funeral procession from Notre Dame Circle to the main entrance of Cedar Grove Cemetery.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Lou Holtz visitation draws hundreds to Notre Dame