Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/638727
UNDER THE DOME dictating letters in taxis and catnapping in private jets, he has been crisscrossing the land in hot pursuit of his guiding ideal: 'Ya gotta be perfect — or better.' "Listen up, America, because if Faust's rookie season is anything like his spring de‑ but, you should get to know him before he's canonized for succeeding in the most visible job in sports." 30 Years Ago: March 14, 1986 Sports Illustrated is present again for the first day of spring practice five years later under a new Notre Dame head coach, Lou Holtz. Unlike Gerry Faust's first practice in 1981, the damp, dreary day has not a single ray of sunshine. "What a great day, today," cries out Holtz while walking among the players doing their stretching work at the outset. "I am so glad to be alive. This is better than a vacation." SI writer Douglas S. Looney (who seven years later would eviscerate Holtz in the Under The Tarnished Dome book) does a six‑ page spread several weeks after his visit to the practice. The plan was to feature Holtz on the cover — until 46‑year‑old Jack Nick‑ laus shoots a 65 on the final day of The Mas‑ ters to win his 18th Grand Slam tournament. 15 Years Ago: March 16, 2001 Under first‑year head coach Mike Brey, Notre Dame men's basketball receives its first NCAA Tournament bid in 11 years (its previous longest drought was five years from 1964‑68), and records its first NCAA Tournament win in 12 seasons with an 83‑71 victory versus Xavier in the first round before falling to Ole Miss 59‑56 in the second round. Junior for‑ ward Troy Murphy becomes the 44th player in college basketball history to repeat as an Associated Press first‑team All‑American. Later, on March 30, the No. 2 women's team under Muffet McGraw topples No. 1 Connecticut, 90‑75, to reach the NCAA championship game for the first time in its 24‑year history. — Lou Somogyi Lou Holtz's first spring practice as Notre Dame's head coach in 1986 warranted coverage from Sports Illustrated, though the story ended up getting bumped off the cover. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME MEDIA RELATIONS