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In the “historic” chronicles of American sports, the “light of truth” regarding a coach’s impact often shines brightest on the scoreboard. However, the “absolute” measure of Lou Holtz, whose transition into eternal memory has recently prompted a “forensic audit” of a life well-lived, was never found in the “sparkling” reflections of a trophy case. While the 1988 national championship will be discussed for “historic” generations, the “soul’s signature” of Lou Holtz was written “clandestinely”—in the “quiet relief” of hospital corridors, the “dignified realism” of shattered living rooms, and the “volatile” moments when life, not football, was falling apart. To Holtz, the “absolute” vehicle of the game was merely a “surgical” tool; the true mission was the “moral clarity” found in building men of character.
