Lou Holtz, the legendary college football coach, was known for bringing Notre Dame to a national championship in 1988. But did you know he also helped Garth Brooks kick off his Stadium Tour in 2019?
In a post on his website, Garth Brooks released a touching tribute to the late coach. The country icon revealed that Brooks was right there by his side the whole time. Brooks wrote, "Nearly 90 years after The Fighting Irish played their first game there, Garth's concert became the first concert event ever held on the fabled field. And the moment had Holtz's endorsement!"
But it was more than just his endorsement. Holtz actively supported Garth Brooks. He "was so excited by the idea that he flew to Nashville". Holtz said when the gig was announced, "To be able to bring all of the enthusiasm and enjoyment to people by having a concert with Garth Brooks, I think, is long overdue. You'll say, 'Why didn't it happen before?!'"
Brooks was also proud to play at the Fighting Irish's stadium. He said on the announcement day, with Holtz at his side, "Every gig you take, you take it as if you never get to play another gig again. This one fits perfect. They could've chose anyone."
Garth Brooks finished his statement on his website with a salute to the coaching legend.
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Garth Brooks and the Stadium Tour
In case you didn't know, Garth Brooks' Stadium Tour was likely his best. It consisted of 42 shows across three years and three countries. And it all started at Notre Dame, with Lou Holtz's endorsement.
As reported by People when the tour was first announced, Brooks released in a news conference, "I wanted to call it the 'Big-Ass Stadium Tour', but they voted me down on that. So we're just gonna call it the stadium tour for right now."
He emphasized that the tour should be like a "game day". Garth Brooks encouraged fans to show up in "the colors of the school or the team". He mused, "I can't think how to make music more fun than to add sports... You can take the ideas as far as you want, right?"
And it was all thanks to Lou Holtz that the tour started as it was meant to go on: as a spectacle.
