Under the Tarnished Dome is a book about Coach Lou Holtz written by Don Yeager and Doug Looney. Holtz, the University of Notre Dame football coach, has been a proven winner in the game of football. He has earned head coaching jobs at schools such as, William and Mary, North Carolina State University, Arkansas University, Minnesota, and Notre Dame; all the football programs were suffering before Holtz took over their helms. Holtz has an uncanny way of turning programs around in a hurry, some say he is a "miracle worker" and some question his method to success.
Under the Tarnished Dome reveals the dark side of his methods, the physical and mental abuse of his athletes, his treatment to injured players and his failure to punish players for steroid abuse will be looked at in this paper. This paper will concern itself primarily with Coach Holtz at the University of Notre Dame. It will talk of the strong tradition at Notre Dame and Coach Holtz.
Ninety miles east of Chicago in South Bend, Indiana; is located a university which costs around $18,000 a year to attend. Less than 10,000 students are enrolled which includes 2,000 graduate students. You guessed it the University of Notre Dame. Ever since the days of Knute Rockne, George Gipp and the four horseman, Notre Dame has been considered one of the most prestigious university's in the country. Notre Dame excels in academics as well as athletics and in particular football. The University of Notre Dame "Fighting Irish" have won eight football national championships more than any other college or university in the country. They've had a number of seasons in which they've gone undefeated (1909, 1919, 1920, 1930, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949).
Tradition at Notre Dame is so rich it is comparable to none. Knute Rockne, the legendary coach of the Irish, in his thirteen seasons as head coach (1917-1930). Rockne compiled a staggering 102-12-5 record.
