The Irish will face a familiar opponent when they open the 2011 season.And for the first time in -- well, eternity -- Lou Holtz might not becheering for ol’ Notre Dame.
Former Notre Dame defensive coordinator (and son of Dr. Lou) Skip Holtz’s SouthFlorida team has agreed to move their date with the Irish from October1st to September 3rd, a game that will open both team’s season at NotreDame Stadium on NBC.
SkipHoltz has quite a tie to Notre Dame, besides his famous father. Theyounger played special teams and was a backup flanker for the Irish,before returning to his dad’s coaching staff from 1990-1993.
Thematch-up was on the schedule before Holtz ever came to USF, and whenNotre Dame officials asked USF brass about moving the game toaccommodate the Irish, to avoid starting the season with back-to-backBig Ten road games, USF obliged.
The game was originally scheduled forlate November, but was moved to the October date two years ago becauseof NBC’s President’s Cup gold coverage.
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Its a very high profile opening game with plenty of storylines to kickoff 2011, and probably a much tougher match-up now than what the Irish bargained for when they put the upstart USF squad on the schedule.
