SOUTH BEND - Lou Holtz has coached the Fighting Irish for the last time in Notre Dame Stadium, and he went out with an exclamation point.

Holtz, who announced last week that he was retiring from college football's top coaching spot saw his Irish club dominate a second straight opponent in as many weeks. It was victory No. 100 for the Holtz at Notre Dame and No. 216 overall in his 27-year career.

Last week, it was a smashing of Pittsburgh by 54 points; this week it was a 62-0 shellacking of hapless Rutgers. The 62 points is record high for the Holtz era and most points by the Fighting Irsh since 1977.

Still, the score of the game didn't matter much to the 59,075 fans and admirers of Holtz and his legacy; points didn't matter on this day. What did matter was the fact that Holtz was leaving after 11 seasons. "Thank You, Lou" signs were everywhere. the "Lou" chant, set to the "1812 Overture" suddenly has a lot more meaning and feeling to it. There was a true feeling of sadness in the air - students, parents, alumni, ushers, and even the press - sensed it; felt it; couldn't believe it.

Lou was leaving.

His team responded the only way it could, at least on the field. The Irish destroyed the Scarlet Knights in every facet of the game. The team scored with ease - 21, 14, 13, and 14 points in the four quarters. The closest Rutgers came to the endzone was walking over it coming back from the lockerroom during the halftime break.

• Notre Dame piled up 648 total yard of offense; Rutgers managed 43, including negative six on the ground.

• The Irish tallied 27 first downs to Rutger's six; most of the time, it took just a few first downs for Notre Dame to score.

• Notre Dame's passing attack was an impressive 17 of 21 for 300-plus yards under three quarterbacks. Ron Powlus broke Rick Mirer's record for touchdown passes early in the third quarter with a 41-yard throw to Malcolm Johnson. Powlus now has 42 touchdown passes. Rutgers was 3 of 16 through the air with two interceptions.

To put it simply and acknowledge the obvious, it was Notre Dame's day - and Lou's day.

The 59-year old Holtz addressed the students on the field after the win and the press immediately after that. Maintaining his composure at first but becoming emotional near the end, he spoke of his love for the university and student body. His words were simple and his sincere love and devotion to Notre Dame was evident as he spoke.

"The only thing I'm thinking of is the kindness," Holtz said. "There are no hard feelings...I don't think Notre Dame will miss Lou Holtz, but Lou Holtz will miss Notre Dame.

"I'm just grateful," Holtz said. ""For a guy who ranked in the lower half of his class, now I'm glad I didn't rank in the upper half. ...Nothing could have been more moving than the last half of this game," he said referring to the numerous "Lou" chants and posters.

"I was deeply touched."

Holtz tried to quiet rumors of a move to another college program as well.

"I think I would have difficulty coaching at another college," he said. "My heart is here. I even asked my wife to bury me here...I'm well taken care of if I never coach another day."

"I can say I coached in the house (Knute) Rockne built, and I watched it expand...I imagine I'll walk down the tunnel one more time by myself...it will never be that way again. I've been blessed."

Lou has left the building.

And it will never be the same. [[In-content Ad]]