Notre Dame Is Not in Plans, Holtz Says

South Carolina Coach Lou Holtz insisted Wednesday he’s not a candidate to return to Notre Dame as coach and instead recommended his son, Skip.

Notre Dame contacted Holtz on Saturday, seeking advice on what coaches it might pursue after George O’Leary was forced to resign for lying on his resume five days after taking the job.

Holtz coached at Notre Dame for 11 seasons and won the last national championship for the Irish in 1988.

“I’m not a candidate,” Holtz said at a news conference as his team prepared to meet Ohio State in the Outback Bowl at Tampa, Fla., on Jan 1.

Skip Holtz is the offensive coordinator at South Carolina.

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Bill Bleil, 42, was fired as Western Carolina’s coach, a move that came after one of his players was charged with murder. Fullback Toren Gordon was charged this month with second-degree murder in the shooting death of Corey Jermon Matthews at a North Carolina nightclub.... Minnesota players Steven M. Watson and Mackenzy Toussaint were acquitted of raping a woman at the team dormitory in the summer.