Holtz reflects on visiting with Steinbrenner during spring training

Posted Jul 13, 2010 by Scott Carter

Updated Jul 14, 2010 at 12:38 PM

It was one of those beautiful spring days back in early April when USF football coach Skip Holtz, barely two months on the job, visited Steinbrenner Field to take in a Yankees game with his father, Lou.

You could say Skip and his dad had good seats: they sat in Yankees owner George Steinbrenner’s private box, sharing small talk with Steinbrenner and another Yankees icon, Reggie Jackson.

Skip Holtz had met Jackson previously at a golf tournament years ago in Indiana, even taking home a golf ball imprinted with “Mr. October’’ that Jackson tossed him as a souvenir.

While Lou Holtz had been in the company of Steinbrenner many times, Skip had not. He wasn’t sure what to expect due to the reports of Steinbrenner’s declining health in recent years.

“I was impressed,’’ Holtz said Tuesday evening. “I didn’t know what I was walking into from the stories that I had heard. But he was on top of his game that day. It was a special day that I’ll always remember.’’

Fast forward four months, and like the rest of Tampa, Steinbrenner’s death Tuesday was difficult to digest for one of the city’s newest residents.

“It’s a tough blow to the sports world,’’ Holtz said. “He was such a great man and an icon in the sports world and in the Tampa community. He will be missed.

“I came along near the end. I wish I could have been around longer and got to know him more. I’m just thankful I had an opportunity to talk with him and get to see his impact in this community. He is going to be missed.’’

USF athletic director Doug Woolard shared similar sentiments in a statement released by the school.

Over the years, Steinbrenner served as one of the most prominent and generous boosters of USF athletics.

“The sports world lost a legend today. George Steinbrenner will go down as one of the greatest owners and leaders in baseball history,’’ Woolard said. “His positive contributions to baseball are timeless. George was a great friend and philanthropist to USF and Tampa Bay.

“As we celebrate his successes in the sporting world, I also hope we all take time to applaud his generosity and the giving spirit he fostered throughout his life.”