Donnie Holt

[IM4ASU]

I ran into Donnie Holt last night at my grandson's JV game. He was the Head Linesman. I caught up with him at halftime. I introduced myself and asked if he was the Donnie Holt that played at App and scored the winning TD at South Carolina. He said he was and we enjoyed reliving some ancient history. I kidded him and told him not to call any holds on my grandson. When I got back to my seat he was talking to my grandson. He told him that I made his day remembering his play that day in 1975. No one could forget that play and his rendition of Billy "White Shoes" Johnson. That was by far the biggest win in ASU history up to that date.

Donnie had a successful career in education. He said he taught school, coached and was Principal of Lexington High School for 5 Years. He was a real pleasure to talk to. You never know who you will run into at a JV game!

[wncapp78]

Beating South Carolina, Wake Forest, and ECU all on the road in only year 4 of D1 was truly amazing.

[Stonewall]

Very cool. Thanks for sharing.

[appstate77]

He and I shared a speech class at App. We talked lots of football!

[appfanjj]

I ran into Gerard Hardy a couple of years ago in the Myrtle Beach area. I was at a convention and he was working at it in IT. I recognized him by his name on his access credentials. He was really pleased that I knew who he was. We talked App State football and about his career. Very intelligent young man and well spoken. Was doing very well for himself. I was at App with Donnie Holt also. Good guy.

[scatman77]

Beating South Carolina, Wake Forest, and ECU all on the road in only year 4 of D1 was truly amazing.

ECU was at home, opening game that year. The Apps absolutely assaulted Pat Dye's Pirates. I was another who graduated with Donnie. He was/is a really nice fellow and was an equally good basketball player.

[Appsolutely]

Beating South Carolina, Wake Forest, and ECU all on the road in only year 4 of D1 was truly amazing.

ECU was at home, opening game that year. The Apps absolutely assaulted Pat Dye's Pirates. I was another who graduated with Donnie. He was/is a really nice fellow and was an equally good basketball player.

As I remember, Scat, the Pirates never did catch Devon Ford that night.

[Stonewall]

Number 1

[appstate77]

Donnie told me Price lost sight of him when he released the ball and didn't know if Holt had caught it until he heard the crowd react.

[Budman2154]

Devon was one fast runner. I held the blocks for him during a meet at App against the Citadel and I believe Wake Forest. It was wet and very cold and if I remember correctly, Wake got back on the bus. He could really put one foot in front of the other.

[scatman77]

Beating South Carolina, Wake Forest, and ECU all on the road in only year 4 of D1 was truly amazing.

ECU was at home, opening game that year. The Apps absolutely assaulted Pat Dye's Pirates. I was another who graduated with Donnie. He was/is a really nice fellow and was an equally good basketball player.

As I remember, Scat, the Pirates never did catch Devon Ford that night.

Got that right! He had 2 go through his hands or we’d have hung almost 60 on ‘em!

[SpeedkingATL]

Beating South Carolina, Wake Forest, and ECU all on the road in only year 4 of D1 was truly amazing.

ECU was at home, opening game that year. The Apps absolutely assaulted Pat Dye's Pirates. I was another who graduated with Donnie. He was/is a really nice fellow and was an equally good basketball player.

As I remember, Scat, the Pirates never did catch Devon Ford that night.

Got that right! He had 2 go through his hands or we’d have hung almost 60 on ‘em!

Didn't Devon get converted to DB in the NFL or CFL? I seem to remember him playing DB either for Green Bay or in the CFL. My old mind is a little foggy. I was also at the USC game and remember Mr. Holt very well!

[appstate77]

Devon played for BC in the CFL from 78-83. He recently retired from a 30 plus year career teaching.

[ELCubano1]

I was at all three games in '75 (USC, Wake & ECU). I remember Donnie's catch very well and him too. A hell of a nice guy. After the USC game, the sports broadcasts that night in Colombia were calling us the best team in both Carolinas...! Amazing, to say the least, as we were a 1-AA team years away from moving to 1-A (FBS today). I had end zone seats at USC and the holes our offensive line was creating, you could easily drive a Mack truck through. Nice memories...!

[scatman77]

I was at all three games in '75 (USC, Wake & ECU). I remember Donnie's catch very well and him too. A hell of a nice guy. After the USC game, the sports broadcasts that night in Colombia were calling us the best team in both Carolinas...! Amazing, to say the least, as we were a 1-AA team years away from moving to 1-A (FBS today). I had end zone seats at USC and the holes our offensive line was creating, you could easily drive a Mack truck through. Nice memories...!

We were Division I and no AA at all. It didn’t exist at that time.

[fjblair]

Before my time and never heard of the guy, but that is a very cool story. Very impressed you would recognize a player from 40+ years ago. Well done.

[NewApp]

I ran into Donnie Holt last night at my grandson's JV game. He was the Head Linesman. I caught up with him at halftime. I introduced myself and asked if he was the Donnie Holt that played at App and scored the winning TD at South Carolina. He said he was and we enjoyed reliving some ancient history. I kidded him and told him not to call any holds on my grandson. When I got back to my seat he was talking to my grandson. He told him that I made his day remembering his play that day in 1975. No one could forget that play and his rendition of Billy "White Shoes" Johnson. That was by far the biggest win in ASU history up to that date.

Donnie had a successful career in education. He said he taught school, coached and was Principal of Lexington High School for 5 Years. He was a real pleasure to talk to. You never know who you will run into at a JV game!

Thanks for sharing that, IM4ASU. I was there in person. I made a fair amount of money on that game that year as well as the ECU and Wake games. I was given points on all three games, but didn't need them.

[JMappfan5]

I was an eyewitness for all three games. Our offense was formidable, that oline was a BEAST!!!

[Cro-Magnon App]

Played football and basketball against Donnie in high school. He became a good friend at ASU. He played at Lexington. Super swell guy and was a really good basketball player. And was in the middle of that fight in the far end zone when the students came over the wall and I cannot remember the opponent.

[scatman77]

Played football and basketball against Donnie in high school. He became a good friend at ASU. He played at Lexington. Super swell guy and was a really good basketball player. And was in the middle of that fight in the far end zone when the students came over the wall and I cannot remember the opponent.

I believe Donnie played at Thomasville High. The fight in the “far end zone” was probably the L-R game at tonight. We ran up 625 yards total offense. Their linebacker and our fullback (both of whom I know) started the fight with 0:16 left. It was fun for sure!