Former Gopher HC Lou Holtz in hospice care

[HitMeAgainIAmStillMoving]

I'm not a fan of him as a human being, but as a football coach here at Minnesota he was the best we ever had. Why you ask. Because I was a freshman and witnessed when we lost 84-13 to Nebraska. The gopher program was in the absolute sh*tter. Holtz came in the following year and immediately, and i mean literally immediately established credibility like no gopher fan had ever witnessed before. By Holtz's second season they barely lost to eventual national champion Oklahoma 13-6, no other team played the Sooners as well as Minnesota did that year. The closest was when Texas lost to OU 14-7. If Holtz had stayed for a 3rd season Minnesota would have been National Champions. Yes, really. Since that time (Harvey Mackay/Paul Giel) U leadership has lacked the balls to essentially accomplish what Indiana recently did by putting the right people in place, swing for the fences, and actually try to become a winner. Too bad for us.

That Sooner game is what sticks in my mind too.

 

[HitMeAgainIAmStillMoving]

My talent for hoops and football was D2. I applied to the U to be just a student. After applying, I got a letter from Coach Holtz. He noticed my accomplishments and asked me to walk on. I jumped at the chance. I was a punter and a WR. We were 3 a days and classes didn't start until mid September. Between practices me, Tim Juneau and some others would play basketball. I believe Tim was all state. I know he sat on the basketball bench when the iron five played. Adam Kelly was our punter. Chip was our kicker-he was cocky as a freshman. We were short of uniforms, so I borrowed Brett Sadek's pants for pictures. I was only on the team for less than half the season. I was in over my head at D1 football. Had a few interactions with Lou. One time he was with the punt returners. I boomed a moon shot that he lost in the sun. It hit his foot. He came storming down to where the punters were and asked who kicked that one. I sheepishly raised my hand. He came over and said "great kick". I hope he is at peace.

Chip had one job, and he knew how to do it.