Former Gopher HC Lou Holtz in hospice care

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gopherguy said:
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.
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That Sooner game is what sticks in my mind too.
 

Big Dawg said:
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.
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Chip had one job, and he knew how to do it.
 


I don't like seeing anyone suffer as they reach the end of their life and I hope that Lou Holtz is being comforted as he nears his end. I'm old and I've gotten perspective on the things that used to tick me off, especially regarding sports. Holtz could clearly coach, recruit, and motivate (and get hit with sanctions), but he was in the Tommy Lasorda vein of "walking eagle" (so full of sh*t that he couldn't fly) when he started with his schtick. And that's not all bad. He clearly motivated the fan base and if he had stuck around the program would have taken a step forward.
 

I have always been conflicted with Holtz since the day he left for Notre Dame.
 


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