Now that he ’s giving now and again phantasmagorical ginger talk and diagnoses to NCAA football team as part of ESPN ’s college pigskin studio crew , it ’s easy to forget that Lou Holtz was one of the leading coaches in the college biz until pretty latterly . Let ’s take care at five things you might not know about Coach Lou :
1. A Young Bill Clinton Had His Back
Throughout his coaching job career , Holtz insisted that his players do well on the arena and deport off of it . Sounds like a pretty sound insurance policy , but it did n’t always make him pop with instrumentalist or win - at - all - costs boosters . In 1977 , Holtz ’s first season at Arkansas , he discover himself in a pickle . Star run back Ben Cowins , top receiver Donny Bobo , and another actor were involved in an incident with a woman in a players ' hall . The woman ended up undressed , and when Holtz caught breaking wind of the story he debar all three participant for the Razorbacks ' Orange Bowl collide with Oklahoma .
With the help of Clinton and his staff , Holtz ’s legal team defended the private instructor in U.S. District Court , and the players eventually withdrew their lawsuit . plainly , it was a triumph for team subject area , but would n’t recede the discourtesy ’s two biggest weapons vote down the Razorbacks ' Orange Bowl chances against the mighty Sooner ? Not quite . Backup running back Roland Sales had an epic 205 - yard , two - touchdown game , and the sixth - grade Arkansas team crushed routine - two Oklahoma 31 - 6 .
2. His Game Didn’t Translate to the Pros
Even before the games started, Holtz’s coaching tactics seemed a bit out of place in the NFL; he lined his players up by size for the national anthem and wrote a team fight song that none of the players wanted to sing.
The 1976 Jets stumbled out of the gate with four straight losses , include a mortifying 46 - 3 exit to the Broncos in Week 2 . When the team , which was quarterbacked by an aging Joe Namath , saw its record fall to 3 - 10 , Holtz step down before the time of year was even over . ( Broadway Joe certainly did n’t help Holtz any by completing less than one-half of his liberty chit attempts . ) In a late interview with Chris Russo on Sirius XM , Holtz say he recount Jets ownership that he planned to step down at the end of the season , and he was told to pack his bags forthwith .
To his acknowledgment , Holtz admitted he botch up his metre in the pro , tell , '' God did not put Lou Holtz on this worldly concern to coach in the pros . “ He recovered nicely by grabbing the head - coach job at Arkansas before the 1977 time of year .
3. His Friendship With Jesse Helms Cost Him
As the indignation over the Holtz - Helms connection gained steam , Holtz resign under pressure from his Arkansas problem on December 19 , 1983 . He bring down on his feet with the head - coaching fizgig at Minnesota and apace endeavor to distance himself from political issues . Upon arriving in Minnesota , Holtz met with Governor Rudy Perpich and publicly told the popular Democrat , " I insure you this , I will have nothing to do with politics . “
4. He Was a Golden Gopher For Life. Except Not.
When Holtz went to the University of Minnesota , he was under the impression that he was signalize a lifespan contract . He wanted one exception , though : an out article that let him leave to take the top dog coaching job at Notre Dame . The school agree , but when Holtz received his transcript of the life-time contract , there was no " Notre Dame clause" in it . He refused to sign , and the Gophers eventually gave him a article that countenance him to leave behind to take any job he wanted . Holtz ’s caution was justify ; he got the Notre Dame Book of Job just two twelvemonth later .
5. He’s Quick With a Quip
Although Holtz had a well - deserve reputation as a motivator , some of his most memorable second fare when he was dishing well - timed one - liners , usually at his own disbursement . When Arkansas fans pepper the field with oranges to fete the 1977 Orange Bowl berth , Holtz observed , " give thanks God we did n’t get take in to the Gator Bowl . “
During his first season as headland coach at South Carolina in 1999 , the Gamecocks locomote 0 - 11 , prompting Holtz to dryly mention , " We enkindle more money per win than any shoal in the land . “ Later , when Holtz had touch on the Gamecocks ' program to the full stop that one writer picked the squad to win the SEC in a preseason poll , Holtz deadpanned , " [ The author ] probably voted in wax crayon . “
Another classic Holtz history fall from an attempt to make a little money early in his vocation by selling cemetery plot . His wife , Beth , warn , " You ca n’t sell anything . “ Holtz after triumphantly joked , " She was haywire . By the end of the summer , I ’d deal our stereo , our car , and our television . “
Bob Hope Once Bailed Him Out
One bonus anecdote this calendar week : Holtz and the previous Bob Hope were pals and often played golf together . On at least one occasion , the friendly relationship really paid dividends for Holtz . The coach fly to Milwaukee for a speaking fight in July 1983 , and after a drive in a sweltering taxi , Holtz gravely needed a shower before stepping to the podium .
There was just one problem , though : when Holtz got to his hotel room , his Florida key break off in the lock . When criminal maintenance could n’t launch the door , the front desk told Holtz that unluckily they were totally booked . When Holtz begin to forte despair , another guest opened his doorway to ask for a piddling peace and restrained . Holtz recognized the complain phonation as Hope ’s , and after a big joke , the comedian let the passenger car clang in his way .
' 5 Things You Did n’t Know About … ' appear every Friday . interpret the previous installments here .
