“If what you did yesterday seems big, you haven’t done anything today.”
Thus reads one of college football coaching legend and ESPN analyst Lou Holtz’s many famous motivational sayings — and a phrasing that’s taken on new meaning of late as Holtz mulls a run for the Florida congressional seat currently held by Democrat Suzanne Kosmas.
After all, if former Nebraska head coach Tom Osborne could do it, then why not Notre Dame’s own Holtz? Well, for starters, being associated with the Irish may be a mixed blessing, especially in a football-crazy state like Florida.
“Mr. Holtz clearly has incredible name ID, a fat rolodex for fundraising and a loyal Notre Dame and Catholic following, all of which makes you instantly a contender,” said Dan Berger, executive VP of government affairs at the National Association of Federal Credit Unions and a veteran of Florida politics. “But as a proud Florida State grad, I hope he doesn’t run!”
Jason Roe, the former chief of staff to Tom Feeney, whom Kosmas defeated in 2008, pointed out that “Floridians may be more irritated about his South Carolina days than his South Bend days.” Roe conceded that Holtz is “the instant front runner if he gets in. No one hates Notre Dame like I do — no one — and I’m excited about the possibility. And imagine his fundraising ability, the moment he gets in checks will start pouring in from Golden Domers.”
But what about Democrats? Although Holtz is a die-hard Republican, he has gotten some help from the other side of the aisle — from none other than Bill Clinton. When Holtz coached the University of Arkansas in the 1970s, three of his players sued him when he suspended them for sexual misconduct before the Orange Bowl. None other than then-Arkansas Attorney General Bill Clinton rode to the rescue, successfully defending Holtz.
Holtz’s biggest hurdle could be one of political correctness, and how his past statements could be used in negative ads against him. For example:
-Last year, in discussing leadership on the field, he said that “Hitler was a great leader,” a statement for which he later apologized.
-In a recent interview with the Sporting News, he said, “What I’m up to these days: Work at ESPN, play golf and do speaking events. I thought I was retired, ESPN found out I was retarded.”
-In the 1980s, Holtz forged a friendship with controversial Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C., who at the time was attempting to prevent Martin Luther King Day from becoming a holiday. Holtz says in his book he even taped an ad for Helms, although it never aired.
Then again, Holtz’s run might cause him to remember another of his famous sayings: “I think everyone should experience defeat at least once during their career. You learn a lot from it.”
