Former Gamecocks coach Lou Holtz to speak at Republican National Convention
Former South Carolina football coach Lou Holtz was on the Donald Trump train early, endorsing the then-candidate in May of 2016.
Now the Hall of Fame coach and former national champion will speak at the Republican National Convention.
Holtz’s name appears on a list of speakers for Wednesday night on the Trump campaign’s website. His biography on the site notes his stance on playing sports amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“Lou Holtz was a head football coach for 34 years at both the college and pro levels, most notably serving at the University of Notre Dame for 11 years,” the bio reads. “Along with many other significant awards, Holtz was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008. Holtz recognizes the impact sports have on the youth and has been an advocate for sports to resume this fall.”
Earlier this year, Holtz likened the risks of playing football this fall to the risks taken in storming the beaches at Normandy in World War II. He also spoke at a luncheon at the 2016 RNC.
Holtz coached the Gamecocks from 1999-2004, going 33-37. He took over a program that went 1-10, posted a 0-11 campaign in Year 1 and turned things around to win 17 games and a pair of bowls the next two seasons.
The team stagnated to a degree the next three seasons, and his tenure ended with the famed fight against Clemson in 2004 and the team declining the chance to go to a bowl.
Holtz also coached at William & Mary, N.C. State, Akansas, Minnesota and Notre Dame, where he led the Fighting Irish to the 1988 national title, the most recent for the program.
This story was originally published August 26, 2020 at 12:55 PM.
