Famed college football coach Lou Holtz, who led Notre Dame to the 1988 national title, passed away Wednesday at the age of 89 in Orlando, Florida, surrounded by family.
Holtz, a College Football Hall of Famer, spent 11 seasons at Notre Dame and also coached at six other programs, including a brief stint with the NFL’s New York Jets.
Holtz’s career was celebrated for restoring Notre Dame from a mediocre program to national prominence, highlighted by an undefeated 12-0 season and a national championship in 1988. Current Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman reflected on Holtz’s impact, saying, “Lou’s impact at Notre Dame has gone well beyond the field.”
Despite the outpouring of admiration, the day of Holtz’s death saw immediate controversy online. Former ESPN broadcaster Keith Olbermann posted on X (formerly Twitter) calling Holtz a “legendary scumbag” in response to a clip of the coach criticizing former President Joe Biden in 2020 over abortion rights.
Olbermann’s comment ignited swift backlash from social media users.
One wrote, “You’re a scumbag that needs mental help.”
Another added, “Lou Holtz had more class, integrity, and genuine decency in his pinky finger than you’ll ever show in your lifetime.”
Yet another said, “You’re a grumpy, lonely, Godless man. All the things Lou Holtz was not.”
”Coming from the epitome of scumbags. I’d say have some class, but that ship sailed years ago,” one social media user replied.
”Mr. Olbermann, you need to reevaluate your worldview,” urged another.
”The lens through which you view people and events has grown so clouded that it has distorted your perspective. So many of your posts reek of misunderstanding and hatred. Consider whether you might, at times, be wrong.”
This was not an isolated incident for Olbermann, who has a history of posting politically charged and combative statements on social media, often drawing criticism. For example, after conservative influencer Charlie Kirk was assassinated in 2025, Olbermann tweeted that Kirk should “burn in hell.”
His remarks about Holtz came amid a career-long pattern of controversial commentary on political and sports figures, from criticizing President Trump to attacking other athletes and broadcasters. He has labeled Trump ”a terrorist” and called his supporters ”a blight that will be with us for generations”, further saying that Trump’s “only barely-human delight comes from the morons in the crowd.”
Holtz’s support of President Trump, including receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2020, contrasted sharply with Olbermann’s far-left critiques, highlighting the partisan divide in reactions to Holtz’s legacy.
Following his death, numerous GOP officials — including Senators Tommy Tuberville, Tom Cotton, and Lindsey Graham, as well as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis — paid tribute to the legendary coach, while many prominent Democrats with football ties remained silent.
Holtz’s life and career were marked by high-profile successes, occasional missteps, and passionate commentary, but for many, including his former players and colleagues, his legacy is defined by the impact he had on college football and the lives he touched along the way.
READ MORE
- Spain slams White House after unexpected claim about their position on Iran conflict
- 3 bathroom ‘red flags’ that could be a sign of prostate cancer
