Notre Dame Football: Lou Holtz classy after receiving public apology

Legendary Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz was the center of a defamation case recently, but it has since been dropped.

A couple of years ago, during all of the craziness leading up to the 2016 Presidential Election, former Notre Dame Football head coach Lou Holtz was one of the more notable supporters of current President Donald Trump.

At the Republican National Convention, Holtz gave a speech that featured his opinion on immigration. Following the speech, The Daily Beast ran a story in which their headline depicted Holtz’s comments in a much different manner than they were actually spoken.

On top of the article’s headline, the piece itself included the term “deadbeats,” which the writer decided to use in the same context as Holtz’s comments. While Holtz never used the term, he took special exception with the headline itself.

What followed was a defamation case that was finally dropped this week.

In Holtz’s statement, following the dropping of the case, he highlighted one of his core beliefs that, regardless of your political standpoint, everyone has always appreciated about him. Holtz has always been a man who sticks to his guns and stands firm for what he believes. Per the Orlando Sentinel, here’s the snippet in reference:

"“It is never easy to fight for what you believe in, but I am convinced it is important to do so….Hope this encourages other people to fight for what they believe is right.”"

Once again, regardless of where you stand politically, several lessons can come from this situation. Like I said, first off, you can learn that standing up for what you believe in is admirable. If you believe in something, stand up for it no matter what. Holtz has always been a prime example of just that.

Second, those out there wanting to use their platform to express opinions via journalism, public speech or another form of media, can learn that it is important to choose your words carefully — especially when making reference to someone of Holtz’s stature. I understand having differing opinions, especially when you are swayed heavily one way or another politically speaking, but it is never acceptable to twist someone’s words into something they are not.

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The now-retired Holtz and former ESPN analyst will look to move past the situation which lost him paid speaking engagements and gave him “mental anguish, personal humiliation and distress” according to the report. My bet is, if anybody can put something like this behind them and focus on the positives in life, it’s the legend himself.