Holtz Admits Interest in Irish Job, Denies Report of Being Offered It

Minnesota football Coach Lou Holtz, while admitting a warm spot in his heart for Notre Dame, continued to deny Tuesday that he has been offered a job as head coach at Notre Dame.

However, the Minneapolis Star and Tribune, citing unnamed sources, said the job has been offered to Holtz.

Quoting university Athletic Director Paul Giel, the newspaper said that Holtz had talked within the last two days to Gene Corrigan, Notre Dame’s athletic director.

“Lou told me that Corrigan had called him and asked if he (Corrigan) has to get permission from me to talk about the Notre Dame job,” Giel said. “I said it was fine, that no permission was necessary.”

The newspaper said that Holtz met Tuesday night with Giel, university President Ken Keller and Frank Wilderson, vice president for student affairs. Holtz could not be reached for comment, but Keller said that Holtz has not reached a decision on Minnesota’s latest contract offer.

“He’s going to have to make a decision,” Keller said. “If we don’t succeed, it’s not for wanting of trying.”

Earlier Tuesday, Holtz told reporters he couldn’t get a handle on his feelings after learning of Faust’s resignation.

Holtz has said the Notre Dame job is the only job in the country for which he would leave Minnesota.

“I came (to Minnesota) two years ago with certain feelings,” he told a news conference that had been called to discuss the Gophers’ Dec. 21 Independence Bowl bid. “But right now, I don’t know what my feelings are. I’ve been above board from day one. I’m not very smart and I’ve been very honest. Sometimes, that gets you in trouble.”

For several days, Holtz declined to discuss news reports concerning his candidacy for the Notre Dame job, which was expected to open up after the Irish’s season ends Saturday because Notre Dame was reportedly not planning to renew Faust’s contract.

But Holtz discussed the situation for the first time Sunday, telling local newspapers that he has always had “a warm spot in my heart for Notre Dame.” He disclosed that when he first signed his five-year contract at Minnesota two years ago, he insisted on a clause that would free him from his obligation were he ever offered the Notre Dame job.

“There isn’t a job in the country that I’d leave Minnesota for--with the possible exception of Notre Dame,” he said Sunday. “I’d be less than honest if I didn’t say that I’d have to seriously consider a chance to coach at Notre Dame if it was ever offered to me. I went to a Catholic grade school. The nuns were sisters of Notre Dame and we marched every day to the Notre Dame victory march. . . . “

When a reporter reminded him Tuesday that he once said he wouldn’t leave Minnesota unless he “died or went to the Rose Bowl,” Holtz said: “I don’t recall everything I said along the line.”

Holtz said that “under no circumstances,” would he actually apply for the Notre Dame job.

“People have had difficulty understanding that,” he said. “I’ve been very proud and very pleased at Minnesota.”