Holtz to Undergo Spinal Surgery and Miss 3-4 Weeks at Notre Dame

Notre Dame Coach Lou Holtz will have spinal surgery today and will be sidelined at least three weeks.

Defensive coordinator Bob Davie will coach the No. 24 Irish while Holtz is out.

“We kind of just all sat there in disbelief,” said guard Ryan Leahy of a meeting Monday in which Holtz told his players.

The operation will take place at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., where Holtz is expected to remain for about a week, said university physician James Moriarity. Holtz, 58, could be out three to four weeks.

He was told the condition required an immediate operation to avoid permanent spinal cord damage and possible paralysis.

Moriarity said Holtz has what appears to be a bone growth that has compressed the spinal cord. Doctors believe the growth has been developing for some time and is not the result of an injury.

Surgeons will enlarge the diameter of the spinal canal so the cord will be able to fit.

“I’ve seen three different doctors, trying to find the least bit of encouragement to delay this,” Holtz said, “but they all say it has to be done now.”