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Famed Coach Lou Holtz Inspires Golden Flashes Ahead of Bowl Game

Coach Lew meet Coach Lou.

Kent State Head Coach Sean Lewis, known as "Coach Lew" in football circles, got a moment to meet and hear from the other 'Coach Lou' with Kent State roots -- famed college football coach Lou Holtz.

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Sean Lewis, Lou Holtz, and Randale Richmond
Before Holtz rose to fame as a college head coach, he earned a degree in history from Kent State, graduating in 1959. A day ahead of their bowl appearance on national TV, the Golden Flashes heard from someone who knows exactly what it's like to be part of the blue and gold family.

Holtz served as the guest speaker at the Fellow of Christian Athletes breakfast as part of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise. About 70 Kent State players and coaches joined a similar group from the team's bowl opponent, Wyoming, along with hundreds of other patrons to hear Holtz share stories of the gridiron as well as his faith.

The event included a few questions from the audience and from one member of each team. Junior Offensive Lineman Elijah Ratliff joined Lewis on stage to ask Holtz questions about life, leadership and winning bowl games. 

Lewis and Randale Richmond, Kent State's athletic director, presented Holtz with a Kent State jersey.

Holtz coached Notre Dame football to nine straight New Year's Day bowl games, highlighted by an undefeated national championship season in 1988. He guided six different schools to college football bowl games, an NCAA record.

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Kent State Junior Elijah Ratliff Questions Speaker Lou Holtz
Holtz is also a published author, writing and contributing to 10 books.

Holtz coached several college teams as an assistant between 1960-68 where Ohio State University won the National Championship his last year before taking head coaching roles at The College of William & Mary (1969-1971), North Carolina State University (1972-1975), the New York Jets (1976), the University of Arkansas (1977-1983), the University of Minnesota (1984-1985), the University of Notre Dame (1986-1996) and the University of South Carolina (1999-2004), compiling a career record of 249-132-7.

Kent State (7-6) takes on Wyoming (6-6) Dec. 21 in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

POSTED: Monday, December 20, 2021 04:23 PM
UPDATED: Friday, December 09, 2022 04:43 PM