Former Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz understands why Ryan Day called him out after the Buckeyes’ win and stands by his belief that Notre Dame was the better football team in Week 4.
Holtz said before the game that the teams beat Ohio State because they are more physical than the Buckeyes and that “Notre Dame will take the same approach.” The Buckeyes scored with a second touchdown remaining to open the scoring in a 17-14 win in South Bend, and Day used his postgame interview on NBC to fire back at Holtz.
“I would like to know where Lou Holtz is right now,” Day said after the game. “I can’t believe what he said about our team. This is a strong team. We are proud to be from Ohio. It’s always been Ohio against the world. And it will still be Ohio versus the world. I love these children and we have a strong team.
On Tuesday, Holtz appeared on Dan Dakich’s YouTube show and mentioned again that Ohio State was 0-2 against Michigan since Day took over from Urban Meyer.
“Well, that’s his decision and I can understand why he did it,” Holtz said. “He doesn’t want to talk about Michigan and 0-2, he doesn’t want to talk about the big game coming up against Penn State and against Michigan again. He’s a great coach, he’s done a great job, he’s got a great offensive mind, he inherited a great defensive coordinator from Oklahoma State… Ohio State is a good football team, but I don’t think they’re a great football team and he can leave after me, anything he wants.”
While Holtz is correct about Day’s record against Michigan, he did not “inherit” former Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. Knowles was hired after Day’s first season as Ohio State’s defensive coordinator.
The former ESPN analyst also stood by his belief that Ohio State will not be a “great” football team in 2023. The Buckeyes are expected to be in a three-way battle for the Big Ten title with Michigan and Penn State. Ohio State plays Penn State on Oct. 21 before ending the season against Michigan.
“I honestly felt like Notre Dame was a better football team and more physical, and I’m sorry that coach Day was offended by that, and I hope he goes on and has a wonderful year,” Holtz said. “I don’t think they’re going to be a great football team, I really don’t. I felt like Notre Dame won the football game.”
Ohio State’s winning touchdown was scored when Notre Dame fielded only 10 players in the defensive formation on the final two plays of the game. Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said after the game that he didn’t want to risk a penalty by sending an 11th player onto the field and potentially moving the ball closer to the Buckeyes’ goal line.
Holtz said he called Freeman on Monday and apologized for being “unfair” by using his words to cheer on Day and the Buckeyes, also noting that he used another coach’s comments like his as motivation would have.
“I called Coach Freeman [Monday] and apologized,” Holtz said. “Maybe because I put him in a bad position. I don’t feel guilty saying it because I believed it. And Notre Dame was the better football team. Three times Ohio State had fourth-and-1, ran the ball and didn’t make it. Aside from the one long run, they averaged less than two yards per carry. But if I had been a coach, I would have said it and gone to our team and said, “I think you’re better, I think you’re more physically fit, I think you’re more talented.” Coach [unintelligible] don’t believe that. “Go prove him wrong and prove me he’s right. But if I say something and still can’t control the outcome of the game, that’s unfair to Coach Freeman.”