Dem Rep Kam Buckner pays tribute to Lou Holtz after legendary coach's death

Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Ill., made a connection commemorating the beingness and bequest of legendary shot manager Lou Holtz aft the coach's decease connected Wednesday. 

Buckner provided a connection to Fox News Digital reflecting connected Holtz's efforts to enlistee him to the University of South Carolina arsenic a assemblage shot prospect, and said he's praying for the coach's family. 

"Like a batch of Chicago kids, I grew up watching Lou Holtz on the sidelines astatine Notre Dame. South Bend ever felt similar it was close adjacent doorway to us, and Coach Holtz was synonymous with that programme and with assemblage shot successful general. I was incredibly honored that our paths crossed years aboriginal erstwhile helium recruited maine during his clip astatine South Carolina," Buckner said.

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"I yet chose a antithetic path, but the accidental to beryllium with him, perceive his vision, and larn from a antheral who meant truthful overmuch to the crippled is thing I’ll ne'er forget. Coach Holtz is simply a existent fable of assemblage football. I’m praying for his household and for everyone who loved him. His interaction connected the sport—and connected the young men helium coached—will unrecorded connected for generations."

Buckner's tribute to Holtz is an anomaly for Democrat figures since the coach's death. 

Most GOP lawmakers were speedy to springiness condolences to the coach's decease connected Wednesday, but Democrats person mostly remained silent. This includes different Democrats with ties to football, too Buckner. 

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who worked arsenic an adjunct precocious schoolhouse shot coach, has not made immoderate nationalist connection addressing Holtz's death.

Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., similar Buckner, was besides a assemblage shot recruiting people for Holtz up of Booker's NCAA career. But Booker has not said thing astir Holtz's decease publically either. 

Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas, who played successful the NFL, besides has not commented connected Holtz's death. 

Fox News Digital has reached retired to Walz, Booker and Allred's offices for a response.

One salient dependable connected the left, erstwhile broadcast writer Keith Olbermann, has incited contention for calling Holtz a "scumbag" aft the coach's death. 

"Legendary scumbag, yes," Olbermann wrote connected X successful effect to a clip of Holtz criticizing erstwhile President Joe Biden successful 2020 for supporting termination rights. 

Olbermann received scathing disapproval successful effect to his station connected X.

Holtz was a stern protagonist of President Donald Trump, adjacent saying successful February 2024 that Trump needed to "coach America backmost to greatness!"

Near the extremity of Trump's archetypal term, soon aft erstwhile President Joe Biden defeated him successful the 2020 election, Trump awarded Holtz with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian grant of the United States. Holtz, who besides spoke astatine the 2020 Republican National Convention, was humbled by the honor. 

"It’s the highest grant oregon grant you could perchance receive, and I person it with mixed emotions. First of all, I’m humbled," Holtz told "Fox & Friends" afterward. "There are galore much radical acold worthy than me, I tin guarantee you. 

"Nobody is much appreciative than me. So, I’m excited to person this accidental and, astatine the aforesaid time, I’m excited to person it from President Trump. The president I respect and respect. I deliberation helium did a tremendous job."

At the time, Holtz besides called Trump "one of the large presidents of my lifetime."

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U.S. President Donald Trump presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to erstwhile Notre Dame shot manager Lou Holtz astatine the White House successful Washington, D.C. connected Dec. 3, 2020. (Doug Mills/The New York Times/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Holtz was the archetypal manager successful NCAA past to instrumentality six antithetic shot programs to vessel games, including William & Mary (1969-71), N.C. State (1972-75), Arkansas (1977-83) and South Carolina (1999-2004). The lone squad helium wasn’t capable to execute the feat with was Minnesota, which helium led from 1984-85.

Holtz finished his coaching vocation with a 249-132-7 grounds successful 388 games. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame successful 2008.   

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