Helpful Score: 1
From Publisher's Weekly: With a strong overtone of moral teaching, college football coaching legend Holtz offers a prosaic but endearing memoir. It's clear from the beginning that Holtz sees coaching as nurturing more than mere athletic achievement; it's an opportunity to mold promising student-athletes into superlative young men: "Coaching gives one a chance to be successful as well as significant." Holtz grew up in a hardscrabble West Virginia mining town in the 1940s and '50s, keeping a determinedly working-class and strictly religious attitude no matter how high he climbed as a coach. His stories of assistant and then head coaching at institutions from Ohio State to North Carolina Stateâ"as well as run-ins with big names like Bill Cowherand Bill Clintonâ"are full of funny anecdotes and neat little lessons, but they tend to blur in the mind. A standout is Holtz's long-term position at Notre Dame, of special importance not just because of his devout Catholicism but also his refreshing devotion to strict academic standards for the players. In fact, what stands out is his modesty and adamant belief that football is ultimately less important than education.
College Football! Whether you love it, hate it, or don't know anything about it, this book is an awesome and easy read! It may not be as interesting to someone who is not a college football fan but still an incredible read for anyone who wants to share his faith journey.
Lou Holtz! Love him, hate him (really? is there anyone?), or don't know a thing about him, this book is well written, humorous, and thoughtful - practical wisdom without the cliches.
Lou's writing is much like what his personality appears to be. He shares his experiences - his successes, his failures with honesty, intelligence in a direct and humorous fashion. He knows how to spin a tale so you don't get caught up in irrelevant details but can see the point he is trying to make. And he is always trying to make a point (that's the teacher in him, the Coach). But no cliches, often his point comes across before he even gets to it!
I can see how some readers may feel like he is name dropping. And, in a sense, he is - alot. But it isn't to gratify his ego but to demonstrate the fullness of his life experience. He has known and been friends with many legends. Names many folks my age [ahem] will recognize (not so sure about the younger generation).
Lou Holtz! Love him, hate him (really? is there anyone?), or don't know a thing about him, this book is well written, humorous, and thoughtful - practical wisdom without the cliches.
Lou's writing is much like what his personality appears to be. He shares his experiences - his successes, his failures with honesty, intelligence in a direct and humorous fashion. He knows how to spin a tale so you don't get caught up in irrelevant details but can see the point he is trying to make. And he is always trying to make a point (that's the teacher in him, the Coach). But no cliches, often his point comes across before he even gets to it!
I can see how some readers may feel like he is name dropping. And, in a sense, he is - alot. But it isn't to gratify his ego but to demonstrate the fullness of his life experience. He has known and been friends with many legends. Names many folks my age [ahem] will recognize (not so sure about the younger generation).
I loved this book!!! Very good!
