Legendary college football coach and ESPN analyst Lou Holtz tells
Newsmax TV that his advice to graduates is to make the most of every opportunity.
That said, he told host J.D. Hayworth on "Newsmax Prime" on Monday that any rumors he might seek political office are unfounded.
"No, there's absolutely no chance," Holtz said when asked about running to fill the U.S. Senate seat in Florida being vacated by GOP presidential hopeful Marco Rubio.
"I'm so old now, my birthday candles cost more than the cake," Holtz said. "I don't want to run for the Senate. I just want to run after my wife of 54 years."
Story continues below video.
Note: Watch Newsmax TV on
DIRECTV Ch. 349, DISH Ch. 223 and
Verizon FiOS Ch. 115. Get Newsmax TV on your cable system –
Click Here Now
But Holtz said that he hopes whoever is elected to the office is someone who will hold people accountable for the choices they make.
"Whatever you are, good or bad, it's because of the choice you make," Holtz said. "Choose to do drugs, drop out of school, join a gang, have five children out of wedlock, get tattooed from head to bottom — you're choosing to have difficulty in life, and don't blame me for the decisions you make. We don't hold people accountable for choices."
Holtz recently delivered the commencement address at Franciscan University, telling graduates to take advantage of all opportunities.
"Success is not complicated," he said. "We have seven colors of the rainbow; look what Michaelangelo did with it. We have seven musical notes; look what Beethoven did with it."
There are also 10 numerals, he added, but said that stockbroker Bernie Madoff did a lot that he shouldn't have with them.
"So it can be simple, but it isn't all necessarily good," Holtz said. "Life is not complicated. Make good choices and be held accountable for the choice you make."
One of the biggest problems in America, he said, is that we don't ask people to be outstanding.
"Everybody has more talent, and I get tired of hearing everybody say that you're a victim, etc.," he said. "Let's realize the talent you have and make up your mind to do something."
Holtz was asked about the four-game suspension handed down from the NFL to New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady for using underinflated footballs.
Holtz called the punishment, which Brady has appealed, "far too harsh." The former coach said he found it "a little bit absurd" that none of the officials noticed the balls weren't properly inflated even though they had been handling them between every play.
Holtz also addressed the brain-injury discussion in football. He said the problem could be eliminated by removing the facemask from helmets, which would force players to stop using their heads as a weapon.
"I played when we didn't have" a facemask, he said. "Nobody used their head as a battering ram … you learned to play the game the right way and use the shoulder."
© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.