I have my own personal Coach Lou story.
When I was much younger, I was very active in the Indiana State Bar Association. One year, the Association’s Spring Meeting was in South Bend. I was in charge of the program at the big luncheon, and the speaker was Coach Lou. So, there I was. Sitting up at the head table with Lou Holtz and Father Hesburgh. Needless to say, I was in a star struck daze the whole time. As the lunch was finishing up, Coach Lou leaned over to me and said “Bob, how long would you like me to talk?” I was very conscious of the fact that we were in the middle of Spring football, and I didn’t want to impose on him. And, of course, we had a schedule. I said, “Coach, if you could give us 15-20 minutes, that would be great.” He got this funny look on his face, and said “Bob, I’m just getting warmed up at 20 minutes.” He got up and spoke extemporaneously for 45 minutes … and he talked faster than those guys who do the disclaimers in tv commercials. Then stuck around afterward to talk to people.
Coach had a well-deserved reputation for graciousness and generosity. And while he coached, and was successful, at several different places, his heart belonged to Notre Dame. R.I.P., Coach. Take your place up there with Leahy, Ara, and The Rock.