SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The only way Lou Holtz knows how to coach is all out.
That’s why he couldn’t speak much louder than a whisper Saturday night after coaching a group of former Notre Dame players for three days as they practiced for an exhibition game in Japan. It’s also a big reason he was among 21 people enshrined into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Holtz took over six struggling programs and turned them into bowl teams within two years. He led the Fighting Irish to their last national championship, in 1988. Holtz said the key is to have a plan, hold people accountable and believe it can be done.
“You have to get people to make good decisions. Wherever you are in life, good or bad, it’s because of the choices you make,” he said. “Choose to succeed rather than fail. Choose to work hard rather than to loaf your way through it. We wouldn’t compromise our core values.”
Among the others honored were former Broncos receiver Rod Smith, a standout at Missouri Southern, former Wyoming tight end Jay Novacek, former UCLA quarterback Troy Aikman, former Oklahoma State tailback Thurman Thomas and John Cooper, who coached at Ohio State, Arizona State and Tulsa.
Cooper recalled the long journey of his career, saying when he was a young assistant he would go to coaching conventions hoping to catch a glimpse of Woody Hayes, Ara Parseghian, Bo Schembechler and Bear Bryant. He said it was an unbelievable feeling to be joining them.
“It’s a humbling experience to be in that group,” he said.
Thomas, who holds the Oklahoma State record for career rushing yards with 4,595 and went to four straight Super Bowls with the Buffalo Bills, joked that his biggest accomplishment might have been keeping Barry Sanders on the bench for two years.
“I practiced real hard and kept giving my coach a lot of money,” he said.
Aikman, who began his career at Oklahoma before leading the Bruins to back-to-back 10-2 seasons, liked the idea of being inducted with Novacek, a former Dallas Cowboys teammate.
“Because he’s also someone I think is worthy of the Pro Football Hall of Fame,” Aikman said. “He’s a very understated player. For me to have a chance to go in with him into the College Football Hall of Fame is about as meaningful as anything that could have happened.”
College Football Hall of Fame
This year’s inductees, who were enshrined Saturday in South Bend, Ind.:
PLAYERS
Troy Aikman, quarterback: Oklahoma, 1984-85; UCLA, 1987-88. Led UCLA to a 20-4 record. Was the Davey O’Brien Award winner as the nation’s top QB in 1988. Finished third in Heisman Trophy voting.
Roger Brown, defensive tackle: Maryland Eastern Shore, 1956-59. Helped lead the Hawks to a 24-5-1 record, twice winning league titles.
Billy Cannon, tailback, defensive back: LSU, 1956-59. Heisman Trophy winner in 1959. Helped the 1958 Tigers go 11-0 and win a national title.
Fred Dean, defensive end: Louisiana Tech, 1971-74. Led the Bulldogs to 1973 Division II national championship and four consecutive Southland Conference titles.
Jim Dombrowski, offensive tackle: Virginia, 1982-85. All-American as a senior. Voted by ACC coaches as ACC’s best blocker in 1984 and 1985.
Pat Fitzgerald, linebacker: Northwestern, 1993-96. Two-time winner of the Chuck Bednarik and Bronco Nagurski awards. Helped lead the Wildcats to their first Rose Bowl in 47 years and back-to-back Big Ten titles.
Wilber Marshall, linebacker: Florida, 1980-83. Set the Gators’ season records for sacks (11) and tackles for a loss (27) as a sophomore. Had 58 tackles for a loss during his career.
Rueben Mayes, running back: Washington State, 1982-85. Set 15 school records, including season (1,632) and career rushing yards (3,519), rushing touchdowns (23), rushing average (5.5) and 100-yard games (13).
Randall McDaniel, guard: Arizona State, 1984-87. Two-time all-Pac-10 selection. Led the Sun Devils to three bowl berths, including Arizona State’s first trip to the Rose Bowl in 1987.
Don McPherson, quarterback: Syracuse, 1983-87. Won the Davey O’Brien Award and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award as the nation’s top quarterback.
Sam Mills, linebacker: Montclair State, 1977-80. New Jersey Collegiate Writers defensive player of the year three consecutive seasons from 1978-80.
Jay Novacek, tight end: Wyoming, 1982-84. Holds the record for highest average gain per reception by a tight end in a season with 22.6 yards per catch in 1984. He had 83 career receptions for 1,536 yards and 10 touchdowns. Only the second Wyoming player in the Hall of Fame, joining tailback Eddie Talboom.
Dave Parks, split end: Texas Tech, 1961-63. First player in school history to be chosen a first team All-American.
Ron Simmons, nose guard: Florida State, 1977-80. Led the Seminoles to a No. 5 ranking in 1980.
Rod Smith, wide receiver: Missouri Southern, 1988 and 1990-93. Finished with 158 receptions for 3,122 yards and 34 touchdowns.
Thurman Thomas, tailback: Oklahoma State, 1984-87. Still holds school records for career rushing yards (4,595) and rushing attempts (898).
Arnold Tucker, quarterback: Miami, 1943; Army, 1944-46. Won the Sullivan Award as the nation’s top amateur athlete in 1946.
COACHES
Volney Ashford: Missouri Valley, 1937-67. Had a career record of 197-55-12, a .746 winning percentage.
John Cooper: Tulsa, 1977-84; Arizona State, 1985-87; Ohio State, 1988- 2000. First coach to lead a Big Ten team and a Pac-10 team to victories in the Rose Bowl.
Jim Donnan: Marshall, 1990-95; Georgia, 1996-2000. Posted a 64-21 record in six seasons at Marshall, leading the Thundering Herd to the Division I-AA title in 1992 and to three other national championship games.
Lou Holtz: William & Mary, 1969-71; North Carolina State, 1972-75; Arkansas, 1977-83; Minnesota, 1984-85; Notre Dame, 1986-96; South Carolina, 1999-2004. Led every school he coached to a bowl game by his second year.
