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Who is Lou Holtz? President Donald Trump to award Medal of Freedom to football player, Internet calls it a 'joke'

'There really is no reason whatsoever for Trump to award Lou Holtz other than Lou Holtz said he likes Trump on Fox 'news',' said a user

Lou Holtz, best known for leading the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to the national championship in 1988, will now be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, by President Donald Trump, in the White House on Wednesday, November 2. 

The 83-year-old college football coach, who is a Trump supporter and spoke at the 2020 Republican National Convention, will receive the country's highest civilian honor on Thursday. This medal is given by the president to civilians who made a meritorious contribution to the national interests and security of the US, or in the cultural field, or in any other important public or private efforts.

''America recognizes Lou Holtz as one of the greatest football coaches of all time for his unmatched accomplishments on the gridiron, but he is also a philanthropist, author, and true American patriot,'' the White House said in a release. 

Holtz has coached several college and professional teams, including a brief and unsuccessful run with NFL's New York Jets. In the college ranks, Holtz was the all-time best with his crowning achievement being a perfect season in 1988 leading the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame to a national title. Holtz's overall record was an impressive 249-132-7. 

After his retirement, he served as a sports analyst with ESPN and CBS. He also has two successful charities named the Holtz Charitable Foundation and the Holtz's Heroes Foundation. He has received honorary doctorates from the University of Notre Dame, the University of South Carolina, Trine University and the Franciscan University of Steubenville. 

Reacting to the development, one social media user slammed Holtz: "He absolutely did nothing to be worthy of this honor! He was a winning football coach, that’s it! He is a huge donor and loyalist to the Republican Party. I think he is honoring him because of his stance against kneeling. He was a huge critic of Kaepernick." Another one joked, "There really is no reason whatsoever for Trump to award Lou Holtz other than Lou Holtz said he likes Trump on Fox 'news.'"

While one "disgusted" Twitter user said, "Lou Holtz, a racist sack of dung who said nice things about a tyrant on Fox, will get the medal of freedom, which has lost all symbolism since MAGA abused it. So disgusting." Journalist Mike Freeman asked, "What has Lou Holtz done to earn one of the greatest of civilian honors? Beat Florida State" Another one said, "Lou Holtz isn't even in the Top 25 most winningest football coaches in NCAA history. What a joke." Nobel Peace Prime nominee, Steve Hofstetter said, "Just a quick reminder that Lou Holtz was a success in college ball but was 3-10 in the pros. That makes him statistically one of the worst coaches in NFL history. Makes sense - Trump has always surrounded himself with amateurs."

The Spectator's Washington editor Amber Athey said, "Apparently people are mad about Lou Holtz getting the Presidential Medal of Freedom ... Obama gave one to Ted Kennedy who let a woman drown so I think it’s going to be fine"