Lou Holtz, Notre Dame legends ready to face Japan
TOKYO — Lou Holtz expects his players to uphold the Notre Dame football tradition when they face Japan in the Notre Dame Japan Bowl.
Holtz will coach a selection of alumni from the Notre Dame college team against Japan’s national American football team and expects a tough game from the hosts.
“Their football has improved tremendously,” Holtz said Friday at Tokyo Dome. “They’ve looked at film, they understand the game … if we have an advantage it’s in the lines, but they are quicker and in better shape so I’m a little worried about the second half.”
The Fighting Irish alumni had only six practice sessions to prepare for the game and Holtz said avoiding injuries will be a key challenge.
“It’s been a zoo,” said Holtz. “When you get older players its tough but we’re ready to go. It’s Notre Dame football and we’ll play the way Notre Dame is supposed to play.”
Tony Rice is expected to be the starting quarterback for Holtz’s team.
“I’m 41 years old and when they asked me to do this, I said ‘you know what?, I’m gonna do it.’”
Rice said he’s been passing the ball a lot and running in preparation for the game.
“I’m expecting a good team,” said Rice. “Japan will come out to play. They are hungry but we are too, so it will be a good game.”
Japan, led by head coach Kiyoyuki Mori, is using the game as part of its preparations for the 2011 IFAF world championship. Japan lost the 2007 final 23-20 in double overtime against the United States.
Holtz has been in Japan four times in the past as a coach of the U.S. team in the Japan Bowl and was glad his players have a chance to experience a different culture.
“They’ve had a great time,” said Holtz. “They went to a few shrines and some of them were up at 5:30 a.m. to go to the fish market.”
Heisman Trophy winner Tim Brown will be a member of the coaching staff. Brown joins fellow former Notre Dame players Chris Zorich and Reggie Brooks on the staff.
Holtz, who had a 100-30-2 record in 11 seasons at Notre Dame, was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in May and was enshrined into the hall at a ceremony last week.
Related News
Big Tens suspends Michigan LB Jonas Mouton for punching Notre Dame playerSeptember 18th, 2009 Big Ten suspends Michigan LB for punchPARK RIDGE, Ill. — Michigan linebacker Jonas Mouton was suspended by the Big Ten Conference for one game for punching a Notre Dame player during last week's game.
Kenton sacked as Costa Rica football coachSeptember 15th, 2009 SAN JOSE - Rodrigo Kenton was sacked as Costa Rica's national football coach, the Costa Rican Football Federation (Fedefutbol) said. At a press conference in San Jose Monday, Fedefutbol President Eduardo Li said the institution had asked Kenton to step down in the face of recent poor results in the North and Central American and Caribbean qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
BC-FBC--T25-Notre Dame-Michigan Stats, FBCSeptember 12th, 2009 BC-FBC--T25-Notre Dame-Michigan Stats, FBC
…2064 BC-FBC--T25-Notre Dame-Michigan Stats
Another big game in Big Ten country; USC-Ohio State share spotlight with Notre Dame-MichiganSeptember 9th, 2009 USC-Ohio St share spotlight with ND-MichiganThe Southern California-Ohio State game will have to share the spotlight Saturday with an old and storied rivalry being played just to the north that became far more interesting after the first week of the season. Before the third-ranked Trojans and No.
QB Tate Forcier will start for Michigan against Notre Dame after 3-touchdown debutSeptember 7th, 2009 Michigan's Forcier will start against Notre DameANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez says Tate Forcier will start against No.
Clausen nearly flawless in leading No. 23 Notre Dame to 35-0 victory over NevadaSeptember 5th, 2009 Clausen near perfect in ND's 35-0 win over NevadaSOUTH BEND, Ind. — Jimmy Clausen must have felt as if he was still in paradise.
BC-FBC--T25-Nevada-Notre Dame Stats, FBCSeptember 5th, 2009 BC-FBC--T25-Nevada-Notre Dame Stats, FBC
…2064 BC-FBC--T25-Nevada-Notre Dame Stats
Notre Dame days of having nation's toughest schedule may be gone with 7-4-1 scheduling modelAugust 21st, 2009 Notre Dame faces scheduling challenges with 7-4-1SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Nevada, Washington, Washington State and Connecticut aren't exactly a murderer's row.
Syracuse will play 3 home games against Notre Dame and USC at new Meadowlands stadiumAugust 18th, 2009 Syracuse, USC, Notre Dame to play at MeadowlandsEAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Syracuse has agreed to play three home games against Notre Dame and Southern California over the next seven years in the new stadium at the Meadowlands.
Former football coach Lou Holtz considers a run for congressional seat in central FloridaAugust 5th, 2009 Former coach Holtz mulls run for Congress in Fla.ORLANDO, Fla. — Former Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz is mulling a run for Congress in Florida as a Republican, a GOP strategist said Tuesday.
WAC reprimands Hawaii coach McMackin for using slur in describing Notre Dame cheerAugust 3rd, 2009 WAC reprimands Hawaii coach for using slurHONOLULU — The Western Athletic Conference is reprimanding Hawaii coach Greg McMackin for his derogatory comment while describing Notre Dame's chant before last year's Hawaii Bowl. The university already has suspended McMackin for 30 days without pay.
Weis: McMackin used 'poor judgment' when using gay slur in describing Notre Dame cheerAugust 1st, 2009 Weis: McMackin used 'poor judgment'HONOLULU — Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis on Friday said the Fighting Irish program was offended by derogatory comments made by Hawaii coach Greg McMackin but has accepted his apology and will move on. "Coach McMackin demonstrated poor judgment when, while making comments critical of our football program, he used a derogatory word," Weis said in a statement.
Holtz, Cooper, Aikman enshrined into College Football Hall of FameJuly 19th, 2009 Holtz, Cooper, Aikman head Hall of Fame classSOUTH BEND, Ind. — Lou Holtz and John Cooper were enshrined into the College Football Hall of Fame on Saturday night wishing they had another team to lead out on the field.
New AD points to new assistants as reasons to be optimistic about Notre Dame footballJuly 17th, 2009 SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick says he's feeling positive about the outlook of the Fighting Irish football team heading into the fall.
Notre Dame assistant Sean Kearney takes over as Holy Cross coachJuly 3rd, 2009 Holy Cross names Sean Kearney coachWORCESTER, Mass. — Sean Kearney is the new basketball coach at Holy Cross.
Loading ...