Lou Holtz Is a Lovable Nut

For five months every year, Lou Holtz sits next to Mark May and talks to us about college football.  Sometimes he's on the screen six hours every week during the football season.

Commentators such as Holtz are supposed to be fair and impartial.  He is neither—but unlike all the rest, he has a pulse and a passion for the game.  Yes, he'll tell you Notre Dame will be a top 10 team this year and that South Carolina can win the SEC, but who cares!

When it comes to "analysis" and predictions, the Kirk Herbstreits and Chris Fowlers of the college football world offer very little I can't dig up on the Internet or read in a magazine.  Their analysis is mostly just dry talk to fill up time before, during, and after the game.  The predictions these people make are no better or worse than your grandmother could do by flipping a coin.

Holtz's analysis is pretty good because he brings with him all that coaching experience.  His approach to football is a conservative one, but he knows what he's talking about.  His predictions are worse than your grandmother's because he loves Notre Dame and South Carolina so much.

Holtz is a nut, but what would Mark May do without him?  He'd turn into another Fowler or Herbstreit.

Doug Flutie doesn't say much for someone who's played quarterback and won a Heisman Trophy.  Craig James is a nice guy who appears not to take himself seriously, but he too doesn't bring much to the table besides filler.

Brent Musburger has the energy.  He can make any meaningless game sound like a Super Bowl, and Bob Griese appears to be the least prepared of all.

Oh yes, Erin Andrews is great to look at.  She's so attractive that many viewers of the Rutgers-Fresno State game probably said, "Erin is supposed to do this game" when they found out there was a last minute change in her schedule.

Andre Ware is all right.  Actually, he can say some pretty sharp things even though he doesn't have to because he looks good all the time.  Chris Spielman is not bad either, and he should get more air time in my opinion.

Back to Lou: He's got a personality, he's funny, and the exchanges between Mark May and himself are what the show is all about for me.  He also has the talent and guts to do the pep talks and the "Dr. Lou" skits.

Holtz is a gem.  He and Lee Corso are the two most interesting college football commentators to watch.  They both have a sense of humor.  If I want serious, I'll watch coverage of the 2008 election.