Gene Keady Donald Trump

Holtz is the third legendary Indiana coach to endorse Trump, after former Indiana Basketball coach Bobby Knight and former Purdue Basketball coach Gene Keady. Donald Trump is a misogynist, racist, xenophobe who is running for President on a platform consisting entirely of hate, ignorance, and fear. His speeches are riddled with absolute lies, aimed at misleading the public about the current state of our Union. Lou Holtz and Gene Keady this week. The fact Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh took being compared to Trump as a compliment — 'The one thing I like about Donald Trump is he's not afraid to fight. Clinton or Trump? A list of athletes who have expressed their support. Donald Trump supporters: Football coaches and players. Bobby Knight, Digger Phelps, Gene Keady, Billy Packer, Dennis.

(Editor's note: as we head into the final hours preceding the U.S. Presidential Election, we revisit and republish some of the sports and pop culture stories we ran in 2016 relating to the electoral process)

Speaking in Cleveland today, Donald Trumpcovered a litany of topics, first and foremost his much discussed and hyper analyzed Republican National Convention Acceptance speech from last night. Trump then shifted gears to his notorious feud with Texas Senator Ted Cruz before discussing his running mate, Indiana Governor Mike Pence.

The Republican nominee then described why he loves the state of Indiana and this included mentioning a cadre of coaches with elite won-loss records.

The names mentioned were Bobby Knight, Digger Phelps (ok, not everybody on this list has an elite record), Lou Holtzand 'Gene.'

Trump, who didn't mention any of the schools affiliated with the coaches by name, struggled to locate the name Gene Keady in his memory bank. It was more of a 'you know, Gene' or 'that Gene guy' kind of, for a lack of a better phrase, shout-out.

Here's a Tweet from the Executive sports producer at WBAL-TV, Baltimore

Gene Keady was the coach he was searching for.

— Chris Dachille (@WBALDash) July 22, 2016

And a Tweet from an Energy and Environment Reporter at DC Examiner.

Admiral shark casino. Trump says he loves Indiana and then proceeds to name off Bobby Knight, Lou Holtz, Gene Keady and Digger Phelps as why.

— Kyle Feldscher (@Kyle_Feldscher) July 22, 2016

In other words, Trump probably has no actual idea who Gene Keady really is, or what he's accomplished in the Big Ten, but an advisor probably informed him that the court at Mackey Arena is named after somebody important and he should list that somebody important if he wants to appeal to Purdue Boilermakers everywhere. Intertops sign in.

The remarks also transparently convey his attempt to appeal to Indiana Hoosiers and Notre Dame Fighting Irish fans as well. Trump needs to turn Indiana from slightly red to solid red in order to stand any chance in the electoral college map.

While the Gene Keady mention was just an awkward minor glitch, the Lou Holtz reference was an obvious blatant political mistake.

Holtz, who has a statue erected of him at Notre Dame Stadium, is completely toxic right now due to his bizarre and bigoted anti-immigrant rant on Tuesday at the RNC.

Why Trump would continue to associate his/the GOP brand with Holtz in the wake of the former ND's expressed xenophobic and intolerant views is beyond the scope of reason. Alluding to Digger probably won't register as Phelps is too obscure a figure these days.

Referencing Bobby Knight could be risky too, as Knight is notorious for his extremist and fringe worldview.

But hey, there's a reason we draw parallels between Trump and the President in the 2006 Mike Judge film Idiocracy.

Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune's RedEye publication.

He also consistently appears on numerous talk shows all across the country. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram

GOP frontrunner Donald Trump already had the backing of Indiana coaching legend Bobby Knight. On Monday, Trump picked up two more from the Hoosier state. Former Notre Dame head football coach and ESPN personality Lou Holtz and former Purdue men's basketball coach Gene Keady each offered their endorsement for the controversial Republican going against the grain on the eve of the Indiana primary.

'The main reason I'm endorsing [Trump], I've played his golf courses, I've stayed in his hotel,' Holtz explained while wearing a Notre Dame pullover in a video posted on Trump's Twitter account. 'He does nothing but go first class in everything. He wants this country to be first class as well.

Honored to have received the endorsement of Lou Holtz – a great guy! #INPrimary#Trump2016pic.twitter.com/AeGyODb37O

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 2, 2016

The names mentioned were Bobby Knight, Digger Phelps (ok, not everybody on this list has an elite record), Lou Holtzand 'Gene.'

Trump, who didn't mention any of the schools affiliated with the coaches by name, struggled to locate the name Gene Keady in his memory bank. It was more of a 'you know, Gene' or 'that Gene guy' kind of, for a lack of a better phrase, shout-out.

Here's a Tweet from the Executive sports producer at WBAL-TV, Baltimore

Gene Keady was the coach he was searching for.

— Chris Dachille (@WBALDash) July 22, 2016

And a Tweet from an Energy and Environment Reporter at DC Examiner.

Admiral shark casino. Trump says he loves Indiana and then proceeds to name off Bobby Knight, Lou Holtz, Gene Keady and Digger Phelps as why.

— Kyle Feldscher (@Kyle_Feldscher) July 22, 2016

In other words, Trump probably has no actual idea who Gene Keady really is, or what he's accomplished in the Big Ten, but an advisor probably informed him that the court at Mackey Arena is named after somebody important and he should list that somebody important if he wants to appeal to Purdue Boilermakers everywhere. Intertops sign in.

The remarks also transparently convey his attempt to appeal to Indiana Hoosiers and Notre Dame Fighting Irish fans as well. Trump needs to turn Indiana from slightly red to solid red in order to stand any chance in the electoral college map.

While the Gene Keady mention was just an awkward minor glitch, the Lou Holtz reference was an obvious blatant political mistake.

Holtz, who has a statue erected of him at Notre Dame Stadium, is completely toxic right now due to his bizarre and bigoted anti-immigrant rant on Tuesday at the RNC.

Why Trump would continue to associate his/the GOP brand with Holtz in the wake of the former ND's expressed xenophobic and intolerant views is beyond the scope of reason. Alluding to Digger probably won't register as Phelps is too obscure a figure these days.

Referencing Bobby Knight could be risky too, as Knight is notorious for his extremist and fringe worldview.

But hey, there's a reason we draw parallels between Trump and the President in the 2006 Mike Judge film Idiocracy.

Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune's RedEye publication.

He also consistently appears on numerous talk shows all across the country. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram

GOP frontrunner Donald Trump already had the backing of Indiana coaching legend Bobby Knight. On Monday, Trump picked up two more from the Hoosier state. Former Notre Dame head football coach and ESPN personality Lou Holtz and former Purdue men's basketball coach Gene Keady each offered their endorsement for the controversial Republican going against the grain on the eve of the Indiana primary.

'The main reason I'm endorsing [Trump], I've played his golf courses, I've stayed in his hotel,' Holtz explained while wearing a Notre Dame pullover in a video posted on Trump's Twitter account. 'He does nothing but go first class in everything. He wants this country to be first class as well.

Honored to have received the endorsement of Lou Holtz – a great guy! #INPrimary#Trump2016pic.twitter.com/AeGyODb37O

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 2, 2016

Part of me is sad about this video. Not because Holtz is endorsing Trump, but for the lack of shenanigans attached to Holtz in this video. Maybe I have been too scarred by how Holtz was used on ESPN's College Football Final show alongside Mark May, what with the antics in fake court battles and, well, just about any time he got a chance to pick Notre Dame to win whatever game was being played at the moment.

Trump has been collecting a number of sports-related endorsements. Paul O'Neil lent Trump his endorsement in March, and we already knew New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was on the Trump bandwagon in New England. NASCAR CEO Brian France is also in on the Trump campaign, as is Jerry Lawler.

Given Holtz's track record picking Notre Dame to win the national championship, keep an eye out to see if Holtz predicts any victories for Trump come November. If he does, then congratulations to Hillary Clinton.

Gene Keady Donald Trump Tweet

[FTW]