Former Irish assistant testifies Holtz assaulted him
Posted: Thursday July 09, 1998 08:52 PM
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Holtz was known for his fired-up temper as a coach, but a colleague claims he went too far (Brian Masck/Allsport) |
LAFAYETTE, Indiana (AP) -- A former Notre Dame assistant coach testifying in a federal age discrimination lawsuit filed by a one-time colleague said he was assaulted by Lou Holtz during the 1996 season and mentioned a possible lawsuit against the former Irish head coach.
Stanford assistant Earle W. Mosley, who left the Irish program after Holtz's departure following the 1996 season, testified in a videotaped deposition the alleged incident occurred during halftime of the 1996 Boston College game.
On the videotape, Mosley initially resisted answering an attorney's questions about the incident, saying his lawyers had advised him against talking about it because of potential litigation.
But he then proceeded to testify that a Boston College fan spit on him as he went back to the lockerroom at halftime. After he said something to the fan, Holtz assaulted him and several players had to restrain Mosley, he said.
Mosley could not be reached for comment Thursday at Stanford, where he is now the running backs coach.
Someone answering the phone at Holtz's residence in Orlando, Florida, said he was on the road, and Holtz did not return messages left for him by The Associated Press.
Notre Dame spokesman Dennis Moore said the deposition was the first the university had heard of the possible lawsuit and was not involved.
"That's the first we've heard of it, and if there's anything to it, that's between Lou and Mosley, obviously," he said.
Former offensive line coach Joe Moore, who is suing the university for $1 million, was the only witness to take the stand Thursday after Mosley's testimony.
Moore claims he was fired by Notre Dame head coach Bob Davie in 1996 because he was too old to coach, and Davie didn't think he'd be around for the five years he planned to lead the Irish program.
Notre Dame lawyers claim Moore was fired because he abused players and did not live up to the standard that Davie wanted to establish on his coaching staff.
While on the stand, Moore admitted to striking Notre Dame players on several occasions, though he claims he slapped them with an open hand and didn't intend any harm. Irish lawyers countered several times by asking Moore if he ever punched players, including an incident in which he is said to have left at least one of them bloodied after the annual Blue and Gold Notre Dame scrimmage game in 1995.
Moore testified he made a mistake during the scrimmage game when he struck five lineman upside the head for a lax effort. But he denied every punching players.
"I never remember punching one of those kids with my fist. Never. No ... no," Moore said, holding up a closed hand.
Moore's attorney, Richard Lieberman, questioned him extensively about his background and reputation for turning linemen into All-American players. Lieberman tried to build up Moore by pointing out almost every starter who played for Moore during his nine seasons at Notre Dame went on to the NFL.
Irish attorney Gerald Lutkus brought up incidents in which Moore is said to have punched players. In one case, Lutkus asked Moore about a 1994 Notre Dame-Florida State game during which Moore allegedly knelt in front of a player on the sideline and punched him underneath his facemask.
Moore testified he only grabbed the player under his facemask but admitted that his hand may have slipped and struck the player in the face.
During opening statements, Lieberman told the jury of five women and three men that Notre Dame's claims that Moore was fired because he abused players and was a poor representative of the program surfaced only after proceedings started for an age discrimination suit.
"Notre Dame and Bob Davie believe they can escape responsibility for their illegal actions by destroying the reputation of Joe Moore," Lieberman said.
But Lutkus said Moore was fired because he was an abusive coach with a hot temper and a foul mouth that didn't fit in with Davie's image of Notre Dame football.
"We're not here because of age discrimination. We're here because this man, Joe Moore, wants to get even with Bob Davie," Lutkus said.
In a blow to the plaintiffs, U.S. Judge Allen Sharp declared allegations of misconduct by Davie at past coaching positions off limits unless defense attorneys introduced them. Sharp also harshly admonished Lieberman for introducing allegations that offensive coordinator Jim Colletto had abused players while he was the head coach at Purdue.
Both were key to Moore's claims that he had been wrongly fired. Lieberman said before the trial he had hoped to show other coaches at Notre Dame were allowed to abuse players without being reprimanded, undermining the university's claim that Moore was fired for his conduct.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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