Lou Holtz’s Magic Trick and the Surprising Connection Between Sports and Magic

There is a quiet connection between sports and magic that most people do not notice at first. Legendary coach Lou Holtz understood that connection well. In some of his motivational speeches, Holtz even performed a magic trick, the classic torn and restored newspaper, to capture attention and wake up the room before delivering his message.

Both sports and magic rely on timing, discipline, and the ability to command attention. I grew up around athletics myself. My father and grandfather were both high school quarterbacks, and many members of my family were strong athletes, including both of my sisters. I would not describe myself as the most athletic one in the group, My dad even mentioned at my wedding that my wife Ashley "greatly increased the odds that he had grandchildren starting on Varsity".

I have always noticed the similarities between high level performers in sports and performers in magic. Both worlds reward preparation, focus, and the ability to rise to the moment when people are watching. One of the most memorable moments I have had in the magic world happened in 2019 when I had the chance to spend time with Coach Holtz when he was speaking in Kalamazoo.

Over the two days I was there, people constantly approached him. They talked about Notre Dame football, big wins over USC, or seasons they remembered from decades earlier. Coach Holtz was gracious with everyone and seemed genuinely happy to hear those stories. But when I mentioned magic, something different happened.

With Coach Holtz and Ashley at Kalamazoo event in 2019

His face lit up. Instead of talking about football, we talked about sleight of hand. I showed him a few card tricks and he immediately began talking about how powerful magic can be in a room full of people. We talked about how surprise captures attention and how a simple moment of wonder can make people lean in and listen.

Coach Holtz had used magic in his speeches for years. One routine he became known for performing was the classic torn and restored newspaper. In the middle of a talk, he would tear a newspaper into pieces and then restore it in front of the audience. The moment of surprise reset the room and brought everyone's attention back to the message he was delivering. The torn and restored newspaper trick became one of the ways Lou Holtz would break the ice before delivering a leadership lesson. When we talked about it, he mentioned that he had learned the trick from magician Gene Anderson, a fellow performer from Michigan who has spent years teaching and sharing magic with others. It was a small reminder that magic often travels quietly between worlds, from magicians to coaches to speakers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SH4YQjhY-XQ

Watch Lou Holtz perform the newspaper trick On Johnny Carson at the 8:25 mark

Coach Holtz believed deeply in simple principles. One line he repeated often in his talks was:

“I follow three rules: Do the right thing, do the best you can, and always show people you care.”

Those ideas shaped how he coached, how he spoke, and how he treated people around him. Before he left that event, he signed a book for me with a message I will always keep.

“Thanks for your help. Wish I had your talents as a magician. Lou Holtz”

Moments like that stick with you.

The insription written in my copy of Wins, Losses and Lessons.

Holtz is not the only athlete who found something meaningful in magic. Heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali was known to entertain reporters and friends with simple sleight of hand tricks. Ali understood performance better than almost anyone. Whether he was stepping into a boxing ring or speaking to a crowd, he knew how powerful surprise and showmanship could be. (Ali also was know to attend the Abbott Magic Get Together in Colon, MI just a short distance from his Benton Harbor home)

More recently, former long snapper Jon Dorenbos carried that connection into the modern era. During his career with the Philadelphia Eagles, Dorenbos often performed magic tricks for teammates in locker rooms and on team flights. After retiring from football, he built a career as a keynote speaker, using magic and storytelling to talk about resilience, mindset, and overcoming adversity. He's also made several appearances on America's Got Talent.

Magic shows up in sports more often than people realize. Coaches and athletes are constantly competing for attention, whether in a locker room, a press conference, or a room full of employees at a leadership event. A moment of surprise pulls people inand makes them curious about what comes next. Once people are curious, they are far more open to the message that follows.

One thing Coach Holtz and many others understood is that magic is not really about fooling people. The secret is never the most important part. Moments like that reminded me WHY magic shows up in unexpected places. Locker rooms. Leadership talks. Conference stages. Sometimes even a conversation backstage after a speech.

"Notre Dame still prints me the cards"

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