NFL Hall of Famer Tim Brown to speak at Cathedral High’s 90th Anniversary Gala

Notre Dame Football legend, and NFL Hall of Famer, Tim Brown, has accepted an invitation to speak at the Cathedral High School 90th Anniversary Gala, the Cathedral Alumni Association announced Tuesday. Last month, the alumni association announced it had rescinded its invitation to have former Notre Dame Coach, Lou Holtz, speak at the gala.

Holtz, who endorsed Donald Trump, drew criticism for comments he made regarding immigrants. “I don’t want to become you. I don’t want to speak your language. I don’t want to celebrate your holidays. I sure as hell don’t want to cheer for your soccer team,” Holtz said.

The decision to invite Holtz to El Paso drew immediate criticism, evident in an El Paso Times editorial. “Holtz, a former coach at Notre Dame, last month lobbed hate-filled rhetoric at immigrants, who happen to be a major part of Cathedral’s historic mission. The school welcomes students from both El Paso and Juarez,” the El Paso Times Editorial Board stated.

Holtz later apologized for mentioning holidays and soccer, but maintained immigrants need to assimilate with American culture.

Brown attended and played at the University of Notre Dame from 1984-1987, earning the nickname “Touchdown Timmy.” By the end of his playing career at the university, he became Notre Dame’s 7th Heisman Trophy winner and was selected in the first round of the NFL draft by the then Los Angeles Raiders. Brown spent 16 years in the NFL and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.

The former Raider is also the author of a book titled, “The Making of a Man: How Men and Boys Honor God and Live with Integrity.”

Cathedral’s gala is meant to help the private Catholic school raise money for scholarships.