His every comment is scrutinized for a hint of what's in store next season. And the Notre Dame coach has fueled the guessing game by mentioning the subject of retirement several times in the last week alone.
Holtz just laughs when asked what it all means.
"There have been rumors about me forever," he said, shaking his head. "I just want to win the last three football games. I'll tell you, I still have a strong desire to coach and I have more enthusiasm than I've ever had. I'm really looking forward to the future."
Holtz is 59 and is fully recovered from last year's emergency surgery to relieve pressure on his spinal cord. He said before the season that he never felt better.
Last year the university gave him a "lifetime" contract extension with the understanding the program continue to win and he attract quality recruits. When asked a few weeks ago if he thought Holtz would be at Notre Dame next year, the Rev. William Beauchamp, the university's executive vice president, said, "Yep, I do."
So why the rumors?
Holtz was deeply disappointed when his lifeless team lost to Ohio State and Air Force at home, with the Ohio State loss one of the toughest he's ever had. He was mystified by the defeats, saying at one point he couldn't get a feel for the team.
Then last week the word retirement kept popping up. He didn't say anything specific or dramatic, but the repeated references were unusual. Talking after practice one night last week, Holtz used the phrase "throw the baby out with the bath water," then said he had no idea what that meant, but he'd always wanted to say it before he retired.
On Sunday, Holtz mentioned that Memphis coach Rip Scherer, whose Tigers had upset then-No. 6 Tennessee the day before, had played for him when Holtz coached at William & Mary.
"He'll probably retire in a year or two, that's how old I'm getting," he said.
And finally, when asked about the officiating in Notre Dame's win at Boston College, Holtz said he's been on the receiving end of plenty of bad calls during his 11 years at Notre Dame.
"I'm going to tell you this, the new coach is really in for some great benefits," he said. "He's going to get some great calls for the next 11 years."
Then there's Knute Rockne's record. Rockne won more games (105) at Notre Dame than anyone else, and Holtz has said before he would not want to break that. But with 98 wins, he's closing in fast.