"I don’t get to see (my mom), but I talk to her. As long as I hear her voice every day, I’m cool with it." -- Eric Futch
Voices: Futch’s Conversations with Mother, Grandfather Lead to Worry-Free Running
Wednesday, June 8, 2016 | Track and Field
“(My mom) means the world to me. She’s No. 1 in my life. Always." -- Eric Futch, UF redshirt junior hurdler/sprinter
EUGENE, Ore. – Charmaine Curry and Eric Futch never go consecutive days without calling one another.
Their unbreakable mother-son bond, forged through Charmaine's attempts to shield Futch and his younger brother, Nafi Curry, from the streets of South Philadelphia, constantly has one missing or worrying about the other.
They talk on the phone for hours at a time, usually while Charmaine, an in-home health care aid, watches over her client. Futch keeps his mom updated on school and track. Charmaine lets her son know everything going on in Nafi's life. Futch always inquires about his 11-year-old brother, ensuring he's on top of his schoolwork, behaving himself, and how much he's enjoying boxing classes.
Mostly, though, Futch just wants to know how his mother is doing.
"She means the world to me," he said. "Our relationship is really strong, and that's never going to change. She's No. 1 in my life. Always."
Futch grew close to nearly all his mother's family during his childhood years. Charmaine would often take her two boys to nearby relatives' houses to protect them from violence in their neighborhood.
"It was just the usual stuff that goes on in the streets," she said. "We had kids in our area who weren't in the right state of mind. I tried to keep him away from that. He kind of understood. Some of the times he would see stuff, so he would know."
William Curry, Charmaine's father, eventually became one of the most important influences in Futch's life.
Because William lived in South Carolina, the two never really knew each other until Futch's junior year at Penn Wood High School. William came up for Christmas, and immediately connected with his grandson. From that day forward, William continued to check in with him. As Futch put it, "He was there for me every day."
That year also served as a major turning point in Futch's life.
Prior to that, he'd always been the class clown. Sometimes he'd talk back to teachers, leading to multiple suspensions, all of which shocked his mother. Eric wasn't a bad kid; he wasn't a problem child. But he needed to mature. Teachers tried to get this message across, harshly.
"My high school teachers told me I wasn't going to be anything, I wasn't ever going to do anything with my life … that I wasn't going to go to college, and that even if I did I wouldn't last all four years," Futch said. "Once that happened, I told myself I wanted to prove everybody wrong. I buckled down."
Track provided all the motivation he needed.
Futch capped his junior year by breaking a 32-year-old state record in the 300-meter hurdles. As a senior, he broke Penn Wood's 200 meters and 300 meters records previously held by Leroy Burrell, a two-time world record holder in the 100 meters. Later that summer, Futch won the 400-meter hurdles gold medal at the 2012 IAAF World Junior Championships.
Following his two breakout years, Futch elected to run for Burrell, the head coach at the University of Houston. However, impatience and immaturity led to a rough transition to collegiate track. Futch, like many high school starts before him, wanted immediate success, failing to realize the process is not always quick.
So he sought a change of venue, and landed at the University of Florida.
NCAA transfer rules forced Futch to redshirt in 2014, providing yet another personal challenge. As if sitting out a whole season wasn't hard enough on its own, William passed away.
Although his mother couldn't be there for her son, other than by way of their daily phone calls, UF head coach Mike Holloway and assistant coach Mellanee Welty guided him through the rocky year.
"It was really emotional for me," Futch said. "Me not running track, not doing what I love, and then my grandpop dying on top of that, I just tried to keep my head up as much as I could. It was rough for me."
When Futch could finally race again, he committed to trusting the process and his coaches. The results speak to how well things are working out.
He finished seventh in the 400 hurdles at last year's NCAA Outdoor Championships, helped the Gators win an SEC Indoor title in the 4x400 relay earlier this year, and enters this week's NCAA Outdoor Championships as the top-ranked 400-meter hurdler. His season-best time of 49.24 seconds, which won him the SEC title last month, qualified him for the United States Olympic Trials, where he will vie for a chance to represent his country in Rio.
Welty attributes Futch's successes over the past two years to a more positive attitude, as well as the personal growth he's undergoing.
"It's been really fun to watch Eric grow up," Welty said. "He came to us and had a college experience, but he was looking to be a better person and a better athlete. He's embraced the growth, and has done a really good job growing up, and knowing he needed to grow up."
Now watching from afar, Burrell couldn't be happier for his fellow Penn Wood alum and former pupil.
"Change of venue is good for a kid who might need to understand that it's the person and not the venue," Burrell said. "Sometimes the person has to grow. Eric has certainly grown. Talent was never an issue … just the approach. I'm very happy for Eric."
And his mother? Charmaine paused for a few moments, clearly reflecting on how far her son has come. She only needed a few words to sum it up.
"I'm just so proud of him," she said.
When this grown-man version of Futch hits the track in Eugene, Ore. on Wednesday (June 8) and, hopefully, Friday (June 10), he won't be alone.
Futch always talks to his grandfather before he runs. He'll find a spot he can be alone for a few moments inside the clerking tent, where he'll ask William to guide him through the race. Like his relationship with Charmaine, Futch's spiritual connection with William is stronger than ever.
His mother will be just a phone call away, too. As long as he hears her voice nearly every day, nothing can faze Futch. A little reminder Charmaine gave him on one of their recent phone calls is sure to stick with him.
"I always tell him, no matter how it goes, he has to run for himself," she said.
Their unbreakable mother-son bond, forged through Charmaine's attempts to shield Futch and his younger brother, Nafi Curry, from the streets of South Philadelphia, constantly has one missing or worrying about the other.
They talk on the phone for hours at a time, usually while Charmaine, an in-home health care aid, watches over her client. Futch keeps his mom updated on school and track. Charmaine lets her son know everything going on in Nafi's life. Futch always inquires about his 11-year-old brother, ensuring he's on top of his schoolwork, behaving himself, and how much he's enjoying boxing classes.
Mostly, though, Futch just wants to know how his mother is doing.
"She means the world to me," he said. "Our relationship is really strong, and that's never going to change. She's No. 1 in my life. Always."
Futch grew close to nearly all his mother's family during his childhood years. Charmaine would often take her two boys to nearby relatives' houses to protect them from violence in their neighborhood.
"It was just the usual stuff that goes on in the streets," she said. "We had kids in our area who weren't in the right state of mind. I tried to keep him away from that. He kind of understood. Some of the times he would see stuff, so he would know."
William Curry, Charmaine's father, eventually became one of the most important influences in Futch's life.
Because William lived in South Carolina, the two never really knew each other until Futch's junior year at Penn Wood High School. William came up for Christmas, and immediately connected with his grandson. From that day forward, William continued to check in with him. As Futch put it, "He was there for me every day."
That year also served as a major turning point in Futch's life.
Prior to that, he'd always been the class clown. Sometimes he'd talk back to teachers, leading to multiple suspensions, all of which shocked his mother. Eric wasn't a bad kid; he wasn't a problem child. But he needed to mature. Teachers tried to get this message across, harshly.
"My high school teachers told me I wasn't going to be anything, I wasn't ever going to do anything with my life … that I wasn't going to go to college, and that even if I did I wouldn't last all four years," Futch said. "Once that happened, I told myself I wanted to prove everybody wrong. I buckled down."
Track provided all the motivation he needed.
Futch capped his junior year by breaking a 32-year-old state record in the 300-meter hurdles. As a senior, he broke Penn Wood's 200 meters and 300 meters records previously held by Leroy Burrell, a two-time world record holder in the 100 meters. Later that summer, Futch won the 400-meter hurdles gold medal at the 2012 IAAF World Junior Championships.
Following his two breakout years, Futch elected to run for Burrell, the head coach at the University of Houston. However, impatience and immaturity led to a rough transition to collegiate track. Futch, like many high school starts before him, wanted immediate success, failing to realize the process is not always quick.
So he sought a change of venue, and landed at the University of Florida.
NCAA transfer rules forced Futch to redshirt in 2014, providing yet another personal challenge. As if sitting out a whole season wasn't hard enough on its own, William passed away.
Although his mother couldn't be there for her son, other than by way of their daily phone calls, UF head coach Mike Holloway and assistant coach Mellanee Welty guided him through the rocky year.
"It was really emotional for me," Futch said. "Me not running track, not doing what I love, and then my grandpop dying on top of that, I just tried to keep my head up as much as I could. It was rough for me."
When Futch could finally race again, he committed to trusting the process and his coaches. The results speak to how well things are working out.
He finished seventh in the 400 hurdles at last year's NCAA Outdoor Championships, helped the Gators win an SEC Indoor title in the 4x400 relay earlier this year, and enters this week's NCAA Outdoor Championships as the top-ranked 400-meter hurdler. His season-best time of 49.24 seconds, which won him the SEC title last month, qualified him for the United States Olympic Trials, where he will vie for a chance to represent his country in Rio.
Welty attributes Futch's successes over the past two years to a more positive attitude, as well as the personal growth he's undergoing.
"It's been really fun to watch Eric grow up," Welty said. "He came to us and had a college experience, but he was looking to be a better person and a better athlete. He's embraced the growth, and has done a really good job growing up, and knowing he needed to grow up."
Now watching from afar, Burrell couldn't be happier for his fellow Penn Wood alum and former pupil.
"Change of venue is good for a kid who might need to understand that it's the person and not the venue," Burrell said. "Sometimes the person has to grow. Eric has certainly grown. Talent was never an issue … just the approach. I'm very happy for Eric."
And his mother? Charmaine paused for a few moments, clearly reflecting on how far her son has come. She only needed a few words to sum it up.
"I'm just so proud of him," she said.
When this grown-man version of Futch hits the track in Eugene, Ore. on Wednesday (June 8) and, hopefully, Friday (June 10), he won't be alone.
Futch always talks to his grandfather before he runs. He'll find a spot he can be alone for a few moments inside the clerking tent, where he'll ask William to guide him through the race. Like his relationship with Charmaine, Futch's spiritual connection with William is stronger than ever.
His mother will be just a phone call away, too. As long as he hears her voice nearly every day, nothing can faze Futch. A little reminder Charmaine gave him on one of their recent phone calls is sure to stick with him.
"I always tell him, no matter how it goes, he has to run for himself," she said.
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