Last One, Best One: Dukes and Family Seek Successful Week at NCAA Championships
Tuesday, June 9, 2015 | Track and Field
By Will Pantages
UAA Communications
EUGENE, Ore. – Five NCAA Championships, three Southeastern Conference titles and a member of three school-record relay squads. Not to mention the reigning 200-meter NCAA Outdoor Champion.
That's the legacy that University of Florida senior Dedric Dukes will look to add to this week in his final meet as a collegian at the 2015 NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore. However, those accolades, which include his indoor and outdoor performances, are not what stands out to Dukes or Gators head coach Mike Holloway.
It's the relationship that they've created with each other and that Dukes has created with his teammates, or as he calls them, his family.
“I've matured a lot from being around this team,” said the Miami, Fla., native. “I've grown up, basically. The atmosphere at Florida has shown me that I need to care for others more and it's not all about myself.”
It helps having a coach that has been there for him and provided something he lacked during his entire childhood.
His father.
“Coach Holloway has really taught me a lot and been like the father I never had,” Dukes continued. “He has taught me so many things away from the track that I'll take with me the rest of my life.”
The father-son bond is mutual.
“Dedric has become like a son to me,” Holloway reflected. “I try to counsel him on life more than I do track and field, because he is a very talented young man and he is going to be successful on the track for as long as he stays focused.”
After each year, Dukes became more ingrained in the UF family-like culture that Holloway has created. That culture begins with the man at the top, Holloway.
“I just want to give him someone that he can talk to and be there for him,” said Holloway, “like I am for all my athletes if they ever need me.”
The Booker T. Washington High School product fielded offers from Florida State, Texas A&M and a few other colleges during his senior year. But it was the atmosphere he noticed during his visit and the fact Dukes grew up a Gator fan that made him want Gainesville to be his home away from home.
Not only has Dukes embraced the family atmosphere, but he has had an effect on others with his actions that has helped him create relationships that will last a lifetime.
Dukes has had the biggest impact on someone he called his “younger brother,” Florida sophomore sprinter Eric Futch.
His first impression on Futch, a transfer from the University of Houston, was a powerful one. The Philadelphia, Pa., product described Dukes being complimentary and intelligent when they first met. Futch knew right away that he wanted to become good friends with him.
The relationship began from a compliment and their same love of the rapper Meek Mill.
It's only blossomed from there.
“He's a great guy and great runner. I look up to him every day and I try to learn something new from him each time we're on the track together,” Futch said.
Dukes, a mainstay on the Gators 4x100 and 4x400-meter relay teams over the past couple of seasons, runs with his “brothers.”
He went from competing against Hugh Graham, Jr., Antwan Wright and Gino Hall and admiring from afar in high school, to training with them and the likes of Futch and Najee Glass every day.
It's another key to the great family atmosphere that surrounds this team.
“We're all like brothers,” Futch described.
Dukes had the same sentiment.
“It's great to be with them every day and run with them. We have great chemistry from our relationships with each other that dates back to high school. We grew up running against each other so we already know how things go.”
This will be a special and emotional week for Dukes and his fellow seniors. But Futch, Holloway and the rest of Florida track & field team are excited to be a part of this week for them.
The seniors have adopted the phrase, “Last One, Best One” as they all enter their final meet as a Gator.
Regardless of how this week goes, each Gator will be competing for the same thing.
Each other.
