Grant Holloway Authors Letter Announcing Return to Gators

Grant Holloway wants you to know why he's coming back for another year with the Florida Gators.

Grant Holloway Authors Letter Announcing Return to Gators

Thursday, June 21, 2018 | Track and Field

"I’m leaving everything in the past and just preparing for the future. There are going to be ups and downs, but I’m going to sacrifice everything I can to bring home these team trophies and get that record."

By: Grant Holloway, Special to FloridaGators.com

Editor's Note: This is a first-person story written by University of Florida sophomore hurdler, jumper, and sprinter Grant Holloway. Holloway's return to college was first reported in a June 19 story by Ed Miller of The Virginian-Pilot.

****

Gator Nation - we've gotta clear something up. Or as Coach Holloway would say, we've gotta put something to bed.

I'm coming back.

I'm just not ready to stop wearing that Florida Gators uniform yet. I'm not ready to give up being part of a team yet. I'm not ready for the relationships I have with my coaches to change. I'm not ready for hurdling, my passion, to be a job, my livelihood. And I'm definitely not ready to leave with my name sitting behind someone on the collegiate record list.

I'm still in love with the team aspect of Florida track and field.

It's great to win these individual titles. I've been blessed enough to go 4 for 4 at NCAAs. But to have the team lift that trophy up on the infield at the end of a championship meet, that's something else. When I'm out there scoring points for the Florida Gators, for my team, for Coach Holloway, all the assistant coaches, that's the greatest feeling for me. I enjoy seeing the smiles on everybody's faces, Coach Holloway dancing on the infield after we get trophies.

It's small things like that I can't give up yet.

Then there's this collegiate record. Yeah, I ran 7.42 to break the indoor record. That's great. But that outdoor record, 13 flat… you've got to be the first collegian in history to run sub-13 to break it. I feel like I can be that person.

I take a lot of pride in my knowledge of track and field's history. I've got nothing but respect for Renaldo Nehemiah and that 13 flat he ran back in 1979. That man is an all-time great. For me to be right behind him in the books as the second-best collegian ever is humbling.

But my mentality is that nobody remembers who's second. And I'm a greedy person. I'll admit it. I want to win everything.

For me, I'd say Renaldo Nehemiah has been on top of that 110 hurdles record board too long. Records are meant to be broken. I'm after him. I'm after that record. That's my main goal next year.

After I ran 13.16 in April, my phone started blowin' up. I lost focus. I started taking everything as a job so I could get where I needed to be. I was too heavy on myself. It wasn't fun anymore. I found a way to let it all go and enjoy everything again at SECs, but I mentally wasn't in it the rest of the way. I never got that back. I was just trying to finish the season.

It took me a while to realize I got to 13.15 in the 110s and 8.32 (meters) in the long jump by having fun, coming out to practice every day with the personality to make somebody smile.

I have this permanent reminder set on my phone: Make Today a Great Day and Spread Positivity. I felt like I stepped away from that. I was too worried about 13 flat, rather than spreading joy and positive energy.

To turn pro, I feel like it would've been more of the same. When you're a professional, that's your job, your life. I'm not ready to feel that pressure yet. I already put that pressure on myself once, I'm not trying to do that again before I'm mature enough to handle it.

There's something else eating at me, too. If I was to leave today, everybody would remember me as the person who could always hurdle but struggled sometimes in the long jump.

The long jump at NCAA Outdoors this year, that was the lowest and toughest moment of my career. I was cooling down after the 4x4 and once I made eye contact with Coach Holloway I just fell into tears. I felt like it was going to be my fault we lost the meet. I still feel like it was, because I believe in the domino effect.

I want to go out with a long jump title in my hand, whether it's indoor or outdoor. I want to make sure I win long jump and hurdles at the same NCAA meet.

Oh, and just so this is clear for everybody: Coach Holloway didn't lobby me to come back.

He said from the beginning it was my decision, and that he'd support me no matter what. That's why I respect him so much. He laid out the facts so I could make the best choice for myself. I can't thank him enough for everything he's done for me. He's been a man of his word. We've got more work to do, family. Let's get it, boss!

Speaking of family, I don't have words for how excited I am for another year with my relay brothers. Chantz Sawyers, Benjamin (Lobo) Vedel, and Kunle Fasasi on the 4x4, then Ryan Clark, Michael Timpson (Jr.), Hakim Sani Brown and Chantz on the 4x1. Those are my brothers. We're all coming back. USC and Houston are phenomenal programs and they did the thing this year. Next year, we've got a chance to win those NCAA titles. The thought of seeing those smiles on my brothers' faces if we can get that done is worth coming back for. Small things like that make my world go 'round.

And Cory Poole, that boy just showed out at USAs! That motivates me to get ready for August. He's not going to hold back on me. To have a training partner who just ran 13.34 over 39-inch hurdles, that's crazy for me.

I'm trying to write the books with all my brothers junior year.

I'm leaving everything in the past and just preparing for the future. There are going to be ups and downs, but I'm going to sacrifice everything I can to bring home these team trophies and get that record.

I can't wait to put that Florida Gators uniform on again and rep the Orange and Blue next season. I can't wait to have fun again.

Much love and respect. OG Lance, this one is for you.

Say less. 🌹