Johnny Holliday: A Legacy 1,500 Games In The Making

When the Terps take on Mount Saint Mary’s on Wednesday, Johnny Holliday will once again be on the microphone. The contest will be his 1,500th Maryland men’s basketball game he’s called for an institution he holds dear. 

“I don’t think you can really put it into words,” Holliday said. “When I started back in 1979, I never ever envisioned 47 years later still doing the games. It’s an honor to represent the University of Maryland. To be able to be associated with head coaches and players and the athletic directors, you can’t make out how exciting, how gratifying it is. I love it.”

Holliday’s been on the call for an abundance of ups and a share of downs, but his love for the school and the team keeps him coming back each year. 

“I think it's the optimism,” Holliday said. “There’s always the feeling that you can win the Big Ten and you can win the national championship. Everybody starts 0-0 at the start of the season and there’s always that hope and that desire that you can win another championship.”

Holliday’s legacy and praise stretch across the nation. One of the biggest advocates for his greatness is another staple of Maryland basketball: its all-time winningest coach and national champion Gary Williams. 

“I've always thought he's got one of those jobs, it's very similar to coaching, where people are quick to criticize, and Johnny's been above all that,” Gary Williams said. “He's maintained a level of expertise that few people have been able to do for that length of time. Johnny Holliday is known nationwide, so that adds a touch of class to your program that some other programs aren't as fortunate to have.”

Holliday is rejuvenated by the youth and talent he spends his time around. From football to basketball, the chance to learn athletes’ stories and get to know them as people off the court is an aspect of his job he sincerely values. 

“Interacitng with young people,” Holliday said. “Being around them all the time and seeing the love they have for the University of Maryland and to be able to be a part of that is really special.”

Greg Manning is another name that’ll be associated with Maryland basketball for years to come and he reflected on the time he spent on the mic calling games with Holliday and what 1,500 games means to a broadcaster. 

“First of all, it means you've lived a long time,” Manning said. “And you're very good at what you do, and he is. I’ve known Johnny for almost 50 years now. I don't know if I've ever known anybody that is as good as what they do in their chosen profession. That guy is so talented and so good at what he does and has such a love for the University of Maryland.”

He has a unique care for the players, too. It’s a compassion and empathy that not many people in the industry have, but one that sets Holliday apart. 

“Something that stood out to me as a player early on was who he was as a reporter,” Maryland star Walt Williams said. “At the college ranks, you're not really paying attention to the reporters, but you can always tell when they ask questions if they’re fishing for something or have ulterior motives. I always remember talking to Johnny and him being authentic and him not trying to be tricky with us or or anything like that. He just made me feel very comfortable. He’s somebody that stands out in that regard.”

Holliday’s seen countless timeless moments and iconic wins, but a few stand above the others. 

“Any win over Duke I remember well,” Holliday said. “And a win down in North Carolina in the Smith Center for the first time, that will always stick in my mind. But there are so many games. They all run together a bit after a while.”

Well, all but one. 

“Nothing can top the national championship,” Holliday said. “To see the clock winding down and realizing the magnitude of the moment and the emotion of all the players. I got choked up calling the last couple of minutes. I never had in my wildest dreams what I was going to say if they won it, I just happened to say ‘the kids have done it.’”

It’s an iconic moment in Maryland history and a call that will be cemented in time. A part of the 2002 Terrapin legacy that connected Gary Williams, Maryland and, of course, Holliday.

“The thing with Johnny is he's professional and he's always consistent,” Gary Williams said. “He might be having a tough day or something like that, but when he goes on the air, he's all about the University of Maryland. I don't think anybody's been a better ambassador for the school than Johnny Holliday.”

His milestone game will be another piece of Holliday’s legacy, along with the Johnny Holliday Endowed Scholarship, a scholarship that is intended to support a student-athlete majoring in Communication or Journalism.

Holliday will be on the mic for his 1,500th game on Wednesday, but it’s not the end of his story; it’s just another chapter in the history book he continues to write. 

“Whatever sport it is, this is my school, those are my teams,” Holliday said. “I’m a Maryland guy. We’ve got so many good coaches here and so many good players. I think it’s blue skies ahead.”