During a July 28 media event ahead of the fall football camp, University of Virginia running back Mike Hollins talked about how he’s getting ready for the season physically, emotionally, and mentally.
“Training wise, it’s been hot, fun. I see my body returning to where I used to be,” said Hollins, who was injured during the November 13 Culbreth Parking Garage shooting on a bus that had returned from a field trip. “Even if my weight isn’t there, I feel like I don’t really think that that matters as much now. Because my mindset is different, and my motivation is different.”
On top of hitting the weight room this summer, Hollins has used the summer season to process last fall’s shooting, which resulted in the death of his teammates Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr., and D’Sean Perry. “It’s been a lot more time to think,” he said. “I feel like I’ve come to understand my emotions a lot more.”
Hollins credits his faith, family, and friends for supporting him as he continues to recover from the tragedy. “Without God, I wouldn’t be here today. And that’s as clear to me now as it’s ever been.”
Emi, his rottweiler puppy, has also been a big help. “She’s truly emotional support,” he said. “She’s there just for the loving, and I just love having a responsibility besides school and football to really take my mind off of things. Someone who doesn’t judge.” Hollins named the dog after Perry, whose middle name is Emir. “It’s just a constant reminder of the calm and loving person [Perry] was. Raising her, it’s been a blessing for me.”
Looking toward the fall, Hollins said, “It’s going to be an emotional season, but I think I see this team moving forward. … I’m excited for what this season holds. Not just for this team, but for the city, the university. Because we need football right now. I feel … it does something to the atmosphere. Just the whole camaraderie of the university or campus or Grounds. It’ll uplift the three we lost just by seeing them up on the big screen or being in a football game. People will be remembering them.”
“We don’t have to go out and try to overdo ourselves or overwork or go undefeated or win a championship just to justify their legacy,” said Hollins. “I think just showing up, waking every day, and returning to practice, returning to the field and locker rooms, and just continuing to be a team in their honor is doing their legacy really well in itself.”
The Cavaliers are likely in for a challenging 2023 season, when they’ll face six teams that went to bowl games in 2022. First up for the Hoos is a September 2 away game at the University of Tennessee, which upset No. 1-ranked Alabama last year, followed by UVA’s home opener against James Madison University on September 9.
While he anticipates that being back on the field will be emotional, Hollins said he’s “excited for just the opportunity to add a little gas to their flame at the start of the season and then come right back for the home game in [Chandler, Davis, and Perry’s] honor. I don’t see a way that this season can be a failure, no matter the record, no matter the ending, no matter anything, as long as we go out there and play.”