Legendary Terps play-by-play man Johnny Holliday recently called his 1,500th Maryland men’s basketball game.
Holliday has been broadcasting Terps football and men’s basketball since 1979. The 88-year-old is a staple of the University of Maryland and has been for nearly five decades. He is still just being himself and having fun with it.
In fact, Holliday was surprised that he had called 1,500 Maryland men’s basketball games and couldn’t remember which team the Terps played against in his first game.
“To be honest with you, it’s no big deal,” Holliday said on Glenn Clark Radio Nov. 19. “I do something that I love, like you guys do, and it’s never been a day of work for me. I still enjoy it as much as I had when I first started with Lefty [Driesell].”
Holliday’s 1,500th game wound up being an intense 95-90 overtime win against Mount St. Mary’s, which won the MAAC in 2024-25 and still has Donny Lind at the helm.
Some of Holliday’s favorite experiences are when he bumps into players from all the different teams he has covered throughout the years. He loves when former players stop by and visit him. It always brings back great memories.
“When E.J. Henderson comes in, or Boomer Esiason will come back or something, it’s like taking you right back to the times when they were playing,” Holliday said. “It’s terrific.”
The conversation shifted to Kevin Willard’s departure from Maryland after losing to eventual national champion Florida in the Sweet 16. It seemed to Holliday that Willard never really felt at home at Maryland.
Although Holliday noted that he and Willard didn’t have a close relationship, he went out of his way to let Willard know that he was always pulling for him and his team to be successful at Maryland. Holliday is happy where things landed and wishes Willard nothing but the best.
“I think it worked out best for both parties, Buzz [Williams] is here. He’s up at Villanova. He’s closer to home,” Holliday said. “I still get texts from him. ‘Good luck with the season, miss you, say hello to the family.'”
Back in the present, Holliday is happy Williams is leading the Terps, who won four of their first five games prior to competing in the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas during the week of Thanksgiving. They’ll return home to face Wagner on Dec. 2.
“I’m not even going to mention the 1,500. [Williams] probably isn’t even aware, and it’s no big deal for him because he’s only been here for three wins or four games,” Holliday said. “He’s a good guy. I like him very much.”
For more from Holliday, listen to the full interview here:
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Maryland Athletics