Senior DB Lendy Holmes

NORMAN, Okla. -- Athletes are motivated to excel in their respective sports for a number of different reasons. For some, it is the respect of teammates, coaches and opponents that motivates them. For others, it is their love of the game or their resilient mindset to always do their best and give 100 percent.
 
For Lendy Holmes, it is family that motivates him to play the game he loves. His mother, father and older brother paved the path for Holmes to walk down, and without their support, words of wisdom and passion for sports, Holmes would not be the man he is today.
 
"My brother and father are my role models," Holmes said. "But it is my mom who everyone tells me I get my athleticism from."
 
Holmes' older brother, Haywood, just turned 33 and has always been a mentor and solid older brother to look up to. In fact, it was Haywood's brotherly guidance and love for sports that pushed Holmes to be the athlete and man he is.
 
"I always looked up to Haywood when I was little and he taught me a lot about life," said Holmes. "He taught me that life is not easy and you have to do what you love but he was also sure to point out the importance of an education."
 

"My brother and father are my role models. But it is my mom who everyone tells me I get my athleticism from."

It is these words of wisdom that helped motivate Holmes to play the game of football at the collegiate level with the warrior's mentality he does today. However, his older brother supplied more than words of wisdom for his little brother as his love for sports opened a door for Holmes to walk through.
 
In high school, Haywood played basketball, track and football, but it was during his Pop Warner days where Holmes' mother remembers seeing the beginning of her sons' shared love for sports.
 
"When we would get home from Haywood's little league games, Lendy would put on his older brother's uniform and helmet and he would run around the house," said Charlotte Holmes. "It was really funny, but I've known since then Lendy was going to excel in sports."
 
It wasn't long until younger brother was getting older brother's attention for something besides wearing the elder's uniform. Haywood recalls his pre-school aged brother was throwing spirals with an NFL size football.
 
"It was pretty remarkable for such a young kid to be able to do what he did," said Haywood.
 

"My father was hard on me but he taught me life on a daily basis. He taught me that life is not easy and you have to work hard."

Holmes also had his father, Lendy Holmes III, to look to for inspiration as well.
 
"My father was hard on me but he taught me life on a daily basis," said Holmes. "He taught me that life is not easy and you have to work hard. And you have to earn what you work for."
 
Holmes has earned everything he has worked for, including a starting spot in the Sooners' defensive backfield. His family is proud to be part of the success they have helped build.
 
"My father and brother come to almost every one of my games and so does my mom. My father only misses the first game of every season because that is when we have our family reunion. Except for that one, he is at all of them," said Holmes.
 
Holmes now has a family and kids of his own who also motivate him.
 
"Seeing my kids keeps me going and motivated," Holmes said. "They put a big Kool-Aid smile across my face every time I see them. Nothing can go wrong when you come home and see your kids."
 
One of the great roles his kids play in Holmes' life is re-enacting dad.
 
"When I come back from playing a game, they act like me," said Holmes. "If I made a tackle in the game or intercept a pass, they re-enact it as soon as I walk through the door."
 
Holmes' brother, Haywood, says that his younger brother's children are a blessing from God.
 
"Lendy loves his family and especially his kids. You can never be too old or too young to have a family. When you start at a young age, it is a big responsibility," said Haywood. "Lendy has accepted that responsibility. He enjoys being a father and takes great care of his kids."

Throughout his life, Holmes received advice from his family. He is now passing that wisdom along to his own.

Throughout his life, Holmes received advice from his family. He is now passing that wisdom along to his family.
 
"I want them to know how important getting an education is and I want them to live life to the fullest," said Holmes.
 
For Lendy Holmes, family is a great example of how loved ones can motivate an individual to be the best person one can be. 
 

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Feature by Jason Bodin | OU Athletics Media Relations
 

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