Most young football players dream of making it to the NFL. Michael Irvin, Hall of Fame wide receiver from the Miami Hurricanes and the Dallas Cowboys, has created a reality television show that will provide a would-be pro football player with that chance.
One of the 12 people who competed for the opportunity is former Carolina football and basketball player Jesse Holley. Neither Holley nor a representative from Spike TV, which will air the 10 one-hour episodes, starting on May 18 at 10 p.m., would divulge the eventual winner.
Each week a different contestant will be cut, with the winner heading to training camp with the Dallas Cowboys.
Holley had a taste of the NFL graduating from UNC in 2007. He spent five weeks of that season on the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad, a spot that does not allow for playing in games but does provide a paycheck.
After five weeks, however, the Bengals cut him.
“One of the things I found out once I got into it is a lot of people are not in the NFL because of their athletic talent,” Holley said. “I’m a prime example of that. It wasn’t my talent. It was the circumstances with the Bengals. We were running low on linebackers. We had one healthy linebacker.
“The coach I had in Cincinnati told me it wasn’t my athletic talent,” Holley said. “The management decided to go in another direction.”
Holley did not let his dream of playing in the NFL die, but it had to be wounded.
“If you are coming in as a low draft pick or a free agent, the opportunities are few and far between,” Holley said. “You have limited room for error. You can’t get hurt. There is a difference between getting hurt and having an injury.”
When this opportunity arose, Holley could not believe it at first. Then he learned the chance was very real.
“I had to go to Orlando (Fla.) for a personality kind of audition,” Holley said. “After I went to Orlando, I was invited to (Los Angeles), where they had a combine with 44 players out of the 20,000 interviewed. We did route running, all the things you do at a combine: the shuttle run, the 40. I happen to be one of the 12 guys they chose to come to Dallas to do the show.”
He did not learn immediately that he made the show. Holley returned to his normal life. After attending a funeral for a friend’s father one day, Holley received the call.
“I almost crashed my car,” Holley said. “I was coming from a funeral and almost made my funeral.”
The show was an intense competition, he said, but there were some loose moments. One such time included watching the Tar Heels win the 2009 NCAA men’s basketball championship. Holley was a member of UNC’s 2005 national championship team.
“I actually had my championship ring with me while we were watching the game,” Holley said. “I was telling the guys around me that I know what happens the day before. I know when you have the Final Four banquet meeting. I know what it feels like: the game, the attention, how you feel like a rock star.
“After we won it,” Holley continued, “they wanted to turn the channel. I said: ‘No, no, no. I want to hear that song, One Shinning Moment.’ It’s another whole thing when you’re standing on that stage and that song is going on.
“One of the things I remember is standing on that stage with coach (Roy Williams) and the other guys and One Shinning Moment is on. You see a bunch of grown men in tears. Once you hear that, you know that now you are the national champions.”
Getting a chance to learn from Irvin was one of the highlights from the television experience for Holley.
“Working with Michael, the things I learned from him are invaluable,” Holley said. “He was around every day. Getting tips and pointers from him elevated my game to a level that even I didn’t know I could do.”
Soon the time will arrive for the show to air and for UNC fans to learn whether Holley will earn a spot in training camp with the Dallas Cowboys.
“One thing I would say to all the Carolina fans is that those who still follow me, I appreciate all the support,” Holley said. “I think this show will really resurrect my career. Without a doubt, the loquacious, flamboyant Jesse ‘Hollywood’ Holley is back. I’m back on your TV screen. I’m back in your living rooms on May 18 at 10 o’clock on Spike TV.”