It was another sign of progress for Duke wide receiver Blair Holliday, who was critically injured in a jet-ski accident last month.
Duke coach David Cutcliffe talked with Holliday by phone Tuesday, a day after Holliday was transferred to the Shepherd Center in Atlanta.
Holliday has been hospitalized since being injured in a Fourth of July accident on Lake Tillery. He was transported Monday to the Shepherd Center and admitted to the Acquired Brain Injury Unit. The Shepherd Center specializes in medical treatment, research and
rehabilitation for people with spinal cord and brain injuries.
"It was a joyous day in the Yoh Football Center as we had the entire staff in the office for a short phone call with Blair,'' Cutcliffe said in a statementl. "We had him on speakerphone, and it was just great to hear his voice — a sound that absolutely filled the room with exuberance. We talked about the rehabilitation process and how important it is, and when I asked him if he understood how much we loved him, he responded with a confident, 'Yes.' "
Holliday also spoke Tuesday by phone with his parents, Leslie and Rick.
"We are so thankful to everyone for their thoughts and prayers,'' said Leslie Holliday. "Hearing Blair’s voice was so special. He is fighting through this just like we knew he would, and to have the support of so many family members and friends is just amazing. I told him that I loved him, and to hear the response of, 'I love you, too, Mom,' was truly an inspiration.''
A 6-foot-1, 195-pound sophomore, Holliday was one of Duke's standouts in spring practice and was expected to be a starter this fall.
