Survivor Nicaragua followed in the footsteps of arguably one of Survivor’s best seasons, Heroes. Vs. Villains. It featured a unique cast of interesting characters, and in episode two we saw the beginning of one of the greatest come from behind story arcs since Kathy Vavrick O’Brien way back in season 4.

Coming into the new season, the producers looked for a way to form the tribes that would be different and would set the tone for the game as a whole. They decided to repeat young vs old, which we had seen a previous version of in Survivor Exile Island.

However, in Nicaragua’s second episode we saw the emersion of Holly Hoffman as the character that we would come to love, albeit before we questioned her island sanity. This episode also introduced us to one of Survivor’s most beloved twists.

This episode features one of the lowest moments for Holly in the game of Survivor, yet it also featured her favorite moment.

The backstory:

It’s day 4 of the game, and the Espada tribe has already been to tribal council. Last night they unanimously voted American Treasure, Wendy Jo out of the tribe. (Without even asking her age.)

Feeling on the outs since Wendy was her original alliance member, Holly felt as though she was walking on eggshells. This would lead her to a downward spiral that only a Super Bowl winning NFL coach could help her out of.

How does it start? Well Holly wakes up to see Dr. Jill Behm eating snails out of a bucket, nothing too crazy for Survivor right? Well Holly doesn’t see it that way.

“Today, I saw Jill eating snails, and I didn’t know if you could eat them or not. She was going like this… and rolling her eyes, and then, that’s when I realized, when Jill acted that way, that you really couldn’t eat ‘em.”

Instead of letting Dr. Jill eat her snails in peace, Holly determines that they are not edible and discards of them in the ocean, leaving behind a very puzzled tribe.

“Holly, I think is a very nice person but she’s… she’s off the deep end. She needs to do well in this game and she’s not and now she’s hitting the panic button.”

“There’s nothing wrong with the snails so I don’t know what to think of Holly. Her mental state is not good, and in Survivor you don’t want to come across as mentally unstable.”

“Holly snapped at Jill and it was really kind of a bizarre type thing. I’m just keeping my fingers crossed that she can turn it around before it’s too late.”

As Holly is dumping the snails back into the Ocean, the Espada tribe sits around in astonishment at what just happened, saying that it was a crazy thing to do.

What they don’t know, is that a duo of castaways are nearby and can hear the Espada tribe make fun of Holly

“I don’t think they realized that I was watching them, and Dan, who is making fun of me, that gets under my skin. So I think the best way for me to handle the situation with Dan is to try to find a way to release my anger.”

This is where we get the infamous scene where Holly really goes off the deep end.

“The New York City boy, Danny, he doesn’t like sand on him. So let’s just fill his shoes up, and then… put them somewhere. Make sure they’re tied. Take them over here. I’m not going to sit back anymore and let them rub things in my face. I’ve been too nice up to this point. But the game has just begun.”

After thinking it over, and thinking through the first few days of the game, Holly has a breakdown.

“Right now, I’m-I’m struggling emotionally. This game is turning me into somebody I’m not. And it’s-it’s draining on me. And I’m realizing this-this might not be for me. You know, I did things that I feel like I shouldn’t and it bothers me so… I think it’s best if I come clean.”

Holly goes forward and admits what she did to Dan’s shoes, and it becomes a running theme throughout the season, but that’s not what this blog entry is about. This entry is about Holly’s favorite moment from Survivor, and that is what happens next.

It’s day 5, and with that Coach Jimmy Johnson and Holly take a moment to chat.

“I’m having a hard time.”

“You know, coming into this game I was like I could do this and then you get here and it’s a whole mental game and it’s totally different. I..I don’t know if I can do it.”

“It concerns me that Holly is having second thoughts about the game. She’d like to go home. Uh, but, uh… you know, I don’t think it’s the right thing to do just yet.”

“I can’t do it….I’ve never failed anything in my life.”

“This is no different than a football player wanting to quit the team. We all go through some adverse times and, you know, our minds get weak. Vince Lombardi says, “Fatigue makes cowards of us all.” Well, you know, that’s what happens out here.”

“The only thing I ask you to do is give it your best, because we need you. We..we really do need you.”

“I know if I quit this game, I’ll be letting my tribe down, so I’m gonna keep my head up. I’m gonna help the team out, and the emotional meltdown that I had today might either carry me through or it’s going to hurt me. I guess we’re just going to have to wait and see.”

Well what happens to our dear friend Holly? Does she become a premerge boot, remembered only for destroying shoes? No. Holly picks herself up and has an amazing run during her time in Nicaragua.

She wins immunity

She makes the merge

She’s the last member of her tribe standing, and the last female in the game.

And she comes one tribal council away from possibly winning the game of Survivor. Something she credits to her pep talk from NFL Coach Jimmy Johnson.

Holly would go on to publish a self-help book with a foreword by Mr. Jimmy Johnson himself. (Which she graciously signed for me years ago).

Thank you to Holly for sharing your favorite Survivor moment!