Dec. 19, 2011
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As a true freshman wide receiver in September of 1999, Old Hickory native M.J. Garrett barely saw the field in his first collegiate game, save for a few assignments on special teams.
The next week was not shaping up to be any different. Garrett was watching much of the game from the sideline as Northern Illinois built a 28-3 lead over the Commodores in the opening minutes of the second half.
Just as Vanderbilt seemed to be gaining momentum–scoring back-to-back touchdowns at the end of the third quarter to get within 28-17 of the Huskies–the ‘Dores’ No. 1 receiver, Tavarus Hogans, was forced to come out of the game with a leg injury. Garrett was sent out for his first duty at wideout, his head spinning.
“I barely even know what I’m doing,” Garrett remembers. “My heart’s beating out of my chest. I had to run a slant route, a 5-yard in. I’m just trying to get off the line of scrimmage–my body’s flying everywhere–and I come out of my break and [quarterback Greg] Zolman put one right on me.”
Seconds later, Garrett’s first touch became a 61-yard TD reception, part of the largest comeback in Vanderbilt history.
“All I was thinking was, `Man, this is easy,'” Garrett said. “Then I didn’t have another catch the entire year.”
There would be more catches–58 more, to be exact–in Garrett’s collegiate career. But when the fifth-generation Nashvillian realized he would not have an opportunity to catch on with an NFL team, he found himself at an early crossroad in his life. After working with local nonprofit Backfield in Motion for six months, Garrett decided to move to California and stay with a friend who had a small role on a soap opera. Convincing his parents to fund the move was “the first deal I ever closed.”
After being in California for only a few months, a chance meeting with an executive from MTV led to a role on the hit show, “The Real World”–the 15th season of which was filmed in Philadelphia. The instant name-recognition generated by that iconic show propelled Garrett onto the speaking circuit, where he had the opportunity to reach out to college students around the country.
Through all of his travelling and that “15 minutes of fame,” Garrett was rooted in his hometown. He was working a sales job in Nashville when Carl Haley approached him about a new opportunity. Haley was starting a corporate, special occasion and customized ground transportation company and wanted Garrett to head the sales department. The deal included a principal stake in the business.
As the vice president of sales, Garrett has helped Grand Avenue, which has grown to be Nashville’s largest transportation company, form partnerships with the Nashville Predators and Bridgestone Arena, as well as Vanderbilt University, VU Medical Center and, most recently, the Department of Student Athletics.
Garrett, 31, has relished the chance to partner with his alma mater.
“Even though I’m no longer playing, I still feel connected to it,” Garrett said. “Like I’m giving back to Vanderbilt through our company by providing a great service.”
He and wife, Amanda, reside in Franklin with their two daughters, Bella (4) and Liv (1).
“I’m very excited about the direction of the football program and all of athletics. It’s been really terrific for me to bring my oldest daughter to games. Nashville is where I will be for the rest of my life. My dream is to have my daughters attend Vanderbilt, as well.”
