Hurricanes football pays homage to Canes basketball
Football gave a shout out to basketball this week at the U.
Hurricanes interim coach Larry Scott was told that the Canes were ranked 15th (by the Associated Press), then was asked during his weekly press conference if he had seen any of the games or heard about it.
The Canes sold out their men’s basketball season tickets Wednesday, the first time it has ever happened at UM and the only sport that has ever done so there.
“I’ve heard about it,’’ said Scott, the tight ends coach who is preparing Miami (7-4, 4-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) to travel on Thanksgiving to face Pittsburgh (8-3, 6-1) at noon Friday (ESPN2). “I’m a basketball fan. I love basketball. That’s why tight ends coaches recruit basketball players.
“I’ve always been a big fan. My kids are big fans. We love the sport. We love what we’re doing. Coach L [Jim Larrañaga] does a magnificent job of coaching, man. You’ve got to admire the job that he does and how he handles the players and how he handles himself. He’s demanding. I love that part about him.
“From everything you hear, this is an exciting bunch to watch play. It looks like they’ve got a little bit of what it takes — togetherness and all those things that are going to make them special. It’ll be fun to watch them.”
Does Scott plan to attend games?
“Absolutely,’’ he said. “My son will drive me crazy until I get him out to a few games.”
KNIGHTON NOMINATED
Offensive lineman Hunter Knighton has been nominated for the 2015 Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award.
The redshirt sophomore returned to the playing field this season after spending 12 days in a coma at UM Hospital following his collapse from heatstroke during an outdoor offseason team workout in February 2014.
Knighton’s temperature spiked at 109 degrees, and it’s considered nothing short of remarkable that he survived.
Knighton has played in 10 games as a reserve this season.
NO NEW INJURIES
Miami released its injury report for Pitt on Wednesday, and there were no new injuries. It appears that everyone will be ready to go for the game, though the status of tight end Standish Dobard and receiver Tyre Brady —both suspended for last week’s game — is in question. Scott repeatedly has declined to comment this week on whether the two will travel to Pittsburgh.
This story was originally published November 25, 2015 at 8:51 PM with the headline "Hurricanes football pays homage to Canes basketball."