Miami Interim Coach Larry Scott: Players Will Be Priority
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CORAL GABLES (AP) — Miami interim coach Larry Scott spoke out for the first time Monday night about taking over the Hurricanes, and said his first mission will be helping the team get through the emotions surrounding the firing of Al Golden.
The Hurricanes fired Golden on Sunday, a day after Miami lost to Clemson 58-0 — the worst loss in the history of the program. Scott was promoted to the interim job and will remain in the role for the remainder of the season, including any bowl game if Miami qualifies.
"This has nothing to do with any of us," Scott said on WQAM-AM's "Hurricane Hotline" radio show broadcast from the university's campus. "This has everything to do with the young men in this program."
Scott has been at Miami since 2013, previously serving as the Hurricanes' tight ends coach and run game coordinator. He played at South Florida, and his brother was a member of the Hurricanes' 2001 national championship team.
That was the last team that won a national title at Miami.
Scott will lead practice for the first time Tuesday morning, with some major questions that include the health of standout quarterback Brad Kaaya — who is dealing with a concussion — and receiver Rashawn Scott, who has an upper-body injury. Both were injured in the loss to Clemson, and will remain in university-mandated protocol processes before being cleared to return to the field.
Scott said part of his message to the team will be simple. "How am I going to respond to what just happened?" Scott said. "What kind of person do I want to become?"
The Hurricanes (4-3, 1-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) play at No. 22 Duke (6-1, 3-0) on Saturday night. Miami has lost three of its four games in October and still needs at least two wins to become bowl-eligible — with Duke, Pittsburgh, North Carolina, Virginia and Georgia Tech left to play in the regular season.
"The adversity's there," Scott said. "How are we going to deal with it? How are we going to attack it? ... That's what makes us strong. That's what makes us champions. This is where winners are created. This is an awesome opportunity for each and every one of us."
Scott is scheduled to hold his first news conference after practice Tuesday.
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