Stranded Pitt players hitch ride with UTEP coach
Several Pitt football players and UTEP basketball coach Joe Golding and his family found themselves in a real-life version of the holiday classic “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” on Christmas Day after flight cancellations left them stranded in Dallas before embarking on a road trip more than 600 miles long.
Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi told reporters on Monday at the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas, where the Panthers will be playing No. 18 UCLA on Friday, that Samuel Okunlola, Jake Frantl and Hudson Primus were stranded when they bumped into Golding, who was in a similar predicament trying to get home to El Paso.
“Joe Golding, head basketball coach at Texas-El Paso here in town … him and his wife and child, they picked up and took our three guys and drove them because the flight was delayed to get them here for practice,” Narduzzi said. “They got here late last night. Just want to give a shoutout to those guys.”
Golding spoke to KTSM in El Paso about the impromptu carpool adventure, saying Narduzzi had approved it and that the players called their parents and traded information with Golding to make sure everyone was comfortable with the situation.
Golding, whose sister, Kate, is married to TCU football coach Sonny Dykes and whose grandfather and father were both Texas high school football coaches, said he understood the pressure of travel issues that come along with sporting events and just wanted to help however he could.
“I see these guys; they have Pitt bags on. They start talking about playing in the Sun Bowl and having to get to El Paso and there wasn’t any cars left. And I was like, ‘Hey, if we can find a big enough car, I’ll take you guys home.’ And they were like, ‘Who are you?'” Golding said, laughing. “[The rental car employees] showed up with a minivan first of all. It was too small, and we couldn’t all fit in it. Then they had like a big Ford Explorer. I said, ‘Who’s using that one?’ He said, ‘Nobody right now. But you can’t afford that one; it’s too much money.’ I said, ‘Just give it to us; we got to get home, man.'”
Golding said his wife, Amanda, and sons, Cason and Chase, sat in the back, while Frantl got in the front seat and Okunlola and Primus took the middle seats.
“We went to the gas station and loaded up for dinner about 9:30, 10 at night,” Golding said. “Made one stop in Pecos [Texas] at the Pilot for some fresh coffee and a couple Red Bulls and made it all the way back, man.”
Golding said he didn’t think twice about the trip and just wanted to leave a good impression on behalf of El Paso and the Sun Bowl, which has always been known for its hospitality.
“Out here in West Texas, that’s what we do,” he said. “I would hope someone would do that to Cason and Chase if they were stranded somewhere on Christmas night.”
Golding said the players told him they had 9 a.m. meetings and a 10:30 a.m. workout and that he promised them they’d be there in time. He said they arrived in El Paso at 5:58 Monday morning and were able to make all their scheduled events.
“They even got a two-hour nap, I think,” he said.
Narduzzi said he didn’t know Golding before Monday.
“Great job by Joe, and we appreciate it,” he said.
Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley on Monday was placed on the 10-day injured list for the second time in two months with a strained lower abdominal muscle.
Right-hander Grant Holmes, meanwhile, has opted to rehab his injured right elbow rather than undergoing Tommy John surgery, manager Brian Snitker told reporters.
Riley suffered the injury while tagging out Cincinnati’s Elly De La Cruz near home plate in the Braves’ 4-2 win on Sunday in the rain-delayed MLB Speedway Classic at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Riley also landed on the IL on July 12 with a strained abdomen. He returned on July 25.
The Braves recalled infielders Nacho Alvarez Jr. and Jonathan Ornelas from Triple-A Gwinnett before opening a home series against Milwaukee on Monday night. The team optioned outfielder Jarred Kelenic to Gwinnett following Sunday’s game.
Riley is hitting .260 with 16 homers and 54 RBIs.
Snitker said Holmes, who has damage to his UCL, made the decision to not have surgery at the present time after consulting with two doctors. The pitcher could also reconsider and have surgery after the season.
Snitker did not give a timeline as to when Snitker, who was placed on the 60-day injured list on July 27, will begin throwing again. He is not eligible to be activated until Sept. 26.
Holmes is 4-9 with a 3.99 ERA and 123 strikeouts this season. He had 15 strikeouts in a game against the Colorado Rockies in June.
The Braves’ other Opening Day starters also are all on the injured list, with AJ Smith-Shawver out for the season after having Tommy John surgery.
Snitker said All-Star left-hander Chris Sale threw a bullpen session as he works his way back from a fractured rib. He is next scheduled to throw live batting practice.
Reynaldo Lopez, who was placed on the IL on March 29 with shoulder inflammation after one start, is playing catch, but Snitker said there is no timetable for his return.
Spencer Schwellenbach, who is recovering from a fractured elbow, has not resumed throwing.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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