University of Miami football coach Al Golden was fired Sunday afternoon, according to a press release from the school’s athletic department. Twitter was abuzz with reaction the long-awaited dismissal and speculaiton as to who the next coach could be.
Shane Larkin, the school’s point guard when it won the ACC Basketball Championship in 2013 and current NBA player with the Brooklyn Nets, emphasized the improtance of getting the school’s next hire right.
This next hire is going to be make or break for our FB program. Take your time and make the SMART right choice!!
— Shane Larkin (@ShaneLarkin_3) October 25, 2015
NBC 6 reporter Ari Odzer pointed out the potential impact of no more anti-Golden banners.
Al Golden’s firing will have a hugely negative economic impact on the banner plane flying industry. https://t.co/cUZRWvJ0Z1 — Ari Odzer (@ariodzernbc6) October 25, 2015
Chuck Todd, the host of Meet the Press, a Miami native and Hurricanes fan, praised Golden’s character.
One thing @GoldenAl will deserve credit for is leaving the cupboard full. He is a class act and a solid person. Good luck coach
— Chuck Todd (@chucktodd) October 25, 2015
The school’s head women’s basketball coach, Katie Meier, shared her support for Golden.
Couldn’t have more love or respect for Al Golden and his family. Thank you for your classy leadership. — Katie Meier (@CoachKatieMeier) October 25, 2015
UM alum and the director of ESPN’s two 30 for 30 films on the school’s football glory days titled The U and The U: Part 2, Billy Corben suggested hiring former coach Butch Davis.
Pro PR move: Hire Butch, stack assistants with Canes legends, groom one as successor, Butch retires as director of football ops, count cash. — Billy Corben (@BillyCorben) October 25, 2015
The challenge now: University of Miami never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity. Can they get out of their own way on this hire? — Billy Corben (@BillyCorben) October 25, 2015
South Florida Sun-Sentinel reporter Omar Kelly tweeted his excitement about the decision.
My reaction when I learned Al Golden had been fired. https://t.co/P1SqLxTiwh — Omar Kelly (@OmarKelly) October 25, 2015
Current players also tweeted about the decision. Cornerback Artie Burns and defensive linemen Kendrick Norton, Ufomba Kamalu and Demetrius Jackson praised Golden.
Al Goldens door….. The kind of person and coach he was pic.twitter.com/7cUutTnHmO — Kendrick Norton (@norton_kendrick) October 25, 2015
Coach Golden saw in me something that I didn’t see for myself. Thank you for all you did for me coach
— Ufomba Kamalu (@Nightmare1147) October 25, 2015
Love @GoldenAl and will always continue to use the many things he taught me in life on being a successful young man to man.????????????
— DeeJack (@F5_Jackson) October 25, 2015
Finishing the season strong for coach golden wise men did a lot for me ✊???? — Burns Jr Artie (@_audi8) October 26, 2015
Luther R. Campbell, or “Uncle Luke,” the leader of the Miami-based rap group 2 Live Crew, asked the school to allow alumni a say in the appointment of the next coach.
University of Miami please set up a committee of former players so they can have input into picking the new coach.
— LUTHER R CAMPBELL (@unclelukereal1) October 25, 2015