Al Golden visits player’s mother in hospital after being fired

Despite being fired from the Miami Hurricanes, Al Golden still visited a player’s gravely ill mother in the hospital.

After the Miami Hurricanes suffered the worst loss in school history on Saturday, the team sent head coach Al Golden packing. Golden, who had been the Hurricanes coach since December of 2010, was seen as one of the good guys in college football at the head coaching level.

After being fired, Golden showed just what a true man of character, that he really is.

According to the Miami Herald, Golden a day after being fired, visited the bedside of the gravely ill mother of Hurricanes’ cornerback Artie Burns.

"Dana Smith, the mother of University of Miami star cornerback Artie Burns, is at a local hospital in grave condition, according to someone close to the team.Smith, a former track star at Miami Northwestern High, has raised Artie, 20, and his two younger brothers, Thomas, 15, and Jordan, 12.UM’s football staff was informed that Smith had a heart attack, though that has not been officially confirmed.Miami coaches, including former head coach Al Golden, had gathered at the hospital Monday night."

In what is a trying time for one of the Hurricanes players, it speaks to the character of Al Golden to be there still for one of his former players in what is a tough time. Golden’s impeccable class shines through his actions and it goes to show that while the Hurricanes are having a tough season, and Golden was fired as a result, he realizes there are things bigger than the game and that being there for a young man in need is more important.

It’s these types of actions and the infectious personality of Golden, that will lead to him landing on his feet in college football and connecting on with another program. He’s a great mentor to the young men of college football and an even better person.