FSU’s Cofer learns after NCAA Tournament game that his father died

Florida State senior Phil Cofer learned shortly after his team’s NCAA Tournament victory over Vermont on Thursday that his father died after battling what the team called a “long illness.”

According to ESPN’s Myron Medcalf and Jeff Borzello, Cofer received a phone call in the locker room after the Seminoles’ 76-69 opening-round win in Hartford, Conn. During that call, Florida State spokesman Chuck Walsh told ESPN, Cofer learned of his father’s death.

According to ESPN, Cofer received the call while the locker room was open to the media, but did not discuss the matter with reporters. When Seminoles head coach Leonard Hamilton spoke with reporters following the win, he did not yet know the news of Cofer’s father.

Cofer did not play in the game Thursday, instead sitting on the bench in a walking boot on his right foot. Florida State did not officially announce Cofer would miss the game until about an hour before the opening tip. Cofer sustained the injury during the ACC tournament last week.

Cofer is averaging 7.4 points and 3.5 rebounds this season. He has missed 13 games this season because of injuries. There is no report as to whether Cofer will play in the fourth-seeded Seminoles’ next game, against the winner of Marquette and Murray State.

–Field Level Media