What should have been a moment of joy after Florida State defeated Vermont in the first round of the NCAA Tournament quickly turned into devastation, as Seminoles senior Phil Cofer got a phone call informing him his father had passed away. He has received an outpouring of support from both inside and outside the Florida State community in the wake of the tragedy, and it has clearly gone a long way.
On Sunday, Cofer issued a statement thanking everyone who has reached out to and donated to his family.
— Phil Cofer (@philcoferr) March 24, 2019
Cofer did not play against Vermont due to a foot injury, but he has been a big presence for the Seminoles on the bench. His father, former Detroit Lions linebacker Mike Cofer, had been battling an illness for quite some time, and Phil had been playing Florida State under those difficult circumstances.
Florida State has tried to rally around Cofer, and they advanced to the Sweet 16 with a blowout win over Murray State on Saturday. It will be tough for fans to not root for them given what Cofer has had to go through.
