HARTFORD, Conn. _ Florida State is rallying around senior forward and emotional leader Phil Cofer.
Soon after the Seminoles' gritty 76-69 win over Vermont, Cofer learned his father died.
Cofer missed FSU's game, watching the Seminoles beat Vermont while wearing a boot on his right foot.
Cofer suffered a right foot stress fracture during the preseason and missed games as a result, but Seminoles coach Leonard Hamilton said sitting the forward Thursday was strictly precautionary.
"Phil, we know his status. He's a little sore because we played three straight games. He's had cat scans, MRIs, X-rays, so he doesn't have any permanent damage _ nothing that will keep him from playing," Hamilton said of Cofer.
Before learning of his father's death, Cofer told reporters he was day-to-day and leaving playing time decisions to the coaching staff.
"It was a game-time decision," he said. "I just put trust in my coaches to tell me when not to play and because they're thing about me and thinking about me in the long run."
His focus has shifted to becoming a sideline leader and he said he has faith the Seminoles will step up should he not be able to go on Saturday.
"Just put trust in my teammates and talk to them and make sure they're still in the right spots no matter what and we've got a couple guys ready to step up," he said.
