University of Pittsburgh football players stranded in Dallas hitchhiked by UTEP coach Joe Golding

The basic 1987 comedy ‘Planes, Trains and Vehicles’ is ready on Thanksgiving. However 35 years later, the real-life Christmas Day model of this story was performed out for 3 gamers on the College of Pittsburgh soccer crew.

Three Pittsburgh Panthers gamers – junior Hudson Primus and freshmen Samuel Okunlola and Jake Frantl – had been stranded at Dallas Love Discipline airport on Christmas Day whereas attempting to hitch the crew in El Paso, some 600 miles away, after their flight was canceled.

Gamers leaving West Pennsylvania for trip have independently organized journey, in keeping with a press release from the Pittsburgh athletics division to DailyMail.com. All three of those gamers went house for the vacations and weren’t in Pennsylvania for the crew’s constitution flight.

Thus, the three gamers had been stranded in Dallas with their flights canceled. Fortunately, one other passenger on the canceled flight was Joe Golding, the Miners’ head males’s basketball coach on the College of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), who observed that the three males had been stranded and supplied to drop them off for the nine-hour journey westward.

Three Pitt Panthers soccer gamers had been stranded at Dallas airport on Christmas night time.

After being stranded, Golding additionally stated he signed a automobile rental contract simply earlier than the car provide ran out.

“I see these three guys they usually have Pitt baggage on them they usually’re speaking about taking part in within the Solar Bowl and having to go to El Paso, and there have been no vehicles left,” Golding informed KTSM’s Colin Deaver on Monday.

‘ And I stated, ‘hey, if we are able to discover a large enough automobile, I am going to take you house. ‘Who’re you?’

UTEP head basketball coach Joe Golding noticed them stranded and supplied to indicate them off.

After revealing to them who he was, the three gamers – a defensive lineman, a defensive lineman and a backup quarterback – gathered along with Golding, his spouse and two kids for an extended drive throughout the state in an SUV.

“That is what we do right here in West Texas,” Golding continued. “Truly, I did not even suppose twice about it.

“In the event that they had been stranded someplace on Christmas night time and needed to be launched house, I would hope somebody would do it as soon as for Cason and Chase.”

Pitt Panthers head soccer coach Pat Narduzzi thanks Golding for his generosity and kindness

Pitt soccer coach Pat Narduzzi confirmed all the main points of the story to native reporters, thanking Golding for his kindness.

“Yesterday afternoon, a number of of our pals had their flight delayed and had been stranded in Dallas,” Narduzzi stated. ‘College of Texas-El Paso basketball coach Joe Golding, himself, his spouse and youngster, took and took our three males and drove them because the flight was delayed to convey them right here for observe.

“They got here in late final night time and I simply needed to shout out to these guys. It simply goes again to hospitality. Joe did a fantastic job and we respect that.’

Narduzzi added that he had not heard of or enthusiastic about Golding previous to the occasions of Christmas night time.

Golding initially responded to Narduzzi through Twitter, saying, “My household and I are blessed to have dropped Samuel, Jake, and Hudson.” They had been terrific younger males who represented Pitt soccer in a first-class approach. I educated them on West Texas, they educated me on Pitt soccer and Stack’d burgers! I am a Pitt soccer fan now!’

Redshirt freshman Frantl additionally tweeted, “An awesome man and a fantastic household!” I’ll always remember this Christmas story!’

Pitt will now give attention to taking part in no. 18 lined up the UCLA Bruins on the Solar Bowl on Friday, December 30 at 2:00 pm ET.

Pittsburgh is now turning its consideration to taking part in favors on the Solar Bowl. 18 UCLA