Allen Park — The fall holiday season was a nightmare for Al Golden last year.
Miami fired the head coach on Oct. 25, a day after Golden’s Hurricanes suffered the worst loss in program history, 58-0 to Clemson. The loss dropped Miami to 4-3 for the season, and Golden’s career record of 32-25 in four-plus seasons just didn’t match the standard at the elite program.
Around the same time, Golden had to deal with family issues including both of his parents being hospitalized.
Then, around Thanksgiving, he received a call from Jim Caldwell, the Lions head coach who was a Penn State assistant for the duration of Golden’s college career with the Nittany Lions (1987-91).