Larrañaga lends his voice to students

UM coach joins outcry for gun control reform

CORAL GABLES — So it was just a few minutes after the University of Miami season might have sunk Saturday afternoon. Jim Larrañaga broke down the loss to Syracuse and how Miami, once ranked No. 6 in the country, is now tied for seventh in the ACC. It was normal business in a sport sense. Then Larrañaga was asked about a pregame ceremony where Miami and Syracuse players wore T-shirts in memory of those killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. His answer told of a sudden, and welcome, cultural shift in America.

“On Thursday at our staff meeting, we were just crying over what happened and we felt like we needed to send a message to Parkland and those families,” the Miami coach said. “We’re all impacted by this. I think we have to do something about our gun laws.

“I just think it’s … we’re not the Wild, Wild West where everybody should carry a gun, and there needs to be some accountability and responsibility from the people who are in charge of selling guns and buying guns.”

Larrañaga, in real terms, didn’t just stand up to be counted at a time those who should be leading, the politicians, hide behind how their “prayers and thoughts,” line for those affected. He stood up to be counted in a way many Douglas students are asking now.

“To every politician taking donations from the NRA, shame on you!” Emma Gonzalez said at a rally Saturday. “Shame on you!”

“This is the 18th [shooting at a school] this year,” David Hogg said. “That’s unacceptable. We’re children. You guys are the adults. You need to take some action and play a role.”