SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Head coach Ron Rivera will miss the first weekend of training camp to deal with a sad family matter, but Rivera's football family sent him off on an uplifting note.
In front of a large and enthusiastic crowd at Gibbs Stadium, Rivera liked what he saw from his team in its first training camp practice Friday evening. Rivera will miss practice Saturday and Sunday to attend funeral services in Reno, Nev., for his brother, Mickey, who died Tuesday at the age of 56.
Rivera thanked Panthers fans for buoying his spirits with well-wishes and for helping make the Lowe's Kickoff Party and subsequent practice a rousing success.