Ron Rivera: Pounding Through The Pre-Season

Kelli Bartik,

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CHARLOTTE, NC —Β It might be hard to believe, but Panthers training camp is just days away.Β Β It’s been a busy off season for Ron Rivera, but it hasn’t beenΒ all football.Β  WCCB Charlotte’s KelliΒ Bartik went one-on-one with RiverboatΒ Ron as he enters his fifth season as the Panthers head coach.

After enjoying his final few weeks of football freedom with family…

“We went out west and had a really good time,” said Rivera. Β “It was an opportunity for Steph and I to truly get away. Β But more than anything else, Kelli, you know my brother was stricken with pancreatic cancer, so we got an opportunity to spend a lot of time with him and be around him, which was really nice.”

Rivera says it’s nice to be home,Β especiallyΒ after receiving good newsΒ about his home, which went up in flames during the playoffs back in January.

“Our builder, Poole Construction, they’ve been tremendous,” he said.Β  “The projection was about 8 months, which would have taken us into the season. Β But he said, ‘My goal is to get you in before you go to training camp, and we have an opportunity to get inΒ completelyΒ before I go to training camp, so we’re excited about that.”Β 

The Panthers head coach is also excited about the upcoming season, and says the Riverboat is ready to dock down in Spartanburg. Β RiverboatΒ RonΒ has plenty to smile about, including the drama-free off season, and a solid roster.

“I think the group can be very special,” he said. Β “If you look at it, for the most part you know, our two veteran, veteran leaders, Ryan Kalil and Thomas Davis. Β I mean, you couldn’t ask, in my opinion, for two better locker-room guys that keep everybody going and motivated. Β And then you look at the two young faces of our franchise. Β Cam on one side, Luke on the other. That’s very exciting.”