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Elliott Avent will not be in Louisville this weekend to manage the NC State baseball team in a very important series for the Wolfpack's national seed hopes. Both Avent and his dog were bitten by a copperhead, and Avent had to spend a night in the hospital. Fortunately both Avent and his pup are okay.
Elliott Avent will miss the Louisville series after he and his dog were both bitten by a copperhead. Avent got zapped on the foot. 1/2
— Mark Armstrong (@ArmstrongABC11) May 12, 2016
Avent had to get a shot and stayed in the hospital before being released in the morning. Doctor says he can't travel. Very swollen but okay.
— Mark Armstrong (@ArmstrongABC11) May 12, 2016
Avent's dog Samantha 'Sammy', is a 10 week old Labrador mix rescue. She is resting at home with her owner, elevating their swollen limbs.
— Mark Armstrong (@ArmstrongABC11) May 12, 2016
***UPDATE: DETAILS OF SNAKE'S DEMISE EMERGE***
Additional details on the Avent-copperhead encounter have emerged courtesy of the N&O's Joe Giglio. Avent KILLED THE SNAKE WITH AN UMBRELLA AND THEN PUT IT IN A BAG AND TOOK IT WITH HIM TO THE HOSPITAL.
"I've watched too many Western movies, I don't know, that's what I thought I was supposed to do," Avent said. "I brought the snake in a bag into the hospital and they were like, ‘Get that thing out of here.' "
Stunned by sticks, then killed by an umbrella, then it receives an unnecessary funeral procession to the hospital.
***END IMPORTANT UMBRELLA-SNAKE BATTLE UPDATE***
This is definitely a new one in the random-setback-out-of-thin-air category for NC State athletics. But I imagine we won't see much different from the team this weekend, assuming associate coach Chris Hart is the guy stepping briefly into Avent's shoes.
I don't wish to speculate too much, but this incident could be the result of insufficient anti-snake training on Avent's part. I have absolutely no doubt that he will rectify this just as soon as he is healthy enough to do so. In fact, this should serve as a good reminder to us all.
