Brind'Amour shows he's part of 'Wolfpack family' with NC State hat

RALEIGH, N.C. – Rod Brind'Amour came to the podium on Thursday morning wearing an NC State University Wolfpack cap for what was definitely not the first time.

The Carolina Hurricanes coach was talking about his teams’ preparation for Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday (8 p.m. ET; ABC, SN, TVAS, CBC) at Lenovo Center, where the Wolfpack play basketball and across the parking lot from the school's football stadium.

So, did his hat choice signify anything? Was Brind’Amour trying to channel the Wolfpack, who famously won the 1983 NCAA Basketball National Championship behind legendary coach Jim Valvano?

His answer seemed like one Valvano -- one of the great characters of college basketball for decades before his death in 1993 -- might give.

“It was the one in my car,” Brind’Amour said. “I like the colors too, I think they match. I didn’t even realize it. But you know, I’m in the (Wolfpack) family.”

The Hurricanes have made reference to Valvano's incredible life and career - he became a well-known inspiration for those fighting cancer, establishing The V Foundation for cancer research in 1993 along with ESPN where he worked as a college hoops analyst - during their run to the 2026 Stanley Cup Final.

Brind'Amour's wife, Amy, is an NC State alumna and his father-in-law, Eddie Biedenbach played basketball for the Wolfpack from 1965-68, making the All-ACC Team twice before being drafted by the St. Louis Hawks of the NBA.

While wearing the Wolfpack hat may have gotten the curiosity of media members, the coach wearing a cap to a press conference is nothing new. Seemingly the only place Brind'Amour doesn't wear a cap is on the bench.