Coker, UM Football Players Reflect On National Tragedy

Sept. 11, 2001

Coral Gables, FLA — www.hurricanesports.com – After a team meeting to discuss whether preparations should continue for their scheduled game with the Washington Huskies, the University of Miami held a two-hour practice Tuesday afternoon at the Greentree Practice Fields on the UM campus. While the workout was a productive one for the Hurricanes, their hearts and minds were on the tragedies that took place elsewhere in the United States earlier on Tuesday.

“It’s certainly an unprecedented day in our history and something that has everyone in a state of shock,” said head coach Larry Coker after the practice. “Words cannot describe what you feel on a day like this. It’s a tragedy of such tremendous proportions. We’re distracted, but the team decided that practicing would do them some good. They decided on their own that practicing might give them a little normalcy and that they need that right now.”

Coker stressed that the decision to practice today was not an easy one.

“We thought long and hard about practicing and I left it up to the team,” Coker said. “As some of you know, the mother of Leon Williams (a freshman linebacker from Brooklyn, NY), worked in the World Trade Center and we were with him this morning while he attempted to find out if she was alright. Fortunately, she is fine and was not at work there this morning. That was, of course, a tremendous relief for all of us. I asked Leon in the meeting if he felt like practing today. I told him it was fine if he did not, but he said we should practice and said so right away. Our team took his lead and decided to go to work.”

Comments From Head Coach Larry Coker

On whether Saturday’s game with Washington should be played:”I’m not going to have to make that decision. The people who will are going to have to let this thing settle down a little bit and start making some rational decisions. Obviously, as in anything, the safety and well-being of the fans and the citizenry are paramount. As I told our team, this is much bigger than any of us. This is horrendous.”

On the state of the players before practice:”For the most part, I think they were somewhat in shock. It’s something that they have never experienced – none of us have, actually – and it’s something most of us never imagined.”

On plans if the game is cancelled:”We’ve had cancellations a couple of times, with hurricanes, and we’ll just keep the game plan in the book and save it and they will reschedule it and we’ll get ready to play again.”

On if he thought practice was affected:”We had a very good practice. I think it was a little bit of a release for the guys to get out on the field and practice. This was going to be a very focused week. I think it was obvious that the guys were really into it. I think the focus left us today because of this situation. But I do think that, if we get the opportunity to play this week, we will have the same type of focus we had before today.”

Leon Williams’ Comments

On his day:”I was in class and I heard that something happened to the World Trade Center. I called home. I didn’t know if she was working in there. I called home and found out she did work there. My brother’s girlfried told me on the cellphone. All the phones were shut down, so you couldn’t reach anyone. I was surprised I got through to my brother’s girlfriend. I got through to her (his mother) on a phone inside the (Hecht Athletic) building. She was at home in Brooklyn.”

Asked about his mother’s experience this morning:”She had arrived for work late and got to the building after the accident happened, then she went back home. She got off the subway, saw everybody running, stepped out of the underground and saw the airplane, and she just got out of the way. She went back home right away.”

When asked where he was when he spoke with his mother:”I was in the locker room. We were praying. She called the football office. I was so relieved. So relieved.”

His reflections on his emotions during the day:”When I found out that she did work there, I was terrified. But that just made it more of a relief when I heard from her.”

Ken Dorsey’s Comments:

“It’s very tough to come out and practice, especially when one of your teammates is affected directly. But we know we have to take care of our business, too.”

Asked if it puts football in perspective:”Definitely. Definitely. It puts a lot of things in perspective. At the same time, it definitely puts into perspective that we have something special, that we just can’t take it for granted. We have to savor every moment. Even in practicing, we have to do what we can.”

Asked how to stay focused:”It’s tough, but we know how important this season is to us and how important this game is. We have to look back to last year for a little extra motivation.”

Asked if he wants to play on Saturday:”I think it would be easier for everyone if the games went on, but I completely understand if games didn’t go on. We know, one way or the other, we’ve got to prepare for a battle. Play or not play, I hope the decision made is the best for everybody. If we do, then it will help take people’s minds off things for a little while.”

Joaquin Gonzalez’s Comments:

“We called a meeting at 2:00 and Coach Coker said he knew everybody had heard what had happened. We said a little prayer for everybody. It’s so unfortunate something like this happened, and we all decided it was in our best interests to go on with practice and try to proceed as normally as possible.”

Asked if it will take something away from the game, if the game is played Saturday:”Definitely. It is something that takes precedence over everything else. This is a lot bigger than football. A lot of lives have been lost. Our hearts go out to all the families of the victims. We still have a job at hand and we know they aren’t going to cancel our season. This team is an experienced team and that helps us understand that we have to remain even more focused at a time like this.”

Asked about Leon Williams’ situation:”We were in the locker room when it was going on. He took it a lot better than I would have. Not knowing where your Mom is and your brother telling you she works in the building you just saw on TV blowing up . . . that’s hard. We were in their with a couple of team chaplains praying with him. Everybody got a sigh of relief and started clapping when he heard from his Mom. Everybody just kind of came by and gave him a hug. He’s only a rookie. He’s only been here a couple of months and just to see the admiration everybody has for him was nice to see.”

-30-