Hurricanes Gird For Fiesta Bowl

Dec. 28, 2002

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – – The University of Miami’s top-ranked football team practiced for two hours in full pads Saturday afternoon on the campus of Scottsdale Community College, as the Hurricanes continue preparations for the 2003 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl against No. 2 Ohio State on Friday, Jan. 3.

“Practice was very good today,” Head Coach Larry Coker said. “Today will be the last day we will be in full pads and this was a very good practice. We really challenged our scout team to step up because they have to simulate what we are going to see, and they really did a good job. It was a very, very good practice today.”

The Hurricanes head into their final week of practice before the Fiesta Bowl as healthy as they have been since the beginning of the season.

“We are probably healthier now than we have been in a long time,” Coker said. “With the tendon tears and fractures and all of those types of things. James Scott and Kelly Jennings are back, and I think, probably healthier than they have been.”

Miami returns to the practice field on Sunday at 3:15 at Scottsdale Community College where they are scheduled to practice all week. The Hurricanes have been very pleased with the facilities and accommodations provided by the Fiesta Bowl.

“I don’t even know how many bowl games I’ve been to, and this is the best I’ve ever been to,” Coker said. “The practice facilities, the proximity to the hotel, the resort we are staying in is outstanding, the meeting rooms and the attitude of the Fiesta Bowl people is tremendous. The facility (at Scottsdale Community College) itself, the grass field, they have taken a lot of pride in preparing it. It is the same surface we are going to play on Friday night. It could be better.”