Miami Readies For Syracuse In Thursday Practice

Nov. 15, 2001

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) – The top-ranked Miami Hurricanes (8-0 overall, 5-0 in the BIG EAST) practiced for 90 minutes Thursday afternoon at the Greentree Practice Fields on the UM campus in preparation for Saturday’s contest with the Syracuse Orangemen (8-2, 5-0).

“We’ve had excellent work this week and I think we’re prepared,” head coach Larry Coker said after practice. “We’ve got a challenge facing us this week, but I’ve been pleased with the approach our players have taken. We’re getting some people back from injuries for this game so I am excited about this one.”

The Hurricanes will have a closed practice Friday afternoon to end preparations for the clash with the Orangemen. Miami and Syracuse meet for the 20th time on Saturday with Miami holding a 12-7 edge in the series and the last two meetings with the Orangemen, a 26-0 win last year at the Carrier Dome and a 45-13 win in 1999 at the Orange Bowl. The Hurricanes also will be trying to extend the nation’s longest winning streak, an 18-game stretch that dates back to a loss at Washington on Sept. 9, 2000, in Seattle.

The Miami-Syracuse game will be televised on a regional basis by ABC Sports and can be seen locally on WPLG-TV (Channel 10) in the Miami/Fort Lauderdale area. For ticket information about Hurricanes football, contact the UM Ticket Office at 1-800-GO-CANES or purchase them on the web at www.hurricanesports.com.

ESPN GameDay will also be attending Saturday’s game and will have their show live from Lot W4 at the Orange Bowl beginning at 10:30 a.m. Saturday morning. Fans from both teams are encouraged to attend the show as admission is free.