Football Returns To Practice
Sept. 29, 1999
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The 18th ranked University of Miami football teamreturned to practice with a two-hour workout in full pads on Wednesdayafternoon at the Greentree Practice Facility. With the practice, theHurricanes began preparation for their matchup with top ranked Florida Stateon Saturday, October 9 in Tallahassee, FL.
Following the practice, Head Coach Butch Davis was pleased with theteam’s performance in its first practice in three days.
“It was a good practice today,” said Davis. “The mood of the teamis a good one. We realize that we now have ten days to get ready to play agood game next week.”Davis also commented on the benefit of having an open date this weekend.
“At this time it (the bye week) is a very big help,” said Davis. “From aninjury standpoint, we have some guys who are not ready to play so it shouldreally help us.”
Sophomore running back Najeh Davenport and senior linebacker Michael Smithare both out for the year with right knee injuries. Junior defensive tackleDamione Lewis (right knee sprain), senior defensive end Michael Boireau(right ankle sprain), junior fullback Wilbur Valdez (groin) and WillMcPartland (concussion) are all day-to-day.The Hurricanes will return to practice on Thursday, September 29 at 3:30p.m. at the Greentree Practice Facility. Practices are closed to thepublic.
MIAMI-FLORIDA STATE MEMORY LANE: On October 3, 1987, Miami defeatedFlorida State, 26-25, in perhaps the most dramatic meeting between the tworivals. Although Miami was out-rushed 225 yards to 52, the Hurricanes tookto the air as Steve Walsh threw three touchdown passes to led the Hurricanesto a win. Miami took a 3-0 lead late in the first quarter on a 29-yard GregCox field goal. Florida State then scored 19 unanswered points to take acommanding 19-3 lead. Miami fought back with three second-half touchdownpasses of 49, 26, and 73 yards to take a 26-19 lead. Florida State mounted alast gasp attempt as they marched 83-yards in 8 plays to close the margin toone point, but reserve back Bubba McDowell knocked down Danny McManus’stwo-point conversion attempt to seal the game for the Hurricanes.
