Hurricanes March Toward Boston College
Oct. 20, 1999
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The 23rd ranked University of Miami football team (2-3,0-0 BIG EAST) held a two-hour workout in full pads on Wednesday afternoon atthe Greentree Practice Facility. With the practice, the Hurricanescontinued preparation for their matchup with Boston College (5-1, 2-1 BIGEAST) on Saturday at noon at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, MA.
Head Coach Butch Davis was pleased with the team’s performance atthe practice, while reiterating the team’s desire to play a game followingthe unexpected off-week due to the postponement of the UM-Temple gamebecause of Hurricane Irene. Miami has played just three games over the lastsix weeks, and is the only team in the nation to not yet play a conferencegame.
“Practice was very good today,” said Davis. “The intensity, theenthusiasm and the players’ spirits were good today. They (the players) cansense that we’re finally getting close to playing a game again. As much asanything else, we’re ready to find out about ourselves and get back into thegame-playing mode.”
Davis also commented on whether playing on artificial turf at BostonCollege’s Alumni Stadium will be a factor for the Hurricanes. Saturday willmark Miami’s first game on artificial turf this season. Under Davis, the’Canes are 10-2 on artificial turf.
“I personally believe that it’s tougher for a team that practices on turffull-time to convert to grass than vice-versa,” said Davis. “Turfdefinitely makes the field faster and quicker.” Sophomore running back Najeh Davenport and senior linebacker Michael Smithare both out for the year with right knee injuries. There were no newinjuries to report.
MIAMI-BC MEMORY LANE: In Butch Davis’ first meeting with Boston College onNovember 11, 1995, the Hurricanes edged the Eagles, 17-14. The ‘Canes wereled by tailback Danyell Ferguson who rushed for 144 yards, including a85-yard run in the third quarter that opened up a 14-0 UM lead.Defensively, linebackers Ray Lewis and James Burgess stifled the BC offenseby recording 13 and 11 tackles, respectively. Boston College staged afourth quarter comeback to tie the game with 5:57 left. The ‘Canesresponded by driving 71 yards to set up kicker Dane Prewitt’s game-winning24-yard field goal with 49 seconds remaining. Special teams also loomedlarge in the contest as UM blocked a pair of field goal attempts and BCplacekicker Dan McGuire went 0-for-4.
