Hurricanes Continue Preparations For No. 2 Virginia Tech

Nov. 10, 1999

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The 19th ranked University of Miami football team (5-3,3-0 BIG EAST) held a two-hour workout in full pads on Wednesday afternoon atthe Greentree Practice Facility. With the practice, the Hurricanes beganpreparation for Saturday’s BIG EAST showdown with second-ranked VirginiaTech (7-0, 3-0 BIG EAST) at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, VA.

Following the practice, Head Coach Butch Davis explained the amountof time needed to prepare for Virginia Tech.

“It was a good practice today,” said Davis. “They (Virginia Tech)do a lot of different things, so it really forces you to maximize yourpractice time. To cover everything that they offer on special teams, thediversification of their offense, and all the things that they dodefensively makes us put a premium on practice time.”

Davis spoke of the challenges Miami will face in defending Virginia Techstarting quarterback Michael Vick, a proficient scrambler.

“I think discipline is the best word to describe how you have to rush him(Vick),” said Davis. “You cannot take all of the liberties that you couldwith the traditional quarterback who maybe can’t hurt you scrambling. Youhave to be very smart with how you rush him.”

Sophomore running back Najeh Davenport and senior linebacker MichaelSmith are both expected to be out for the year with right knee injuries.There were no new injuries to report.

The Hurricanes will return to practice on Thursday at 3:15 p.m. at theGreentree Practice Facility. Practices are closed to the public.