Nov. 11, 1999
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The 19th ranked University of Miami football team (5-3,3-0 BIG EAST) held a 90-minute workout in full pads on Thursday afternoon atthe Greentree Practice Facility. With the practice, the Hurricanescompleted the majority of its game-week preparations for this Saturday’s BIGEAST showdown with second-ranked Virginia Tech (7-0, 3-0 BIG EAST) at LaneStadium in Blacksburg, VA.
Following the practice, Head Coach Butch Davis was pleased with howthe team performed during the week of practice.
“Practices have gone well all week,” said Davis. “Our kids havebeen wonderful this week and have put forth the extra focus needed.”
Davis spoke on the importance of creating turnovers on defense and avoidingturnovers offensively in Saturday’s game vs. Virginia Tech.
“We emphasize protecting the ball,” said Davis. “Our running backs do a realgood job of protecting the football. Although we emphasizerun-after-the-catch for our receivers, we really stress the importance ofour receivers protecting the ball as well. Turnovers always play a largerole in big ballgames.”
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 hold a closed walk-thru on Friday morning at theGreentree Practice Facility, before departing from Miami InternationalAirport to Roanoke, Virginia.
GONZALEZ, POPOVICH NAMED ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT: University of Miamisophomore offensive guard Joaquin Gonzalez (Miami, FL) and senior defensiveback Jeff Popovich (Tucson, AZ) have been named to the GTE AcademicAll-District III team. Gonzalez, who has started all eight games thisseason at right tackle for the Hurricanes, holds a grade point average ofover 3.39 in Finance. Popovich, a reserve safety and UM’s starting holderon special teams, holds a GPA of over 3.42 in Bio-Medical Engineering.District III is made up of all Division I and I-AA schools in Florida,Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.
To be eligible aplayer must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.2 in the classroomand be a starter or key reserve on the field. Popovich and Gonzalez are noweligible for the national GTE Academic All-America team, which will beannounced in early December.