Football Squad Focuses On Rutgers
Nov. 17, 1999
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami football team (5-4, 3-1 BIG EAST)held a two-hour workout in full pads on Wednesday afternoon at the GreentreePractice Facility. With the practice, the Hurricanes continued itsgame-week preparations for this Saturday’s homecoming game with Rutgers(1-9, 1-5 BIG EAST) at the Orange Bowl. Rutgers enters the Miami gamefollowing a 24-21 upset win in overtime over Syracuse.
Following the practice, Head Coach Butch Davis spoke of thechallenges the Miami defense face in preparing for the multi-faceted Rutgersoffense.
“There is so much to work on in preparing for Rutgers,” said Davis.”They run so much. They run some four-wide receiver, one-back runningattacks, they run a West Coast offense that has all the complimentaryrunning plays that goes with it, they run some power and some option stuffas well. Also a concern is all the different ways they bootleg and waggleto get their quarterback into the perimeter.”
Davis also emphasized how the team is preparing against a blitz-happyRutgers defense.
“Defensively, they (Rutgers) run some form of blitz, stunts or movementsinvolving their defensive line or linebackers probably 70% of the time,”said Davis. “Today, we had three different blitz periods and worked veryhard on preparing for their defense. It will require our offensive linemento do a great job in recognizing their fronts.”
Sophomore running back Najeh Davenport and senior linebacker MichaelSmith are both expected to be out for the year with right knee injuries.Sophomore quarterback Kenny Kelly (sprained MCL in left knee) and juniorrunning back James Jackson (right knee sprain) are day-to-day. The Hurricanes will return to practice on Thursday afternoon at theGreentree Practice Facility. Practices are closed to the public.
RING OF HONOR: University of Miami athletic director Paul Deeannounces the selection of Hurricane football greats Ottis Anderson, DonBosseler, Bernie Kosar and Burgess Owens for induction into UM’s Ring ofHonor. The four will have their names and jerseys permanently affixed fordisplay on the face of the Orange Bowl’s upper deck at the Miami-Rutgersgame on November 20. Anderson (1975-78) became the first player in Miamihistory to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season (1,266, 1978) and isUM’s all-time career rushing leader. Bosseler (1953-56), a fullback,finished his career with 1,642 rushing yards which at the time ranked secondon the Miami career chart. Kosar (1982-84) guided the Hurricanes to theirfirst of four National Championships in 1983 and set school records for passattempts (416), pass completions (262) and passing yards (3,642) in 1984.Owens (1970-72), who earned All-American honors in 1972 as a defensive back,finished his UM career with 160 tackles and eight interceptions. The Ringof Honor was established in 1997 as a way to recognize the outstandingplayers that have passed through the Hurricane Football Program. This year’sclass becomes the second group to be inducted joining the ’97 class of JimDooley, George Mira, Sr., Ted Hendricks, and Vinny Testaverde.
TAKE A KID TO THE GAME: As part of the national “Take A Kid to the Game”program, the University of Miami will provide one free youth ticket(children 13 and under) with every full-priced adult ticket purchased forSaturday’s game vs. Rutgers at the Orange Bowl. “Take a Kid to the Game”tickets can only be purchased on the day of the game, beginning at 10:00a.m. at the NE Ticket Plaza of the Orange Bowl. This year’s ‘Take a Kid tothe Game’ program will promote youth attendance at over 100 football and 300women’s basketball institutions across the nation. For more information,contact the University of Miami Athletic Department Community RelationsOffice at 305-284-4609.
