Hurricanes Return To Practice
Nov. 30, 1999
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami football team (7-4, 5-1 BIG EAST)held a two-hour workout in full pads on Tuesday afternoon at the GreentreePractice Facility. With the practice, the Hurricanes opened its game-weekpreparations for their regular-season finale this Saturday vs. Temple (2-8,2-4 BIG EAST) at the Orange Bowl.
Earlier in the day at his weekly press conference, Head Coach Butch Davisemphasized the importance of Saturday’s game vs. Temple.
“Our players recognize that the stakes get higher with every game,”said Davis. “We have to win every week. Where we go in terms of a bowlgame certainly has a great deal to do with how we play this week. Theincentive to win is there for this football team.”
Sophomore running back Najeh Davenport and senior linebackerMichael Smith are both expected to be out for the year with right kneeinjuries. Sophomore quarterback Kenny Kelly (sprained MCL in left knee) isnot expected to play vs. Temple, and is week-to-week thereafter. Juniorrunning back James Jackson (sprained right knee) is probable for Temple,after missing the last three games.
FOOTBALL AWARDS BANQUET ON DEC. 13: The annual University of Miami FootballAwards Banquet will be held on Monday, December 13 at the Radisson MartPlaza Hotel Centre (711 NW 72nd Ave.). At the banquet, Head Coach ButchDavis and the football coaching staff will honor the University of Miamigraduating seniors while presenting team awards. WQAM’s Marc Vandermeer,”the Voice of the Hurricanes”, will MC the event. A cash bar opens at 6:15p.m. with a dinner beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are $50 per person and $400for a table of eight. Call the Hurricane Club at (305) 284-6699 forreservations.
SONNY HIRSCH WAY: On December 4th, the day of the Miami-Temple game,Northwest 14th Avenue (from 3rd – 7th Street) will be re-named and dedicatedSonny Hirsch Way in memory of the late Sonny Hirsch, longtime “Voice of theHurricanes”. Hirsch served as the radio play-by-play voice of University ofMiami football for 28 seasons, while also calling Hurricane basketball andbaseball during that span. He handled UM football and basketball radioduties from 1958 through 1971 for WKAT, Miami. After a 12-year absence, hereturned to Hurricane broadcasts, to also include baseball, working for WIOD(originally WCKR) and WINZ from 1983 through 1997. During his career as”Voice of the Hurricanes”, Hirsch was part of five national championshipteams – four in football (1983, 87, 89, 91) and one in baseball (1985). Agraduate of Miami Beach High School, the career of the 65-year old includeda 10-year stint as general manager of the Miami Marlins minor leaguebaseball team and a period in television for Channel 7, WCKT. Hirsch passedaway suddenly on March 25, 1999 from coronary artery disease.
