Special Teams Work Highlights Monday Practices

Aug. 14, 2000

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) – Work on the kicking game, along with some extensive full-speed scrimmaging, highlighted both practices as the University of Miami Hurricanes continued two-a-day football drills Monday with a pair of two-hour sessions at the Greentree Practice Field.

“It’s the way the game’s played,” said head coach Butch Davis. “Traditionally, we’ve come out in the past and kicked field goals 12 straight times but we are trying something different this year by mixing in some field goal attempts at random times. It simulates what happens in a ballgame. You get one chance, you either make it or you don’t. (Placekicker) Todd Sievers and those guys have really started to appreciate that they have to give a performance at any given time.”

Davis also was complimentary of the offense’s progress. “I think the offense is making some strides,” he said. “We’re still missing some of the guys in the offensive line, but we’re finding out some more about the diversity of some people like Sherko Haji-Rasouli. Two weeks ago, we had him penciled in as a backup left tackle behind Bryant McKinnie. Today he practiced as the starting center and did a very good job.”

Defensively, right end William Joseph earned Davis’s praise for his work in Monday’s practices. “William probably had his best practice since he’s been a Miami Hurricane,” Davis said. “He’s really doing some good stuff. That would be a huge bonus if he could come through in place of Michael Boireau.”

Two-a-day practices resume Tuesday with a scrimmage scheduled for 9 a.m. and a practice slated to start at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday marks the final day that practices will be open to the public.

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