Miami Resumes Spring Football Practice
March 27, 2001
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CORAL GABLES, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) – The Miami Hurricanes began the second week of Spring practice by working for two hours in full pads under cloudy skies Tuesday afternoon at the Greentree Practice Field. Head coach Larry Coker praised Miami’s defense for its execution and intensity throughout the workout.
“The defense showed some improvement today,” Coker said. “We’re a little more aggressive on defense than in the past, that’s part of (defensive coordinator) Randy Shannon’s plan. So, there’s a little adjusting to be done but I thought the defense improved over the last few days.”
Missing the practice were middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma and weakside linebacker Chris Campbell who have suffered knee injuries.
Campbell is a senior (Mount Pleasant, Texas) starter at weakside linebacker who started all 12 games for UM last year. Vilma (Coral Gables, Florida) earned first-team Freshman All-America honors last year while seeing extensive action behind Butkus Award winner Dan Morgan at middle linebacker. Campbell suffered a twisted left knee, damaging the medial meniscus, during a morning workout on Monday and Vilma suffered a cartilage tear in his right knee while riding a Wave Runner. Both players are slated to undergo arthroscopic surgery this week.
Both players will miss the remainder of Spring practice while recuperating. The loss of Campbell at strongside linebacker allows junior Ken Dangerfield to move into the rotation with the starting group for the remainder of Spring practice. Howard Clark, a junior who was slated to start at weakside linebacker, has moved to middle linebacker in Vilma’s absence. Sophomore D.J. Williams, who was a major contributor at fullback last season and moved to weakside linebacker in the offseason, will step into Clark’s spot at weakside linebacker.
“We expect both Chris and Jonathan to miss the remainder of the Spring, but there should be no problem for both players to return for the Fall,” Coker said. “The injuries, while a major concern for us, allow some of the younger guys an opportunity to step in and get some extensive work with the starting unit.”
Miami continues practice with another workout Wednesday afternoon beginning at 3 p.m. at Greentree. The Hurricanes will take Thursday off before completing the week with practices slated for Friday and Saturday. Friday’s workout is scheduled for a 3 p.m. start while Saturday’s practice is slated to begin at 9:30 a.m.
Spring practices climax with UM’s FOX Sports Net Canes Fest on Saturday, April 7 at the Orange Bowl. That event kicks off at 9:30 a.m. with a scrimmage highlighting the day starting at 10:30 a.m. That day will be a fun-filled one for Miami fans as spectators can huddle up with head coach Larry Coker for a question-and-answer session before the scrimmage at 10 a.m. Ticket buyers can take part in UM’s Select-A-Seat program, where fans pick their season ticket locations for the 2001 season, and kids can enjoy Touchdown Alley. Players will sign autographs after the scrimmage, beginning at approximately 12:30 p.m. Fans also can get a tour of the Miami locker room and photos with the Heisman Trophy and National Championship trophies from the past.
For ticket information concerning Hurricanes football, contact the UM Ticket Office at (305) 284-2263 or 1-800-GO-CANES. Ticket information also may also be obtained online at www.hurricanesports.com.
