Miami Begins Final Week Of Spring Football Practice
April 2, 2002
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) – The Miami Hurricanes began the final week of 2002 Spring Football Practice with a two-hour workout Tuesday afternoon at Cobb Stadium on the UM campus. The team conducted the workouts wearing shorts and upper pads in muggy conditions. The practice was moved to Cobb from the usual venue, Greentree Practice Fields, because of work that is taking place on the practice grounds.
Head Coach Larry Coker was pleased with the play of the defensive backs in Tuesday’s scrimmage. He took particular note of the play of redshirt freshman cornerback Kelly Jennings. Jennings, a native of Suwanee, has moved into the starting position at right cornerback and had another good practice after a solid outing in last week’s scrimmage in which he made three solo tackles, intercepted a pass, broke up two passes and had a quarterback sack on a blitz.
“I’ve been really impressed with the defensive backs and Kelly Jennings has had an excellent spring,” Coker said. “In Kelly’s case, I think the fact that there’s a job to get (at right cornerback) has really helped him improve. You can see that hunger in him, and that same type of hunger is driving the other DB’s right now. I’m excited and encouraged by what I’ve seen so far from the defensive backs and Kelly’s play would have to rank right up there as one of the most encouraging things of the Spring.”
On the injury front, two Hurricanes defensive ends missed the practice. Cornelius Green missed the workout due to a foot injury. Andrew Williams appears to be done for the spring with a minor knee injury.
The Hurricanes will conclude Spring Practice with practices on Wednesday and Thursday. The spring will formally end with the annual FOX SportsNet CanesFest Spring Game at the Orange Bowl. That event will be televised live by FOX SportsNet Florida.
Fans can join the team at the Orange Bowl on Saturday, April 6, for FOX SportsNet CanesFest and get an early peek at the Hurricanes in action during their annual Spring Game. Fans who purchase season tickets that day can select seats for the upcoming season, which features home games against Florida State and Virginia Tech. In addition to the game, players and coaches will be available for autographs and fans can tour the Hurricane locker room. Enter The Miami Herald contest to catch a pass from Ken Dorsey, kick a field goal against Todd Sievers or return a punt from Freddie Capshaw at www.hurricanesports.com. Gates open at 8 a.m., festivities begin at 8 a.m., and everything is free.
