Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Notes
Dec. 28, 2002
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Miami Practice Notes & Quotes
(first practice since arriving in Arizona)
HEAD COACH LARRY COKER
On first practice since arriving in Phoenix”It is good to have our guys back together. It was nice to be away and now I think the players were excited about being back together. It was a spirited practice and just a great day weather-wise. We felt very good about it.”
Performance at practice
“The defensive backs really impressed me today at practice. They really broke on the ball well and had a lot of interceptions at practice, which I like. Batted down balls are fine but the offense gets another opportunity. With interceptions we get another opportunity (on offense).”
On the team’s arrival
“Nearly everyone is here. We had two guys miss practice today, Jonathan Vilma and Jamaal Green. Jamaal was snowed in up East. He lives in New Jersey and actually went to a second airport and tried to get out, but couldn’t get a flight. John had a late flight and should be in tonight. We knew he would be late and everything is OK. We anticipate that both of them will be in tonight and both of them will be fine.”
On the returning players’ goal to win the national championship“Almost right after the Rose Bowl our guys went to work for a run at this year’s championship. I think that that last year was nice but we have 18 seniors and they are very good players who want to do something special.”
On Ken Dorsey’s importance to the Miami Offense
“Dorsey is extremely important to our offense and we would not have been in the Rose Bowl last year or in the Fiesta Bowl today if not for the play of Ken Dorsey. Ken is an integral piece of our offense and we are able to surround him with good players.”
MIAMI QUARTERBACK KEN DORSEY
On his progression as the Miami quarterback
“As a sophomore it was all about earning my teammates’ respect. My junior year we learned very well how to handle success. Sometimes it is hard to handle success and the entire team was able to handle success and that is why we won the national championship. This year, I learned a lot about how to handle criticism. It’s part of life and I just go out and try to do the best I can on the field and not let my teammates down. The most important thing is to play well for your teammates and to win games.”
Pressure playing QB in the Miami program
“Pressure is something you have to be willing to accept. When you are the quarterback on any team you are going to be in the spotlight, and when things go good you have a lot to do with it and when things go bad you have everything to do with it. As a quarterback you have to be willing to take on that responsibility and it’s a challenge that I’ve been willing to take on. I am willing to be that guy that people expect the most out of.”
On Accomplishments at UM
“I haven’t really had time to think much about accomplishments. For one thing, I’ve been completely engulfed in preparing for Ohio State.”
On what the Fiesta Bowl game means
“This game means a lot to me and to my teammates and it means a lot to Ohio State. It is a big game for both programs and you have to think both teams are looking forward to the challenge.”
On today’s practice
“It was fun, there is nothing like conditioning at the end of practice to get you going. We are happy to be here and I feel like we had a very good practice for the day. We got a lot done, we are not there yet but we are getting there. We feel like we have a great game plan and now it is just a matter of executing it.”
MIAMI OFFENSIVE CENTER BRET ROMBERG
On today’s practice”It was a great practice for us. We executed very well both on offense and defense and we looked very hungry. We look like we are getting ready to play a football game.”
Miami Hurricane Practice Notes:
? Miami practiced one hour and 45 minutes at Scottsdale Community College in shorts and shoulder pads.
? Miami players and coaches were beaming about the practice field that consists of Bermuda and rye grasses, cut to ľ inch in height, the same as the field at Sun Devil Stadium. “It’s a great practice facility, extremely nice and well done. It’s the same turf that we will play on at Sun Devil Stadium on game day,” said UM Coach Larry Coker. “The field is great. It is a great situation and we appreciate the people at the Fiesta Bowl putting this together for us,” said UM quarterback Ken Dorsey.
? Miami practices Saturday at Scottsdale Community College, 1:30-3:30 p.m. The first 15 minutes of practice will be open to all media. Head coach Larry Coker and players will be available for interviews coming off the field immediately following practice.
