Sunday Practice Report
Aug. 18, 2003
Dress for Success – visit Hurricane Headquarters
Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) — – The University of Miami football team donned full pads for a two-hour workout on Sunday afternoon at the Greentree Practice Fields.
The Hurricanes returned to practice with intensity after Saturday morning’s session. Head Coach Larry Coker and the coaching staff were impressed by the team’s focus.
“Much better practice this afternoon,” Coach Coker said. “We gave the guys some rest, giving them yesterday evening off, and we didn’t practice this morning. The players came back here today with a lot more energy and were much more improved. We definitely got better today.”
The Hurricane coaching staff continues to address the areas for improvement, but feel the team is progressing on schedule so far in camp.
“We have practiced pretty well and I am satisfied with where we are right now,” Coach Coker said. “We would love to have had all of our players healthy through two-a-days, but that wasn’t the case. However we did get chance to make a lot of different players better, and I believe it is going to help us in the long run.”
The play of the linebackers throughout camp continues to be bright spot for the Hurricanes and the play of senior linebacker Darrell McClover has particularly caught Coach Coker’s eye.
“I have really been impressed with Darrell (McClover),” Coach Coker stated. “He has done really well all throughout camp. In our individual conversation he told me he didn’t want to just play special teams; he wanted to contribute as a linebacker. With (Rocky) McIntosh out, he is getting a lot of playing time at that position and is doing really well.”
Coach Coker also addressed comparisons to this year’s secondary with that of the National Championship team in 2001.
“That is a hard group to compare to because all of those guys are in the NFL,” Coach Coker said. “I think these guys have the chance to be that good, but you don’t know until they actually go out and do it. I think this is a good group. I like what they did last year as young players and you look at the potential they have this year. I think they are definitely in the realm.”
The Hurricanes will return to the Greentree Practice fields on Monday morning at 8:30 a.m.The Hurricanes will return to practice on Sunday afternoon for a scheduled 3:30 p.m. workout. For UM football ticket information, please call 1-800-GO-CANES.
The Hurricanes are set to open the season on Aug. 28 against Louisiana Tech in Shreveport. La. UM then returns home to face the Florida Gators on Sept. 6.
CAREY TO BE EVALUATED OVERNIGHT
The condition of University of Miami offensive lineman Vernon Carey, who suffered an injury to his left leg during Sunday afternoon’s practice, is being evaluated tonight by the UM athletic training staff. Any announcement concerning Carey’s prognosis will be made on Monday, head coach Larry Coker said.
Carey, a senior from Miami Northwestern High School, has been working as the starting right tackle in preseason drills for the Hurricanes. He went down with an unspecified leg injury near the conclusion of Sunday afternoon’s practice and was helped from the field.
