Hurricanes Practice Outside in Preparations for Georgia Tech

Sept. 29, 2004

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Miami’s fourth-ranked football team responded well during a two-hour practice Wednesday afternoon at the Greentree Practice Fields after spending Tuesday inside the Knight Sports Complex due to severe weather.

“It was good to get outside and get a practice in today,” Miami head coach Larry Coker said. “The guys moved around well and we got some good work in today.”

The Hurricanes will make their first ACC road trip to Georgia Tech on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta. The game will be televised on ABC.

Running back Frank Gore looked good in Wednesday’s practice after only carrying the ball six times against Houston due to a sore knee. “Frank looked really good,” Coker said. “I am really encouraged with him right now. To me, he looks better right now than I have seen him in a while. He continues to look better and better each day. I won’t say the knee soreness is behind him, because I’m sure that is something he is going to have to work with. As long as we can rest him a few days, I think he is going to be fine.”

The Hurricanes did receive some bad news on Wednesday when they learned that fullback Kyle Cobia is likely lost for the season with a shoulder injury. The senior from Lakeland, Fla., is expected to undergo surgery. “Kyle is probably going to end up having surgery,” Coker said. “It is going to be a season-ending surgery, so it is pretty serious. It is a shame because this is his last year.”

The best case scenario has Cobia possibly returning for a bowl game at the end of the season. Talib Humphrey and Quadtrine Hill will handle the fullback duties in Cobia’s absence.

Miami will return to the practice field on Thursday for a light workout before leaving for Atlanta on Friday.