Hurricanes Turn Up Heat on Friday Practice

Dec. 17, 2004

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami’s 14th-ranked football team got down to business on Friday afternoon at the Greentree Practice Fields with a padded practice in preparation for the Florida Gators in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.

The Hurricanes and Gators are set to kickoff at 7:40 p.m. on New Years Eve on ESPN in the Georgia Dome.

“This was the first day back in full pads,” head coach Larry Coker said. “There was a lot of intensity out there. The defense was really intense.”

On Friday afternoon, the Hurricanes impressed their coaching staff with their play after a 10-day break for finals.

“The guys had a lot of fun,” Coker said. “I really like what I saw today, and I hope we can maintain that and build on that for the rest of our time before the game.”

Coker also addressed the tight end position that will be without Greg Olsen in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl and is still waiting on the return of Kevin Everett. Buck Ortega and Brandon Sebald have picked up the slack in their absence.

“Brandon Sebald and Buck Ortega will be the guys there and we are confident in them,” Coker said. “In a two-tight end formation, we also have (fullbacks) Kyle Cobia and Talib Humphrey. We have four players working at that position, and I have been really pleased with what I have seen from those guys.”

Miami will continue preparations for the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on Saturday with a 2 p.m. practice at the Greentree Practice Fields.