Hurricanes Hard at Work in Atlanta
Dec. 27, 2004
ATLANTA – The Miami Hurricanes football team practiced for two hours Monday afternoon at the Georgia Dome in full pads as their showdown in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl with the Florida Gators approaches on Friday, Dec. 31 at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN.
Miami arrived in Atlanta Sunday morning and went through a light workout during the afternoon at the Georgia Dome before heading to Atlanta’s ESPN Zone for a Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl welcome party.
“It was a good day today,” Miami head coach Larry Coker said following Monday’s workout. “The guys flew around and we really practiced well. I was encouraged with what I saw, but we are going to have to practice well and carry that over to Friday.”
Senior fullback Talib Humphrey returned to practice on Monday after missing Sunday’s workout with an injured foot.
“Talib practiced and that is one of the reasons we practiced well,” Coker said. “We really need him for Friday.”
Coker also ruled injured linebacker Roger McIntosh out for Friday’s game.
It will be the fourth time the Hurricanes and Gators have played in the past five years after the rivalry was discontinued after the 1987 season. Miami has won five straight games in the series, dating back to UM’s 23-15 win in Gainesville in 1986.
“It is a lot of fun and it is a great rivalry because our players know their players,” Coker said. “I added it up one time; I really don’t remember now, but the national championships that have been won or played for by Florida, Florida State and Miami is quite a number, so it is quite a challenge. If you win the state championship of Florida, then you have a little bit of bragging right anyway.”
Miami has been hard at work off the field as well. Following Monday’s practice over 25 football players visited the Egleston Children’s Hospital.
The Hurricanes will return to the Georgia Dome Tuesday morning at 11:30 a.m. for a one and a half hour practice in shells.
