HURRICANES HOLD SPRING PRACTICE IN THE RAIN

March 9, 2005

Coral Gables (hurricanesports.com) – The Miami Hurricanes went through a rain-soaked practice today in their second day of spring practice at the Greentree Practice Fields.Redshirt freshman quarterback Kirby Freeman took most of the snaps with the first string today, with Kyle Wright working with the second string.

“Kirby has a strong arm and a quick release. We have to accelerate his learning curve so he learn the offense, but I see what I expected to see right now,” said head Larry Coker. “The same with Kyle. They’re both talented. I don’t think there’s a lot of difference between them. They both have quick feet. Right now Kyle is a little more poised in the pocket, being reared that way in California. Kirby was more of a runner in Texas.”

Coker also commented on linebacker Willie Williams, who is competing for the starting job at middle linebacker. “He really hasn’t played very much, but what I see I really like. He has some skills and really has a knack of finding the football. But we have all of our linebackers back, our starting middle linebacker (Leon Williams) is back, so we’re really strong at that position. If he doesn’t start, I expect him to play.”

The Hurricanes will practice again on Thursday, with a 3:20 practice session that is open to the public. The team will not practice next week, which is spring break for the University of Miami.