Lightning Cuts Into Hurricanes' Final Practice Before Full Contact

Aug. 9, 2005

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – After two straight days of practice under the morning sun, the University of Miami football team took the field on Tuesday for the first time in the afternoon since Saturday’s opening workout was cut short due to threats of lightning. Unfortunately it was the same situation on a different afternoon.

Tuesday’s practice was halted and delayed for nearly three hours due to a threat of lightning at approximately 3:14 p.m., 44 minutes into practice. The Hurricanes offense continued to install plays and execute its basic sets prior to the practice stoppage, while Miami’s defense worked on various drops and reads in its personnel groupings.

One-on-one drills between the offense and defense were only about two or three minutes old before the lightning protection system at the Greentree Practice Facility sounded, prompting all on the field to seek safe shelter.

Miami returned to the practice field at 6:40 p.m. to fill three drills: 7-on-7 drills, two-minute and team.

“We started at 2:30 and finished at 7:30, so it was a five-hour practice,” joked Miami head coach Larry Coker. “Really, we got a lot done. The guys competed well in the evening. As I told them, we have a long way to go, but it’s early in the process.

Wednesday’s practice has been changed and will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the Greentree Practice Fields and will be the team’s first full-contact workout this season. Practice was originally scheduled to start at 2:30 p.m. but was changed due to possible weather conditions.

Notes:Senior right guard Tony Tella attended practice but did not participate due to a left ankle sprain. He sported a soft cast. Tella sustained the injury during Monday’s practice.