Sept. 29, 2005

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – With the completion of a normal Thursday practice at the Greentree Practice Fields, the University of Miami football team inched closer to facing off with the University of South Florida (3-1), a new member of the Big East Conference.

Coach Larry Coker feels his team is coming off a good week of practice and is ready to play against a Bulls team that upset ninth-ranked Louisville 45-14 Saturday night in Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium.

“I’m pretty pleased with today; I’m pretty pleased with the week,” Coker said. “This was a regular Thursday practice. We looked at a lot of trick stuff today, and I think the main thing is guys were moving around and making sure the assignments were there. We also had good work in the two-minute offense.”

Coker feels his team is relaxed and in a bit of a rhythm and ready to play against USF.

“I think the guys are relaxed, but they are anxious to play. And they know we have a tough opponent Saturday,” Coker said. “You know, playing every Saturday the weeks go fast. We’re in rhythm and we have to play in a rhythm.”

The Hurricanes will have a short, closed walk-through practice on Friday. Saturday’s game in the Orange Bowl, which will be televised nationally on ESPNU, will begin at 8 p.m.