Hurricanes Prepare For Georgia Tech, Injuries and Weather
Oct. 18, 2005
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The sixth-ranked Miami Hurricanes should be ready for just about any situation heading into its scheduled matchup with Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl on Saturday. Whether it was the weather, the personnel on the field, or even the wardrobe, the scenarios were covered throughout Tuesday’s workout at the Greentree Practice Fields.
“I was really pleased with today,” head coach Larry Coker said. “We have a lot of work to do. This is a good football team we’re going to play.”
Driving rain during the first half of practice previewed the anticipated storm front that should arrive just in time for Saturday’s game. The impact Hurricane Wilma will have on the upcoming game will be known better in the days to come, including if the game will have to be re-scheduled, athletic director Paul Dee told reporters at practice. UM pushed on as usual through practice, regardless of the pending weather.
“We plan on playing Saturday,” Coker said. “We’re still a couple of days out, but the `cone of concern’ doesn’t look very good. Whatever we need to do … we’re preparing as if we’re playing Friday or Saturday.”
In addition to the weather, the UM offense is preparing for another possible scenario. Redshirt freshman quarterback Kirby Freeman took most of the snaps under center just in case Kyle Wright’s injured thumb wouldn’t be ready for game action. “Kyle practiced some and threw the ball pretty well,” Coker said. “I think he has some healing-up to do, and he’ll do a lot of rehab. I feel like he’ll be fine. I was encouraged by what I saw today.”
Miami took preparation for Georgia Tech to the next level, wearing gold helmets that resembled the Yellow Jackets’ head gear, albeit coincidental. UM donned the unmarked helmets, which are a part of the throwback uniforms the Hurricanes will wear against North Carolina on Oct. 29, to get used to their feel before they were worn in a game.
The Hurricanes will resume their practice schedule at 3:20 p.m. Wednesday at the Greentree Practice Fields.
