Hurricanes Begin Preparation For Virginia Tech
Nov. 1, 2005
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – As the sun set on the Greentree Practice fields, so did it on the first full day of preparations for the fifth-ranked University of Miami football team as they get ready for their annual conference showdown against No. 3 Virginia Tech at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Va.
With classes back in session around campus and a return to normalcy after Hurricane Wilma, the Hurricanes have shifted all their attention to their Coastal Division foe after playing a phenomenal second half of football in a 34-16 win against North Carolina.
The Hurricanes, who have split their last six meetings with the Hokies, started their week of preparations with one of the better offensive practices they’ve had all year. That will be key as Virginia Tech boasts the nation’s second-ranked defense (UM is ranked first in total defense).
“We had a very good offensive practice today. This was one of the better Tuesdays we’ve had,” coach Larry Coker said. “This was a good day for us. Guys ran around well, I think we had a good start and it’s kind of getting to be that time of the season where we need to pick it up and practice well and we did today.”
Coker was encouraged by the way quarterback Kyle Wright threw the ball at practice and feels his team will be anxious to play. The fifth-year coach also stressed the importance of being prepared in order to play winning football and anticipates his team to be ready when the Hokies come calling Saturday night.
“I thought (Wright threw the ball) well,” Coker said. “We have to make sure we do the things that we need to do to win a football game and again we need to make sure we’re prepared and I believe we will be.”
Saturday’s game will kickoff at 7:45 p.m. and will be broadcast by ESPN. It will also be shown on ESPNU from the Skycam perspective.
Notes: Runningback Tyrone Moss, coming off a 24-carry, 195-yard performance against North Carolina was given a breather at practice Tuesday in order to help with his recovery from a busy Saturday. “He’s a little bit sore, so we held him out of some things today and just let him recoup a little bit. He carried the ball and took a lot of shots on Saturday, so we definitely want to get him 110 percent for Saturday, which he’ll need to be,” Coker said….Wide receiver Sinorice Moss, who left last week’s game in the second quarter with a slight shoulder injury, returned to practice Tuesday. Coker expressed the team will have caution with Sinorice Moss, but the coach said, “he did everything today.”…Defensive end Bryan Pata (knee) practiced some and Coker expects him to be ready to play Saturday. “I think he’s going to be fine. He’s not ready to play yet, but he practiced lightly today and I think he’ll be fine,” Coker said….Coker anticipates defensive end Eric Moncur (concussion) will be ready to play. “That’s a thing you don’t mess around with,” Coker said. “We need to make sure he’s ready to go and coherent. And I think he is, but we’re going to make sure and he’ll test out before he’s released to play.”
