Hurricanes Continue Preparation For Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
Dec. 27, 2005
ATLANTA, Ga. (www.hurricanesports.com) – The ninth-ranked Miami Hurricanes football team continued its preparation for Friday’s 7:30 p.m. matchup against the No. 10 LSU Tigers in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl with a Tuesday afternoon practice in the Georgia Dome.
For the second time in as many practices on the Georgia Dome’s artificial surface, UM head coach Larry Coker noted the speed with which his team practiced. “Today was another good practice with a lot of speed,” Coker said. “We practiced fast. (The surface) is great. It’s very fast to play on and it’s the closest thing to grass.”
The team, which practiced in shoulder pads and shorts, will trim down to its lighter “spider” pads for Wednesday’s practice. Through two practices in Atlanta, the team has stayed healthy, Coker said.
While there is certainly major focus on the game and practice, there are also off-field activities that Miami’s student-athletes participate in as part of the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. Approximately 20 Hurricanes spent part of their morning visiting children at the Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital.
Players greeted and talked to patients ranging from infancy to young adulthood on the visit, which proved to be a moving experience for many, including freshman linebacker Darryl Sharpton. “I wasn’t expecting to be so touched when I got there and saw all the kids,” Sharpton said. “I realized that everybody is not as fortunate as we are. I was glad I got to go there and make them smile despite their current health problems. That meant something to me.” Sharpton and the other Hurricanes greeted and talked to parents and children, posed for pictures and handed out miniature stuffed Chick-fil-A cows and autographed t-shirts.
The team will spend Tuesday evening at the Delta Football Feud, an event that features student-athletes from both Miami and LSU in friendly competitions against one another.
Miami will practice again in the Georgia Dome on Wednesday afternoon. Members of the team have the options of attending the Football Coaches of America Breakfast at the Marriott Marquis in the morning and taking a trip to the Atlanta Aquarium in the evening as part of the day’s extracurricular activities.
Notes: Coker confirmed that the Hurricanes will be wearing their orange jerseys and white pants for Friday’s game.
