Hurricanes Begin Preparation For Clemson

Sept. 11, 2005

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The 13th-ranked Hurricanes (0-1) began preparation for the No. 20/23 Clemson Tigers (2-0) Sunday afternoon with a noise-filled workout at the Greentree Practice Fields. Clemson’s fight song and crowd noise pumped through six loudspeakers along the sidelines during team portions of UM’s practice.

Through the noise at practice and the changing landscape of the college football polls after an eventful Saturday, head coach Larry Coker emphasized where the Hurricanes’ focus needed to be.

“I think we’re in great shape,” Coker said. “We just have to do what we do. We have to keep getting better, be the best Miami team we can be and just win.”

Coker and the Hurricanes had Saturday off, giving them a chance to watch a formidable Clemson team defeat Maryland 28-24 on the road. What they saw was a team without quit and momentum heading into Saturday’s game in Death Valley.

“(Clemson’s) quarterback was making plays to win the game, their receivers made a couple nice plays and their running backs ran the ball well,” Coker said. “They’re physical on defense and run to the ball well. The big thing is they believe they can win and make it happen late in the fourth quarter, if they need to.”

Miami moved up one spot from its No. 14 spot in the AP and USA Today polls after an eventful Saturday in college football.

“With what you saw Saturday, anything can happen,” Coker said. “I think four top 25 teams lost yesterday, and there will be a lot more.”

Notes: Running back Charlie Jones, who was ejected in the first half and sat out the second half of the Florida State game, will be eligible to play against Clemson, Coker said. Under the ejection rule, Jones had to sit out a half before he was eligible to play.