2007 Football Season Underway
Aug. 4, 2007
Coral Gables – Randy Shannon’s first University of Miami football team took to the gridiron Saturday morning for the first day of practice. It was the first chance for a new team, a new coaching staff and a new outlook, as 20 newcomers and 80 returnees – the 100-man 2007 UM Hurricanes – practiced for nearly two hours on the Greentree Practice Fields.
“The first day was very good,” head coach Randy Shannon said, “Of course, we have some things that we still have to work on, but it was the first day. You’re going to have a couple of mistakes. The guys were flying around.”
With temperatures in the upper 80s and the heat index nearing 100 degrees, it was an ideal climate for the first day of a Hurricanes football practice. The players practiced in helmets and shorts.
Shannon said it wasn’t as tough a first practice. “Everyone in the country on the first day is going to have somebody go down with dehydration or someone might lose weight, because they haven’t been in the sun in a while,” he said. “The first day is always going to be like that. On the third and fourth days, you don’t want too much of that.”
The sidelines at the Greentree Practice Fields were packed with more than 1,000 Hurricanes fans for one of two open practices this summer. “It was great to see that,” Shannon said. “We have to get the fan support to come out no matter what the conditions are. If the fans can keep doing that, we’ll be in a situation that will be real great for this team.”
Shannon said he’s growing more comfortable with his head coaching responsibilities in practice. He had all spring to work on managing both sides of the ball. “The hardest thing for me is bouncing back and forth,” he said. “I got to do it last spring. Early in practice, I worked with the D-line. Then, I bounced back and forth between offense, defense and special teams. I am really involved with special teams and coach (Joe) Pannunzio. I like special teams. I helped coach (Don) Soldinger when he was here, and I helped coach Pannunzio last year. I’ve done it for six to seven years now.”
Twenty-eight days remain until the season opener against Marshall on September 1 at the Orange Bowl. The Hurricanes return to the practice fields at 7:50 a.m. Sunday.
Notes:
Trump worked with first-team center
Redshirt sophomore A.J. Trump practiced with the first team at center, with Derrick Morse and Andrew Bain at guard and Jason Fox and Reggie Youngblood at tackle. “We’ll find the best guy,” Shannon said. “Trump is a guy who played a lot last year for us at guard. We moved him to center and said if you can play center then fine. We know what he can do at guard.” Freshman offensive lineman Orlando Franklin also took a lot of reps with the first-team offense.
Leggett’s brace
Senior wide receiver Lance Leggett practiced with a brace on his right knee. Shannon said it was for precautionary reasons because of his injury in the spring.
Status of Ojomo and Hankerson up to NCAA Clearinghouse
Two freshmen, defensive end Adewale Ojomo and wide receiver Leonard Hankerson, did not report with the remainder of the recruiting class due to a NCAA Clearinghouse issue. Regarding Hankerson, who watched practice, Shannon said, “It could be as early as when I get into that locker room. It’s up to the (NCAA) Clearinghouse. He’s all cleared on the university side, because he was in summer school. But we can’t let him start until he is cleared for the fall.”
Single-Game Tickets on Sale
Hurricanes fans can purchase single-game tickets at www.hurricanesports.com or by calling (305) 284-CANES in Miami-Dade or (800) GO-CANES outside of Miami-Dade. Tickets are $47 each.
