FIRST FULL PAD PRACTICE GOES WELL FOR HURRICANES
Aug. 8, 2007
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – – The University of Miami football team tested out its pads Wednesday morning, as the team underwent its first practice of the preseason in full pads.
“We did a lot of good things on offense, and the defense responded later on in practice,” Miami head coach Randy Shannon said. “It was an up-and-down practice on both sides of the football. We had too many penalties on both sides of the football. It was too many things that we can control. We just have to bear down and get it done. But we’ll be fine.”
The Hurricanes worked for nearly two hours on an overcast day at the Greentree Practice Fields. The team went through several live situations and will hold its first closed scrimmage at 7:50 a.m. Thursday at Cobb Stadium in Coral Gables.
“When you put on pads, you have to make each drill live,” Shannon said. “Drills you don’t want to be live, you have say, `Hey, we’re tagging on that.’ The guys competed today. They flew around. But we have to keep working. It’s a process trying to get the whole team going and understanding the mentality of what we’re going to be. They’re doing a good job, but we have to be more consistent.”
Notes:
Offense Coming Along
Through the first couple of days of practice, Miami’s offense has put up some big plays on the ground and through the air. Shannon said there is more tweaking taking place. “We’re working on a progress of what we’re going to do each day,” he said. “We’re just going in stages of learning. I think that’s the biggest thing. The more you can go in stages, the more leaning there will be. The guys are picking it up well.”
Howard Visits Practice
Former Heisman Trophy winner and current ESPN college football analyst Desmond Howard visited practice on Wednesday. It was Howard’s third trip to the Hurricanes’ practice in five days. Howard, who is a member of the ESPN College Football GameDay crew, visited with Hurricane coaches briefly as he gets ready for the upcoming season.
Injury Notes
Shannon said sophomore offensive tackle Chris Barney is a little nicked up, but it’s nothing serious. Barney sat out a few drills. Shannon also had no news on senior defensive tackle Teraz McCray. His status is day-to-day. Sophomore linebacker Darryl Sharpton worked some early, but was taken out later in practice.
24 Days Until First Game
Hurricanes fans can purchase single-game tickets, a four-game Mega-Plan or season tickets through the month of August. Single-game tickets are $47 each, while the Mega-Plan, which includes a reserved ticket to the Texas A&M game and three other home games of choice, is $160 per pack ($7 savings per ticket ). Season tickets start as low as $190, which is only $27 per game. Tickets can be purchased at www.hurricanesports.com or by calling (305) 284-CANES in Miami-Dade or (800) GO-CANES outside of Miami-Dade. The Hurricanes open the season on September 1 against Marshall in the Orange Bowl.
