Hurricanes Hold Practice in Driving Rainstorm

Nov. 14, 2007

Coral gables – The University of Miami football team practiced for more than an hour in a driving rainstorm Wednesday afternoon at the Greentree Practice Fields. By the time practice was over, one field was flooded but practice went on.

And when practice ended, dozens of players laughed and had a great time sliding face first through about 30 yards of water and grabbing teammates and pulling them through flooded water. “They like the mud and they like slipping and sliding,” head coach Randy Shannon said as he watched his players play 15 yards away from his post-practice press conference. “I guess they think they’re back to being five- six-years old.”

“It was a good day today because the rain could have been a distraction, but we practiced through the rain and the water,” Shannon said. “The best thing was we didn’t have any fumbled snaps, any bad snaps. Guys were flying around and concentrating. The offenses and defenses communicated and we didn’t have any busts.”

Because of the rain, the team’s placekickers didn’t get much practice, and there is still an on-going competition between Francesco Zampogna, Daren Daly and Matt Bosher.

Running back Graig Cooper practiced again after missing Tuesday’s practice because of an injury. “He practiced about half of the time, then when it started raining we pulled him out,” Shannon said. “We will know tomorrow how he feels.” If Cooper cannot play, Javarris James and Derron Thomas would play most of the snaps.

Miami will practice again at 3:20 p.m. Thursday at the Greentree Practice Fields.