UM GEARS UP FOR FINAL TWO-A-DAY PRACTICES OF TRAINING CAMP

UM GEARS UP FOR FINAL TWO-A-DAY PRACTICES OF TRAINING CAMP

Aug. 16, 2007

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – – The University of Miami Hurricanes rebounded from Wednesday’s scrimmage with a short practice at the Greentree Practice Fields Thursday morning. Miami’s final two-a-day practices of the summer training camp are scheduled for Friday.

“It was an easy practice today,” UM head coach Randy Shannon said. “It was short tempo. We worked a little on special teams, correcting things from the scrimmage the day before.”

Miami worked in shells on an overcast morning in South Florida. Shannon said freshman running back Shawnbrey McNeal sat out some this morning. “He had a couple of plays in the scrimmage yesterday,” Shannon said. “He played some special teams. He did great. He came out this morning and we sat him out to rest.”

Shannon has been pleased with the practices thus far in the preseason, but he said he is not close to firming up starters for the first game of the season. “It’ll be a whole week and another scrimmage (until starters are announced),” Shannon said. “After the scrimmage, we’ll probably announce everything on that Tuesday before Marshall.”

The Hurricanes practice again on Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 3:20 p.m.

Shalala Shares Some Words
University of Miami President Donna E. Shalala addressed the team on field just before Thursday morning’s practice. Shalala talked to the players about the words in the song “In the Steps of Champions” written by Desmond Child about Miami’s past national championship teams. Shalala mainly discussed the chorus which reads:

In the Steps of champions,
We’re gonna fight
Follow the light to the end
In the steps of champions

In the steps of champions
This is our time
We will be heroes again
We’re the U of M.

16 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.