Hurricanes Practice Under the Lights Early Thursday Morning
Aug. 27, 2009
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – With classes underway and the season-opener at Florida State just 11 days away, the University of Miami football team began its game preparation with an hour-and-a-half practice session at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field early Thursday morning.
A day after classes opened for the 2009 fall semester, the Hurricanes held their first early morning practice of the fall, coming out at 5:45 a.m. in shells under the lights on Mark Light Field. Practice opened with temperatures in the upper 70’s before eventually warming into the mid 80’s by the end of the session.
“(Practice) was really good and we were focused,” head coach Randy Shannon said. “We are going early because of the thunderstorms in the afternoon. If it ends up raining in the morning, we’ve always got the afternoon to make it up.”
The `Canes will return to practice Friday morning before taking off on Saturday.
Jason Fox Post-Practice
After Thursday morning’s practice, several players met with the members of the media. Senior offensive tackle Jason Fox was among the group that was made available. He discussed a number of topics, including how practice went, the differences of practicing early in the morning and how the team has reacted to Taylor Cook and Cannon Smith deciding to transfer.
On how practice went – To be honest with you, I think we came out and did a really good job. It is a challenge getting up here in the morning and for our whole team to do that and come out here and practice…that takes a good attitude and we did that this morning.
On early practices helping players rest later in the day – Absolutely. That is one of the reasons why we are doing it. Another reason is this time of the year there is a lot of lightning and thunderstorms in the afternoon and when you go out and have to come in once or twice during a practice, it kind of ruins your momentum you had going in. This way, we have a better chance being out here and getting good work done to get ready for Florida State.
On not practicing in the afternoon heat – We were out here for a month straight in that heat all camp. We know what it is like. We have a good base to our conditioning. We know what it’s going to be like (on gameday).
On Taylor Cook and Cannon Smith transferring – Sometimes it can be a distraction but as a football team you have to limit the distractions, not think about it and remember why we are here. We are here to play football and win football games and anything else besides that, we have to push off to the side. You can’t really do anything about it. Those were personal decisions they wanted to do for their careers that is going to help them out personally. As a team, we have to send them on their way and wish them good luck, but we still have to get ready.
Post-practice notes
Thursday’s practice was Miami’s first since the start of classes on Wednesday.
The session lasted approximately an hour-and-a-half.
Temperatures ranged from the upper 70’s to the mid 80’s during Thursday’s session.
The season-opener at Florida State is 11 days away.
Dyron Dye was held out of practice with a leg injury. Leonard Hankerson and A.J. Trump returned to practice after being limited the last few sessions.
Jason Fox to be Featured Weekly on Sporting News Today
University of Miami offensive tackle Jason Fox is among 18 college football stars who’ll write weekly diaries throughout the season in Sporting News Today, the world’s first digital daily sports newspaper. The diaries, which will cover topics on the field and off it, begin this week. To sign up for the free digital newspaper, which is no fewer than 30 pages a day, go to sportingnewstoday.com. At 7 a.m. ET each day, subscribers are sent an e-mail directing them to that day’s edition.
Sharpton, Spence Named to Butkus Award Watch List
University of Miami linebackers Darryl Sharpton and Sean Spence have been named to the preseason watch list for the 2009 Dick Butkus Award, given to the nation’s top linebacker. Miami is one of eight schools nationally with two players represented on the list, along with Penn State, Georgia, USC, Alabama, Oklahoma, North Carolina and Iowa. Eight Atlantic Coast Conference linebackers are among the 35 selected to the initial watch list.
Hurricane Hotline on 560 WQAM
Hurricane Hotline made its debut last Thursday on 560 WQAM. The weekly two-hour show hosted by Joe Zagacki and Don Bailey, Jr. will air from 7-9 p.m. every Thursday night from The Sports Exchange (45 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables, Fla. 33134; Phone: 305-774-1222). Hurricane Hotline features interviews with UM head football coach Randy Shannon, players, coaches and other UM personnel as well as other featured guests. Fans are encouraged to listen on 560 WQAM or view the show in-person at The Sports Exchange every Thursday night except the night of the Georgia Tech football game.
TV Appearances
Miami has already has been selected for three national television appearances, beginning with the Sept. 7 opener at Florida State (ESPN). Additional games chosen for national telecasts are the Hurricanes’ home opener against Georgia Tech on Thurs. Sept. 17 (ESPN). Miami’s game at UCF will air on CBS College Sports at 7:30 p.m. on Sat. Oct. 17.
For `Canes Tickets
Single-game tickets for University of Miami home football games are on sale. Ticket prices for all games begin at $19 and can be purchased via www.HurricaneSports.com, www.ticketmaster.com or at the Miami Hurricanes Ticket Office located at the Hecht Athletic Center on campus or by calling (305) 284-2263. Individual game tickets are also available at Ticketmaster outlets including select F.Y.E. and select Simon Malls, The Mall at Wellington Green and Dolphin Mall. To charge your individual game tickets by phone, call 1-800-745-3000. To purchase season tickets starting as low as $99, Club Level or Executive Suite Memberships, call 1-800-GO-CANES or purchase your seats on-line at www.HurricaneSports.com.
