Miami Holds Final Bowl Practice on Greentree Wednesday
Dec. 23, 2009
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The 14th-ranked University of Miami football team held its fourth and final practice on campus Wednesday before the team moves its bowl preparation to Orlando on Friday. The `Canes have three practices remaining – all in Orlando – prior to the match-up with Wisconsin in the Champs Sports Bowl on Tuesday, Dec. 29 at 8 p.m.
Wednesday’s hour-and-a-half session marked the final practice for UM’s 21 seniors on the Greentree Practice Fields, as the remaining bowl practices will be held at Thunder Field at the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium Complex.
“I was a little sad,” senior center A.J. Trump commented after completing his final practice at Greentree. “I was kind of sentimental [before practice] but then Swasey had us run three three-setters to start practice off… I’m not going to miss that.”
The last practice on Greentree was the warmest of UM’s four bowl practices this week, as temperatures reached into the mid-70’s by the end of the session.
“It was good though,” Trump added. “It was fun. The past couple days have been awesome. The weather has been great, we’ve been able to run around and have a good time. The team has had a lot of energy.”
The 9-3 `Canes will be in search of the program’s first 10-win season since the 2003 season when they go up against the Badgers in six days on ESPN.
“It is going to be big for us,” junior linebacker Colin McCarthy said regarding a potential 10-win season. “I think momentum into next year is what we want. Getting this opportunity to play in the Champs Sports Bowl, be close to home and getting a 10th win – something we haven’t done in a while – is going to be good for us.”
In addition to Miami’s three scheduled practices in Orlando, the team will take part in a number of bowl events leading up to the game on Dec. 29.
Miami Dolphins’ Executive Vice President of Football Operations Bill Parcells and General Manager Jeff Ireland attended Wednesday’s practice at Greentree.
