Hurricanes Arrive, Practice In Orlando Friday Afternoon
Dec. 25, 2009
ORLANDO – The 14th-ranked University of Miami football team arrived in Orlando Friday afternoon and immediately went to work in preparation for Tuesday’s Champs Sports Bowl, practicing for an hour-and-a-half in wet conditions at Thunder Field at the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium Complex.
The Hurricanes worked on a soggy field late in the afternoon, with periodic rain showers and temperatures in the mid 60’s throughout the session.
The practice was the first of three for UM in Orlando before the `Canes and Badgers will match-up on Dec. 29 at 8 p.m. on ESPN.
“We’ll have fun while we are out here but when it is time to work, we’ll get back to work,” head coach Randy Shannon said. “The guys will enjoy the trip but anytime we meet, it is back to the basics and focusing on Wisconsin.”
Senior tight end Jimmy Graham is not only going through his first bowl week, but he is preparing to face a school that recruited him to play basketball before he chose UM.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Graham said about his first bowl experience. “This past week of practice has probably been the most fun I’ve ever had in practice. It’s been physical practices, but overall I’ve enjoyed it more than I ever have before.
“I’m really excited for the opportunity,” Graham added. “I think we all are. They are a great team. We are in Orlando. We are down south…it should be a great game.”
The `Canes will practice again Saturday morning before spending the afternoon at Universal Studios. In addition to Miami’s two remaining scheduled practices, the team will take part in a number of bowl events leading up to the game.
Miami held its last practice on the Greentree Practice Fields in Coral Gables on Wednesday before having a short walk-through on Thursday.
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 four days.
