Spring Preview: Golden's Expectations & Depth Chart
CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Spring practice is finally here as the Al Golden will lead the Hurricanes out to the practice field for the first time on Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m. It has been more than two months since the `Canes were last on the field when they met Notre Dame in the Sun Bowl, and the excitement and eagerness to return to the gridiron is apparent.
Much of the focus this spring will be on first-year coach Al Golden and his new staff, as they finally get the opportunity to coach the players on the field for the first time on Greentree Field.
“I’m excited to be out there Saturday. With all due respect to everybody in the room, I’m tired of all this,” said Golden to the media Thursday afternoon. “I just want to go coach.”
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Saturday’s practice is the first of 14 practices leading up to the Spring Game on April 16. The Spring Game is slated for Noon with fan festivities taking place before and after the game.
Check HurricaneSports.com for news and notes from each practice this spring, in addition to video interviews from coaches and players.
Golden and his staff set the tone with UTough strength and conditioning they implemented upon their arrival in what they called “Phase 1” of the process. This phase wrapped Thursday as players got in their final workouts in preparation for spring ball.
“I’m very pleased with it,” Golden said of `Phase 1′. “We accomplished a lot of our objectives.” Golden pinpointed mental toughness and unity as two goals that were accomplished. “That first phase gave us the opportunity to have a successful second phase.”
Phase two gets underway with Saturday morning’s practice. As with any transition, practices are expected to be a bit slower than desired since time will have to be devoted to teaching a new system.
“The first five practices will be a lot slower than I’m accustomed to or I would normally want,” said Golden. “It’s going to be a lot more teaching. There will be periods we’re going to go up-tempo. But we’re going to slow it down a little bit and go a little bit longer than we would normally want to go the first three to five practices.
“We’ve alerted the kids to that and said because we’re doing that we’re going to tell you when it’s time to go and when it’s time to listen and be in a teaching period. We’re going to clearly mark that for the guys to understand.”
Another note worth mentioning is Golden has been very impressed with the leadership on the team since his arrival.
“There are guys really stepping up and leading,” he said. “They’ve been very diligent in their preparation. Somebody asked me what the difference is between here and the other transitions I’ve been a part of, and that’s the single greatest element right now–the seniors. We have to keep that going.”
They certainly will look to keep that going Saturday morning when Golden finally gets to don a whistle and coach the Miami Hurricanes on a football field for the first time. It is an exciting time for the Golden and the `Canes as they look to lay a foundation for success to come with a productive spring season.
SPRING DEPTH CHART
Defense
Offense
Special Teams
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| J. Wieclaw A. Irastorza |
C. Ivory T. Horn |
C. Ivory B. Sanders A. Tallman |
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| J. Wieclaw C. Dean A. Irastorza |
T. Benjamin L. Miller |
S. Whipple J. Harris |
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| J. Wieclaw A. Irastorza |
T. Benjamin K. Thompkins |
Injured – Out for Spring: A Cleveland, J Figueroa
