Practice Report: Finnie & Pierre Jump The Snap
March 31, 2011
By Harrison Raboy
Coral Gables, Fla.–Seven minutes into our interview, Defensive Line coach Jethro Franklin yelled at
Thomas Finnie and Olsen Pierre.
“On your own time, you’re late,” he declared to them, and wisped them away to the practice field for the defensive walk-through.
Such is the life of an early enrollee. Never right, always learning.
Coach Golden’s first recruit to the University of Miami, Olsen Pierre, verbally committed to the “U” on December 19, 2010. A big, versatile athlete from Rahway, N.J., who attended Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy, Pierre made the always-difficult decision to leave home early and enroll in spring classes a semester in advance.
“Me and my family sat down, and decided it was a good decision; it allows me to get a jump on everybody. I came here at 250 (lbs), and now I’m 270,” Pierre said.
For a freshman trying to make an impact, 20 pounds of added weight is an important first step in seeing the playing field. Pierre, a defensive end, is currently battling for a back-up defensive end spot.
A dominant force in high school where he recorded 86 tackles and eight sacks as a senior, Pierre comes to Miami as another talented athlete vying to see the field. Going from a high school standout to an early enrollee at college can be a challenging process, but it is something that Pierre fully understands.
“The speed and the intensity are way different than high school. The plays are harder, and you don’t get that many chances. You mess up once, you may not get another chance.”
Thomas Finnie, who is from the Miami area, is the other early enrollee and came to Miami after meeting with Coach Golden and his staff. Finnie had originally committed to South Carolina, but changed his mind upon meeting the new Hurricane head coach.
“Coach Golden pushes intensity, and working hard on every play. He’s either going to make you or break you…It’s Coach Golden’s first year here, and so I’m happy to be here. We can make a change, and so I’m happy to be a part of it,” he said.
In order to graduate in time to enroll early, Finnie had to take summer classes. The hard work during the summer paid off, and has continued so far through the spring. On the current depth chart, Finnie is listed as the starting cornerback opposite Jo Jo Nicolas, a testament to his work ethic.
Away from the football field, the transition for the two early enrollees has been a little more treacherous. Like every other high school graduate leaving home to pursue a higher education, the step from living at home to living on campus is one that takes time to adjust to. Gone is the comfort of parents and familiarity. Instead, without anyone telling these new college students what to do, they are free to do whatever they want.
“Its way more freedom. You have no parents, but you have to be smart. You have to make the right decisions,” Pierre quipped.
“You have to think before you do stuff; don’t make the wrong decisions. My parents raised me right, so I know what’s right from what’s wrong,” Finnie added.
Campus life is different than anything these student-athletes had ever experienced before. Dorm life, for example, is something that both enjoy.
“Yea, it’s cool,” Pierre answered when asked if he enjoyed living in the dorms. “You meet new people from different areas, from different countries. And people recognize you.”
Not only has the adjustment been interesting for Pierre and Finnie as they moved away from home, but also the schoolwork at a top-level University has been a culture shock, just as it is for every new student who comes to the best school in Florida.
“The classes are bigger, you’re more by yourself and on your own. They gave us mentors, and tutors to help us with classes and homework, and with what we should and shouldn’t do,” Pierre said.
Finnie agreed. “The adjustment has been kind of hard. The professors, when they ask for their work, they want their work the same day; they want their work typed neat and everything. It’s nothing hard, it’s just something different and something I’m going to have to get used to.”
Once the fall comes, thousands of new freshmen will flood the University of Miami campus, each bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. Among these will be the new student-athletes recruited by Coach Golden to help the “U” return to its rightful place among college football’s elite. They will have to learn the playbook, adjust to Coach Golden’s style, and maybe most important adapt to the new way of college life. For Olsen Pierre and Thomas Finnie, however, they will be grizzled vets by then, having already undergone the transition. They will already be a part of the team, and help the new freshmen make the leap to a college student-athlete.
For once fall rolls around, although considered freshmen, college will be the only way of life for Thomas Finnie and Olsen Pierre.
PRACTICE REPORT NO. 8
Save for a 65-yard bomb from Jacory Harris to Travis Benjamin towards the end of Thursday’s practice, Miami’s eighth spring session went the way of the defense on a windy day at the Greentree Practice Fields.
Holding Their Ground
Miami’s defense held the upper hand throughout most of session, forcing turnovers and consistently keeping the offense at bay. In time the offense found their spots, but for the most part the D wasn’t giving up much ground. Big plays by the secondary and an active afternoon for Micanor Regis up front were the story on Thursday.
Raincheck
After rain cut Tuesday’s practice short, Coach Golden decided to invite UM students, faculty and staff back out to Thursday’s practice for a longer look at the team. Approximately 75 members of the UM community made it out at some point during the three-hour session, getting one final look before the team’s first open scrimmage on Saturday.
About That
Here are the details for Saturday’s open scrimmage….the first of two leading up to the Spring Game on April 16.
2011 Miami Football Spring Scrimmage One
When: Saturday, April 2
Where: Spanish River Community High School (5100 Jog Road, Boca Raton, FL 33496), MAP
Time: Parking – 8 a.m.; Gates – 8:30 a.m.; Kickoff – 10 a.m.
Cost: Free
Parking will open at 8 a.m. and will be free of charge. There will be a Coffee with the `Canes session for all Silver Cane and above Hurricane Club members, as well as high school coaches from Palm Beach County from 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. For more information, Hurricane Club members can call (305) 284-6699, while high school coaches can call Hurlie Brown with football operations at 305-284-6883.
Bellamy in Attendance
Former Hurricane football player Ray Bellamy was in attendance at Thursday’s practice. Bellamy, who lettered at UM in 1968-69, was the first black player to sign and play for the Hurricane football team. In his two seasons with the `Canes, Bellamy caught 45 passes for 712 yard and three touchdowns.
Thursday’s Highlights
– On separate red zone plays, Micanor Regis forced a fumble and later recovered a fumble.
– Luther Robinson recovered the fumble forced by Regis.
– Tight ends had some success in the two-point drill, with Chase Ford, Cory White, Clive Walford and Blake Ayles all pulling down balls in the end zone. The most impressive came from Ayles, who snagged a one-handed grab in the back of the end zone.
– During red zone work, Vaughn Telemaque caught a tipped ball for an interception while JoJo Nicolas also had an interception.
– Later in practice, Brandon McGee intercepted and took it the other way before whistles were blown. Could have possibly been a pick-six had play had not been stopped.
– Late in the session, Jacory Harris’ best pass of the day went down the right side of the field to Travis Benjamin, who hauled the ball in and cruised into the endzone after getting past the secondary.
Weather a Factor
Practice was moved up just a little bit with anticipation of afternoon storms expected to roll into the area. Thankfully they held off and the team got the full practice in. The wind ended up being the biggest weather story of the day, otherwise the `Canes had clear and sunny skies to work under.
