sports_m-footbl_spec-rel_082898
August 28, 1998
Coral Gables, FL–The University of Miami football team continued itspreparation for next Saturday’s season-opener against East Tennessee Statewith a two-hour afternoon practice in pads at Mark Light Stadium on theUM campus.
“You’re never really certain about what you’re preparing for in anopening ball game,” said head coach Butch Davis. “We’ve been workingwith the players on defending the option and option techniques. EastTennessee has shown some option offense in the past and we are anticipatingthat they will use similar plays against us.
“We’ve told the players that in games like East Tennessee, one of themost important things is to be fundamentally sound in everything you dobecause there is absolutely no way to tell what the other team might do.We have to focus more on ourselves.”
Davis has sounded a theme for his team during the preseason, instillingthe mind-set that the Hurricanes must be fundamentally sound and makingit a priority to curtail penalties and negative plays this year.
“We want to be efficient,” said Davis. “We need to play soundfootball. We can’t afford penalties for jumping off sides, havingtoo many men in the huddle, or delay of game. The players know thatwe have to go out and do those little things to be as good as we can ifwe are going to be successful.”
The Hurricanes open the 1998 season against East Tennessee on Saturday,September 5th in the Orange Bowl at 7:30 p.m. The game will be televisedtape-delay on Sports Channel at 11:30 p.m.
Season and single-game tickets are available at the UM ticket office,all TicketMaster locations, or can be ordered by phone at 1-800-GO-CANES.
The Hurricanes will conduct a closed, light workout tomorrow morningin shorts working on special situations that may arise during a game.
Injury Report: There were no new injuries to report. Defensiveend Derrick Ham continues to nurse a sprained ankle and wide receiver SantanaMoss continues to be withheld from action with a cracked jaw.
