sports_m-footbl_spec-rel_082798
August 27, 1998
CORAL GABLES, FL – Today the University of Miami football team beganpreparation for next Saturday’s season-opener against East Tennessee Statewith a two-hour practice in pads at the Greentree Practice Field on theUM campus. With preseason camp over, the Hurricanes used the majorityof the workout to focus on the East Tennessee State game plan, practicingagainst the scout team’s offensive and defensive units.
“Today was the first introduction our players had to any of the filmand plays for East Tennessee State,” said head coach Butch Davis.”We devoted 12 of the 25 periods today to work on our game play.This is our first meeting against East Tennessee and we have to be preparedto go into the game with the element of surprise and perform well.
“This game is going to be very pivotal for us. For the next week,we will continue to work on our game plan and correct mistakes. FreshmanEthenic Sands will serve as the East Tennessee quarterback. Ethenichas some experiece as a quarterback and will be used in that capacity forthe next week to help us prepare.”
Davis also reflected on last night’s practice and scrimmage at LockhartStadium in Ft. Lauderdale and complimented the play of wide receivers ReggieWayne and Omar Rolle.
“Our guys really looked good last night,” said Davis. “I thoughtReggie Wayne and Omar Rolle had stellar performances. Reggie is morephysical this year and has added the element of surprise to his game andOmar is really pushing himself and making key contributions.”
Davis said he was very pleased with last night’s turn out and definitelywants to return to Broward County in the future.
“Broward County really showed us that we have 100 percent of theirsupport; the fans were cheering us on and we had a great time.”
The Hurricanes open the 1998 season against East Tennessee State onSaturday, September 5th in the Orange Bowl at 7:30. The game willbe televised tape-delay on SportsChannel 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.
Injury Report: The following players participated in today’sworkout, but were limited: Offensive lineman Joaquin Gonzalez (dislocatedfinger), defensive tackle Damione Lewis (tendonitis, left knee).
