Miami Football Takes Part in Day Two of Practice in El Paso
EL PASO, Texas – The University of Miami Football team returned to the practice field Wednesday morning at Montwood High School.
Under the sunshine and weather that reached the mid-60’s, the team ran through its regular routine of practice and was in full pads.
Following practice, interim head coach Larry Scott, cornerback Artie Burns, wide receiver Stacy Coley, linebacker Jermaine Grace, running back Trayone Gray, linebacker Tyriq McCord, wide receiver Rashawn Scott and running back Mark Walton addressed the media following practice.
Listed below are the comments from the post practice media session.
The Hurricanes return to practice tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. inside Sun Bowl Stadium.
Larry Scott | Interim Head Coach
On what specifically the team accomplished in Tuesday’s practice
“What we set out to accomplish – today is our situational day, we come out with a lot of third-down emphasis, third-and-short, third-and-long, some red zone emphasis. We got done the things we outlined that we wanted to get done today in our routine of getting ready for the game. It was good.”
On the absence of sophomore Courtel Jenkins, who was ruled ineligible for the Sun Bowl
“Really it hasn’t come up. It’s been ‘next man up’ mentality, we addressed it right away with the team, let them know what was going on and where we stood, and what we needed them to do moving forward. We’ve just been moving forward.”
On what he has seen from Washington State on film
“Just like [I said] originally, they’re a good football team. They’re a team that feeds off of each other. Obviously they throw the ball around a lot on offense, and if they’re doing well and having success, the defense feeds off of that and they raise their level of play. You can see it on their special teams as well. They’re a football team that plays hard, they play well in the system, but they play together and they feed off of each other.”
On if he has ever seen an offense like Washington State’s ‘air raid’ style
“No. We go out and do what we do. Their offense is their offense, and how we defend it is how the University of Miami is going to defend it. We feel like we have some really good players that can match up with their receivers, we feel like we have some good guys up front that can rush the passer. We like the position that we’re sitting in. We like our football team. We’re just going to go out and play our brand and our style of football.”
On if a change in preparation if necessary in the chance of inclement weather
“No. We just go out and – whatever the weather is that day – we have to get done what we have to get done, like today. We’ll do the same tomorrow, we’ll do the same Friday, and when we get to the game, whatever that is, we have to put our helmets on, we have to suit up and we have to go play. Whatever the conditions are, we’ll be ready to play the game.”
On if he ever thinks about bowl practices in relation to his future at Miami
“I’m just going with the day. This is the day we have, and we’re fortunate enough to wake up this morning and get going, so just take it day by day, and attack what we have to get done. We’ll deal with that when it’s time to deal with it.”
On how proud he is of the job he has done as interim head coach
“I’m proud of the young men. I’m proud of what they’ve done. You just go out and lay out the plan, and they’re either going to buy into it or choose not to. We talk about it all the time – it’s about a choice. Each and every one of these kids that made a choice to come together, rally around each other and play for the University that they present and play for each other, and compete. At the end of the day that’s all you can ask them to do – buy into that. And they have.”
Artie Burns | Junior | Cornerback
On if he has made a decision to forego his senior season
“I’m just trying to win this bowl game and I will make my decision after that.”
On what the coaches mean to him
“They mean a lot. With all of the things we went through this year, they always stayed with us when they could have easily given up and gone through the motions. They stayed with us and pushed us every day in practice. I also appreciate them helping me through my situation. They’re some good guys and I appreciate everything they did for us.”
On what it would mean to win the bowl game Saturday
“The seniors went through a lot and this program went through a lot so getting the win would be a good thing for this program.”
Stacy Coley | Junior | Wide Receiver
Thoughts on Washington State’s defense
“They play a lot of off coverage and rely on their safeties to come down and make the tackles. For the wide receivers, we have to block the safeties and create the play action so it can open up.”
On if he has made a decision to forego his senior season
“I’m just waiting until after the season. I am focused on this bowl game. I’ll make my decision after that.”
On Miami’s wide receiver group
“We are having fun and treat every day as a fun day where we go out and compete with the DBs. Coach [Kevin Beard] always emphasizes that we need to make play and have fun. Rashawn [Scott] is one of the leaders of our group and we try to feed off him and what he says and take it and run with it.”
On Brad Kaaya
“He’s a smart quarterback. He knows how to pick defenses apart and knows what plays to get us in against the defense they are running. He’s a very smart quarterback. We rely on him and trust him and whatever play eh calls, we just have to execute.”
Jermaine Grace | Junior | Linebacker
On what this coaching staff has meant to him
“Coach Hurlie (Brown) took on a big part in my life – a father figure. He just led me in the right direction. He always made sure I was on top of my school work and that I knew the plays. He just tried to bring out the best in me both on and off the field.”
On how he will react to a new coaching staff next year
“It’s really going to make me become a leader next year. I just have to make sure the guys are on top of their game and everything they do. I also have to make sure that the coaches know that I am going to be there for the guys and for them at the end of the day.”
On whether it has been hard to focus on the game with the head coaching change
“It really hasn’t been hard because we’ve just been focused on this bowl game. We haven’t been focused on what is going to happen after this game because at the end of the day, we have not won a bowl game in a long time, so we are really focused on winning this game. Once the bowl game is over then we’ll see what happens, but right now we are just focused on this bowl.”
On the bowl experience
“We enjoyed ourselves yesterday – definitely. We had a great time driving the go carts yesterday. That was one of the most enjoyable things I have ever done at a bowl game.”
Trayone Gray | Sophomore | Running Back
On the difficulties of transitioning with a new coaching staff
“We have to have the same focus. There are new coaches coming in, but we have to still do our thing on the field. We have to still compete with one another and make each other better. Whatever coach comes in, if Ice [Harris] stays or if he doesn’t, we’re still going to compete, we’re still going to be brothers, still try to make each other better every day and try to make the program better.”
On his impressions of new head coach Mark Richt after his one-on-one meeting
“I think he’s a cool guy. He’s an alumni [of Miami]. He’s a players’ guy. He worries about the little things. He’s big on football, but he’s worried about [things] outside of football – becoming a man, becoming better in life and doing the right things. Coach Richt is a nice guy. He seems laid back, like he’s been here already.”
On his thoughts about the city of El Paso so far
“The way we came in [the airport] with dancers, greeting us…some people took off [time] from their jobs to be with us. That’s big. My hat goes off to them. They’re spending Christmas with us instead of their families. They’re treating us first class, and I really respect that. I feel at home. You can’t say it’s boring or anything like that. It’s a little cold, which is different from Miami, but I’m liking El Paso so far.”
Tyriq McCord | Senior | Linebacker
On Saturday being his last collegiate game
“I just go out there and try to give my best effort, whether it’s the practice field or in the game. My mom texted me and said, ‘Do your best. We’re going to be watching.’ They won’t spend Christmas at home. They’re coming here to cheer me on. I’ve got one more game to go. I have some more time to show everybody that I can play football at the next level.”
On Washington State’s offense
“It’s no secret that they’re going to sling it. They’re going to throw the ball and I see it like Cincinnati. They’re the opposite of Georgia Tech. They have their tendencies. We just have to be ready for it and get in our drops. In the pass rush game, we have to get the quarterback to step up and not flush out. He’s very inaccurate when he steps up into the pocket and he likes to escape up the middle.”
On how the coaches helped him develop throughout his career
“They really brought out the best in me. Four years ago, I couldn’t see myself playing linebacker at all. I saw myself as a pass rusher and they brought every skill set out of me. They put a lot of time and effort into me and I don’t want it to go to waste. Four years ago, I couldn’t tell you what Cover 2 was and I appreciate Coach [Mark D’Onofrio] and Coach [Al] Golden for spending the time with me and coaching me.”
On finishing the regular season 4-1 over the final five games
“We still had goals that we were trying to reach and we never lost sight of that. Like I said on Twitter about the young guys, they were still focused and understood that we should still win something and I appreciate their focus and determination.”
On what it would mean to win the bowl game Saturday
“I just want to leave it better than how I found it. I came in and we couldn’t even play in a bowl game. Then we lost two bowl games in a row. I just want leave it better than I found it and leave with a W and leave the younger guys with a good way to start off next year.”
Rashawn Scott | Senior | Wide Receiver
On the wide receivers
“Everyone got better with KB (Kevin Beard) coming in and I don’t think we would have done a lot with out him. We were pretty impressive with him, so I give him a lot of praise for the work he has done.”
On whether he wants Coach Beard to stay on staff
“I want him (Kevin Beard) to keep working with the young boys and all the other kids that are coming in. His family is in Miami and I just want the best for him.”
On whether it has hit him that this will be his last game as a Hurricane
“It has not hit me yet. I am sure it will hit me once we get back to Miami.”
On Washington State
“They are going to be in their spots where they need to be and they are not going to take any plays off.”
Mark Walton | Freshman | Running Back
On the difficulties of transitioning with a new coaching staff
“I’m not sure what staff [Coach Richt] is going to bring in, so I can’t talk too much about them. But I can about him. I feel comfortable with the guy we have as our leader now. We can move forward, we’re going to compete, we’re going to make each other better every day, we’re just going to grind it out.”
On what he thinks the offense will bring to the table next season
“For me, I think we’re to be more explosive. We’re going to gel together. This is my first year in the offense, some other guys are in their second year, but through the time together we’re going to gel together. I think we’re going to be very explosive next year. It’s going to be special to watch.”
On his thoughts about the city of El Paso so far
“When we first arrived off the plane, the way they approached us – great people around here. The way they brought us into their town, I feel at home. I don’t feel away [from Miami]. There are some great people, they treat us well and in a first-class manner. I’m liking it so far.”
