Postcards from Orlando
December 27, 2016
The final practice of the 2016 season behind them, the Miami Hurricanes turned their attention Tuesday to final preparations for tomorrow’s Russell Athletic Bowl matchup with West Virginia.
The team had meetings this morning and more scheduled for this evening. In between, head coach Mark Richt conducted his press conference and the two teams attended the Bowl Kickoff Luncheon. Both events were “home” events for the Hurricanes – not only were they held at UM’s team hotel (the Rosen Shingle Creek) but also specifically in banquet halls named (wait for it…) Sebastian.
Richt said he’s been pleased with the effort from his players this week as well as the reception the team has received in Orlando.
“I told the guys — there are a lot of great things to do during the day, so do them,” Richt said. “Enjoy them. Some of the guys, it is probably the first time they got to do some of these things. When it comes to nighttime; nighttime is for sleeping, nighttime is for getting rest. Our players have done a really nice job of being in the rooms when they are supposed to be and where they are supposed to be.
“I am pleased with the preparation and the weather has been awesome. Celebration High School was a great place for us to practice. And everybody was very accommodating.”
The bowl is also the last game at Miami for an impressive group of seniors who have bought into a new system and are reaping the benefits.
“This group of seniors in particular were special to me,” Richt said. “I asked them from the very beginning to trust me, to trust us as a staff. I let them know that the best chance we have of success in your senior season is if everybody buys in, and they have been just fantastic in that way, and I’m really proud of them.
“There’s sort of a lot of last times for these guys, and there will be a time tonight where I will address the team, and it will be kind of the last time I will have a chance to really talk about life with those guys as a group before they take off. So, it’s a very meaningful time.”
Both Richt and West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen spoke at the luncheon with ESPN analyst Greg McElroy amidst the food and festivities. Hurricanes quarterback Brad Kaaya and Mountaineers signal-caller Skylar Howard also threw some footballs into the crowd. And for the talent portion of the luncheon, defensive lineman Chad Thomas dazzled the crowd with his piano and vocal talents.
More proof that bowl week, especially in Orlando, offers fun for everybody involved. But tomorrow the focus is all on football as the Hurricanes attempt to end their 2016 campaign with five consecutive wins. Richt knows that capping his first season at his alma mater with a bowl victory would build momentum for even bigger things to come.
“Miami does mean a lot to me and to be the head coach and to feel the acceptance from the former players and just the community in general,” he said. “I really have been blessed that way and I know it is a huge responsibility and I know what everybody wants and I want it too. I think I have hired the right kind of men. I think we are getting the kind of support we need from our administration. I know our fans are rabid and excited.
“So if we do things right, I truly believe that we will get back to the point where Miami is going to be talked about even at a higher level than it is today.”
We’ll have full coverage tomorrow from Camping World Stadium.
December 25 and 26, 2016
Christmas Practice Gives Hurricanes Extra Boost
The University of Miami football team’s pre-practice warm up mix had a much different feel on Sunday as the team returned to the practice field at Celebration High School to the sounds of Christmas carols being played over the sound system.
The sweet sounds of Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song” put an extra boast into the Hurricanes’ step on Saturday as Miami took part in its 10th bowl practice on Christmas.
The Hurricanes’ 10th bowl practice also marked the final day in pads for Miami.
“I think they were glad when it was over,” said head coach Mark Richt. “They did a nice job. The guys have responded well to what we’ve been asking them to do practice-wise.”
Miami’s 40th bowl appearance will place the Hurricanes against No. 14/12 West Virginia. Miami’s matchup against West Virginia marks the second time this season Miami has faced a ranked opponent.
Following practice, members from the Hurricanes’ offense spoke with the media about the challenges they would face against West Virginia’s 3-3-5 defensive attack.
“I think it’s tough,” said offensive coordinator Thomas Brown. “We’ve played some traditional ‘I’ teams that line up in 3-4 ‘I’ with four linebackers on the field. It’s easy to identify and communicate up front, from a run game standpoint, and also in pass protection. They can do so much when it comes to coverage and rotating guys.”
The Hurricanes will look to continue their strong offensive attack against an opportunistic WVU defense, which finished the regular season 10th nationally in turnovers gained.
“I think it’s important we do a good job in the film room of knowing who to ID, be on the same page and communicate and go fit guys up,” Brown said. “That’s the most difficult part.”
Miami closed out the regular season by totaling 450 yards-or-more of total offense in three of its final four games.
CANES GIVE KIDS THE WORLD
On Monday, the Hurricanes spent time with children with life-threatening illnesses at the Give Kids The World Village.
“To have people like us come along and put a smile on the child’s face or anybody’s face is enough to warm our hearts,” said Miami offensive lineman Kc McDermott. “There’s some things that we might complain about in our life, but there’s people that are struggling a lot more than we are.”
Student-athletes from the Miami football team played games, danced and rode rides with the children.
Following Miami’s visit to the Give Kids The World Village, Miami took part in its final day of bowl practice at Celebration High School.
December 24, 2016
Although the 2016 Russell Athletic Bowl will not take place on Christmas, the University of Miami football team would certainly have no problem waiting a few extra days for the team’s biggest Christmas wish of all – a bowl win.
On Christmas Eve, the Hurricanes returned to the practice field for the first time since Thursday as they began their final days of bowl game preparation for their matchup against West Virginia.
Miami is holding its bowl practices at Celebration High School, a location head coach Mark Richt is very familiar with in his previous bowl visits to Orlando.
“Great facility, great people at Celebration High School,” Richt said. “I was here one of those years with Georgia, we came here as well. They really made a lot of great improvements. Just to be able to practice on the field turf field makes a lot of sense since the game is going to be on one.”
Richt certainly knows what it takes to be successful in bowl games, as he owns a 9-5 career record in bowl games with his five losses coming by seven points-or-fewer.
Following practice on Saturday, the first-year Miami head coach was pleased with the team’s mindset following a travel day.
“I thought the guys came back with a good attitude,” Richt said. “I say ‘came back’, but we only had one day off. But when you travel, and you change the venue and you change the practice field and you change where you meet, all those things are a little bit different. I thought the focus was good.”
For junior defensive lineman Trent Harris, Miami’s trip to Orlando is a homecoming of sorts for the Winterpark, Fla., native.
“It’s awesome,” Harris said. “I’m about to meet with my family in a couple minutes. It’s awesome to be able to play football and be around my family at the same time.”
Harris, who played in all 12 games for the Hurricanes this season and posted 9.5 tackles for loss, will have plenty of family members in Orlando during bowl week. During his post practice media session, Harris thanked his teammates for giving up their game tickets, so he could give them to his family.
“A lot of teammates were generous and gave them to me. I have a lot of family, pretty much my whole family is here. My mom and dad both have four brothers each, so I have a lot of family down here. It’s been pretty crazy, but I think I have enough.”
Despite being near many of his family members, Harris has remained focused on preparing for West Virginia.
“We have practice in the morning, so I’m going to be focused on football all though the morning. But we have some free time after that so I think I’m going to be able to go home and open presents with my family for the first time in three years. That should be exciting.”
This week’s bowl festivities are the first for several Miami student-athletes, including freshman Shaquille Quarterman, who had no problem voicing his excitement in Orlando during his post-practice media session.
“Russell [Athletic Bowl] has done an extremely good job with us and they’re treating us like we’re somebody special,” Quarterman said. “It’s going really well. I am looking forward to all the events. The Best Buy thing was pretty cool and the hotel is as nice as any hotel I’ve ever been to.”
Miami returns to the practice field tomorrow morning on Christmas.
December 23, 2016The University of Miami football team made the four-hour trek North and checked into its official team hotel on Friday to begin its final week of preparation for the 2016 Russell Athletic Bowl against West Virginia. Miami enters its final game of the season in the hopes of extending its winning streak to five games. The Hurricanes ended the season on a four-game winning streak with wins over Pittsburgh, Virginia, North Carolina State and Duke. The Hurricanes’ trip to Orlando is a familiar spot to several Miami student-athletes, including offensive lineman Danny Isidora, who made the trip three years ago when the team took on Louisville. Despite being in Orlando just three years ago, Isidora had no problem with being back at the Russell Athletic Bowl, an event he termed as – first class. “The team is really excited to be here,” Isidora said. “The hotel we are staying at is awesome and everything has really been first class. I am beyond happy that we are here.”Fellow senior Marquez Williams is one of the few seniors, who was not with the team back in 2013. The Athens, Ga., native has established himself as a force in the Hurricanes offensive backfield after spending the 2013 campaign at Mars Hill University (N.C.). Wiliiams came to Miami this season as a graduate transfer and is taking part in bowl festivities for the first time in his collegiate career. “Everything has been awesome,” Williams said. “I’m like a kid in a candy story and I’m really looking forward to the week.”After the players, coaches and staff checked into their official team hotel, the squad came together for a team meeting before heading out to Best Buy for a $300 shopping spree on behalf of the bowl. Student-athletes and staff members walked away with electronic equipment, ranging from headphones, to laptops to video games.
