Hurricanes To Practice Field

Sept. 8, 2005

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – With a tough road game September 17 against Clemson more than a week away, the Miami Hurricanes took to the Greentree Practice Fields Thursday to improve fundamentally and as a team.

“This was Miami vs. Miami, this was us against us, good against good and a fundamental day of practice-working hard to get better ourselves,” head coach Larry Coker said.

Coker feels his team has the chance to be very good and Thursday’s practice was a step in that direction.

“That’s the key for us, we have a chance to have a good team, but we have to get better individually and we have to get better as a group,” Coker said. “It’s all about us.”

Following the two-plus hour session Thursday afternoon, Coker also mentioned that his team is in high spirits following a disappointing loss on the road Monday night to Florida State 10-7 and he knows that everything should work out fine if the Hurricanes focus and finish the season strong.

“I think [the mood of the team] is good. Obviously, the loss is disappointing, but there’s nothing we can do about that and we still have everything that’s ahead of us,” Coker said. “We have a great future and we just have to take care of our business and we know that.”

The team will practice again at 2:20 p.m. Friday.

Notes: Coker said defensive tackle Baraka Atkins should be ready to return to practice by the beginning of next week after bruising his knee Monday. He said Atkins, a junior from Sarasota Booker, will definitely play against Clemson….Outside linebacker Tavares Gooden remains sidelined and Coker does not expect the junior to see action against Clemson….Freshman standout Kenny Phillips is in the mix at safety, along with senior Greg Threat and junior Brandon Meriweather, Coker said.