Coach and Player Magazine takes a look at the players making a splash so far at Miami Hurricanes spring training practices
Sep 27, 2014; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes head coach Al Golden greets wide receiver Malcolm Lewis (9) during the first half against the Duke Blue Devils at Sun Life Stadium. (Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports)
(C+P) — The Miami Hurricanes practiced for about three hours Saturday—their third spring session this offseason and their first one with media availability. Defensive end Al-Quadin “Quan” Muhammad has returned in the wake of missing last season due to being suspended by the university. The man is large and ready to go. He’s wearing No. 8 jersey, the same number jersey he wore in high school.
DT Calvin Heurtelou was sidelined after a substantial blow to his right knee, and he is likely out for the spring. Likewise head coach Al Golden announced that defensive tackle Taylor Gadbois is also out for the spring.
Media Talk with Players
The Miami Herald asked some questions during the team’s third spring practice session. Let’s have a look at some of these interviews:
First up was Quan: “It was magnificent,” he said. “I was glad to be out there. I was simply prepared to work. Above all, I’m eager to be back with my teammates, the men in the group, and help the team get to where it should be.”
Brad Kaaya talked to the media about the new QB transfer, Vinny Testaverde Jr. : “He needs to take in more of the plays. It’s his [first big] training session so I wouldn’t anticipate that he will understand the entire setup of plays yet. The team just needs to continue working with him. He tosses a decent ball, pleasant winding. And about his father, it’s great to have him around here as well. I met him after practice session, and that’s really great to have him there.”
Al Golden talked to the media addressing why the practices started earlier this year: “An early start to training, umm. I simply think such an extensive amount of our gameplay has changed. It truly has; it’s a year-round at this point. You can line up and run plays and get in all your developments and all your defenders in January. The men are so captivated year-round. I would not like to hold up, we needed to have five months on the back end in the event that somebody got injured to truly exploit the quality and molding conditional parts of it. Head coaches are permitted to be with the players in June now, late May or early June. In case you want to end training April 17th, then you’ve got exams, and you turn around and the coaches are with you again, I don’t imagine that is useful for the players either. There’s a ton of things that went into it. I’m happy we did what we did. We’re ahead of the schedule, and we’ll simply continue onward.”
