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Running
back Rashod Smith showed no ill effects
from a foot laceration that sidelined
him for the final month of last season.
(Geoff Anderson photo) |
FIU Football opened its 2004 spring practice
Monday afternoon in shorts and helmets at
the FIU Stadium. And after the hour-and-45-minute
workout, head coach Don Strock had nothing
but positive comments.
“They came out with a lot of enthusiasm
and seemed ready to go,” he said. “It
was important to get them back out here thinking
football again. I liked the way they worked
today--like they had something on their minds
they were trying to get accomplished.
“The spring is very important for players
like (wide receiver) Chandler Williams (Miami/Miami
H.S.) who played a lot as a freshman but needs
to move up to the next step. And the coaches
all looked forward to getting back out on
the field and seeing how much their players
have developed since the end of last season,”
Strock said.
Several players dressed for the first time
in a long while, like running back Rashod Smith (Miami/Northwestern) who went all out
Monday after missing the last month of the
2003 season due to a foot laceration. Also
dressed, but not at full strength, was quarterback
Jamie Burke (Sarasota/Cardinal Mooney), who
is coming off surgery for a torn right ACL,
which happened in the opening game against
Indiana State.
With the season still months away, Strock
and his coaching staff will hope to limit
injuries by concentrating more on techniques
during individual workouts.
“We had a lot longer individual periods
than we will have in the fall, working on
routes and different techniques by defensive
backs, especially on defensive pursuit and
getting after the ball,” the coach said.
But despite their best precautions, two players
still went down to injury. Wide receiver Andre Rollins (Miami/Carol City) suffered a left
shoulder sprain and running back Adam Gorman
(St. Petersburg/St. Petersburg Catholic) pulled
up lame with a left hamstring. Both are listed
day-to-day.
Because of class schedules, Strock also announced
that spring practices on Tuesdays and Thursdays
would begin at 2:30 p.m. All other weekday
workouts will start at 3:30 p.m.
