Postcards from Miami - Day 4: This Isn't Buffalo, It's Sunny Miami
12/29/2001 7:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 29, 2001
Fast fact of the day: The last time Ralph Friedgen faced Steve Spurrier on the sidelines was in 1989 when Spurrier was the head coach at Duke and Friedgen was an assistant at Georgia Tech.
By Jason Yellin
Maryland Media Relations
Buffalo this isn't! Far away from seven feet of snow, the temperatures reached the high 80s and the sun glistened as day four was underway.
The Terps headed out from positional meetings for the morning practice at 9 a.m.
Under the sun and beautiful palm trees at Barry University the Terps started up practice around 9:45 a.m.
The big question was: How's Bruce Perry?
Well, he was fine. Perry went through practice at full speed according to coach Ralph Friedgen after missing Friday's session with a strained abdominal muscle.
Perry was back at practice as was Lou Lombardo, who missed the last two days with a leg infection. Todd Wike missed practice with his right leg contusion, he watched practice with a boot on his right foot.
Jason Crawford suffered a sprained ankle in practice and is day-to-day.
The first 30 minutes of practice were open to the media but the remainder was closed for the first time this week. There was no media access for interviews this morning although our media relation department took some quotes from Friedgen, Shaun Hill, Guilian Gary and Melvin Fowler, Jr., which are posted on umterps.com.
The defensive players and defensive coordinator Gary Blackney would be holding a press conference at 3:15 p.m., to speak about the Terps and the Orange Bowl.
After practice, the team headed to the 21st Street Park in Miami Beach for a beach party.
It was a blast for the players, who had a great time. The event was sponsored by Outback Steakhouse, which provided great steaks and chicken.
The players spent much of their time in the water on the beach swimming and riding wave runners.
A entertianing D.J. spun tunes for the players as they had a gret time in the water.
Other players spent their time playing pool, dominoes and cards.
The event finished as the players gathered at the stage of the D.J. and took part in singing a tribute to the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks. It a was very emotional and stirring show of solidarity.
At 3:15, Blackney along with seniors E.J. Henderson, Aaron Thompson, Tony Jackson, Randall Jones, Rod Littles and Charles Hill met with the media at the Radisson Deauville.
About 20 members of the media took part in the event.
While the press conference was wrapping up, the remainder of the coaches gathering the lobby with their wives to head off for wonderful evening of enjoyment at Stiltsville. The exclusive area is built on stilts and stands in the water for all to see.
Among the residents is former Dolphins and Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson.
