Postcards from Miami - Day 5: Terps Reach Halfway Point Of Trip
12/30/2001 7:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 30, 2001
Fact of the Day: In four of the last five occasions when an ACC team has been in the Orange Bowl, the conference team has been victorious with Florida State winning three times and Clemson once in 1981.
By Jason Yellin
Maryland Media Relations
Humpday.
Today is the middle day, the fifth of the nine days in Miami as part of the Orange Bowl experience. The players are getting geared up as the game draws closer.
Sunday is being treated as a "normal Wednesday" in terms of preparation according to coach Ralph Friedgen. The gameplan is being implemented.
The day started with positional meetings once again at 8:15 a.m.
Coach Friedgen always at worked checkout a recruiting report on his way to practice.
The Terps departed the hotel around 8:50 a.m. for Barry's campus.
Today's practice was shorter than the past few days as the Terps started at 9:45 and finished around 11:30 a.m., in shoulder pads and shorts. Friedgen said that Monday's practice should be even shorter.
Bruce Perry practiced and "ran well," according to Friedgen
Overall, Friedgen had this to say about Sunday's session: "We are still not as sharp as I would like us to be, but our effort was good (in practice). The party's over now, we have to get ready to play the game."
Todd Wike was once again held out of practice with a foot contusion and continues to wear a boot. Friedgen said "I don't think he's going to play."
Tony Jackson (left ankle sprain) practiced some but was "limited" according to Friedgen. But, the coach said he knows how much Jackson wants to play in the game.
Among the visitors at practice today was former Terp and current CFL player Dave Hack, who plays for the Hamilton Tiger Cats in Canada. Hack spent some time speaking with several members of the football staff.
Several parents have been at practice including those of Melvin Fowler and Bruce Perry.
Also back at practice was team doctor Leigh Ann Curl, who was up in Tampa Bay for the Ravens' Saturday night game, where she doubled as Baltimore's team doctor.
Following practice the Terps were treated to a similar meal as they had received two days ago of steaks, shrimp, chicken and potatoes.
Once lunch was over about 30 players boarded a bus for the site of the Orange Bowl - Pro Player Stadium - to check out the Dolphins-Falcons game. Among the players who went to the game were E.J. Henderson, Aaron Thompson, Monte Graves and Reggie Kemp. Several other team managers and staffers went to the game.
While those players rode over for the 1 p.m. kickoff, six of the Terps' key offensive players and coordinator Charlie Taaffe headed to the Radisson Deauville for a press conference.
The six players at the presser were: Shaun Hill, Guilian Gary, Melvin Fowler, Scooter Monroe, Marc Riley and Matt Murphy. The players and Taaffe handled several questions before breaking off into small groups with the reporters.
Bruce Perry was interviewed by ABC's Bob Griese for the Orange Bowl broadcast while the presser was being held. Hill later met with the Griese for the players headed back to the hotel.
Once the team was back at the hotel, many of the players enjoyed the beach and pools at the Fontainebleau with the rest of the afternoon free.
Curfew was moved back to 11:30 p.m., Friedgen said during his media gathering.
