April 3, 2007

Coral Gables - The Miami Hurricanes returned to the Greentree Practice Fields in Coral Gables to begin the fourth and final week of their 2007 spring practice.

The annual spring game and BankUnited CanesFest will be held Saturday at the Orange Bowl. Gates open at 9 a.m. and the game begins at 10 a.m. Fans will be able to select-a-seat and get autographs from their favorite players. Sebastian the Ibis and cheerleaders will be on hand to entertain fans, who can also purchase the latest apparel and merchandise.

"We're going to mix it up a bit," Shannon said of the spring game. "It's going to be an Orange vs. White scrimmage and we'll see who can respond in a scrimmage situation. It'll be more like a game."

The Orange and White teams will be split evenly between starters and backups. "It was like a draft," said Shannon, who chose the teams. "Both teams are equal. Change is good. If you keep going offense vs. defense, sometimes you need the players to have their own teams and it'll be more competitive. Fans can watch and pick a side - either Orange or White, instead of defense vs. offense. It'll be fun."

Shannon added that both quarterbacks - Kirby Freeman and Kyle Wright - will play in the scrimmage. There will not be kickoffs and punts, but field goals and extra points will be kicked.

Shannon said that freshman running back Graig Cooper has an injured hand and won't play in the game, as well as wide receiver Lance Leggett and defensive tackle Joe Joseph, all of whom were injured last week. Shannon said offensive lineman Derrick Morse might play if his rehabilitation continues to go well.