Post by FIUFanatic on Aug 9, 2004 11:42:03 GMT -5
Practices started this morning at 7:00 a.m. 
, and will continue to work out at that time during the remaining part of the week, it seems. Particular interest was given to "work out" some youngsters, specially those two Running backs from Miami, Reams and West.
Also, the release states the official "retirement" of Tori Robinson from playing football due to his cardiac condition. However, Strock said he will keep Robinson under scholarship....good for him. hopefully, he graduatea and uses his degree for his betterment.
Anyways, below is the link to the FIU Release, and a reproduction of the report....
FIU Start Practices:
www.fiusports.com/football/releases/080904.htm
, and will continue to work out at that time during the remaining part of the week, it seems. Particular interest was given to "work out" some youngsters, specially those two Running backs from Miami, Reams and West.Also, the release states the official "retirement" of Tori Robinson from playing football due to his cardiac condition. However, Strock said he will keep Robinson under scholarship....good for him. hopefully, he graduatea and uses his degree for his betterment.
Anyways, below is the link to the FIU Release, and a reproduction of the report....
FIU Start Practices:
www.fiusports.com/football/releases/080904.htm
Monday, August 9, 2004
FIU Football Opens Fall Drills; Freshman Given Opportunity to Make First Impression
It was just after dawn when the FIU Football team took the field in shorts and helmets for the first practice of the 2004 season and, by the time the sun peeked above the University Park dormitories, the Golden Panthers were well into team drills.
“This was the first time I can remember that everyone was on the field and ready to go, ten minutes before our scheduled start,” said head coach Don Strock, whose practices through Thursday begin daily at 7:00 a.m. “The younger guys seemed a little nervous but overall, everyone looked ready to go.”
Stock and his coaches did their best to help the freshmen shake any opening-day jitters. In particular, freshman running backs Julian Reams (Miami/Coral Reef H.S.) and Ben West (Florida City/Homestead) got long looks working with the first team.
“We’re firing things at them right now because we want to see how they’ll respond,” Strock said. “The young backs looked good. They displayed good quickness, but I’m always a bit skeptical of players practicing in helmets only. When we finally get into pads on Friday, we’ll see how aggressive they are as far as playing football is concerned.”
Probably the play of the morning came during the team’s seven-on-seven drills when freshman quarterback Tavares Kendrick (Florida City/Homestead) hit junior wide receiver Cory McKinney (DeLand) on a post pattern 30 yards down field that McKinney stretched high and grabbed with one hand.
Summer school and missing paperwork kept more than a dozen Golden Panthers off the field, including quarterbacks Josh Padrick (Merritt Island) and Jamie Burke (Sarasota) who were attending class. Both are expected to practice Tuesday.
Among those missing due to injury where offensive linemen David Bailey (right foot) and Johnathan Taylor (right shoulder), wide receiver Julius Eppinger (right wrist) and defensive end Dane Ireson (right knee). There were no injuries reported following Monday’s practice, but it was announced that tight end Joe Struyf (Marathon), the leading receiver at that position for the last two seasons, will be scheduled for groin surgery and could be lost for the season.
ROBINSON CALLS IT QUITS: After speaking with coaches and family members, running back Tori Robinson (Miami/Southridge) officially called it quits after being diagnosed with a heart irregularity following the 2002 season. Robinson was considered a top recruit in FIU’s very first class. After rushing for 730 yards and seven touchdowns for Southridge in 2000, Robinson nursed a deep bone bruise throughout his freshman season in 2001, finishing with 126 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries. That following spring, Robinson registered an irregular cardiogram and he never again took the field. He will, however, remain on scholarship.
“Tori is on heart medication and I’d rather see him graduate, get married, have kids, raise a family, get a good job and be walking down the street than to see something happen to him on the football field,” Strock said.
FIU Football Opens Fall Drills; Freshman Given Opportunity to Make First Impression
It was just after dawn when the FIU Football team took the field in shorts and helmets for the first practice of the 2004 season and, by the time the sun peeked above the University Park dormitories, the Golden Panthers were well into team drills.
“This was the first time I can remember that everyone was on the field and ready to go, ten minutes before our scheduled start,” said head coach Don Strock, whose practices through Thursday begin daily at 7:00 a.m. “The younger guys seemed a little nervous but overall, everyone looked ready to go.”
Stock and his coaches did their best to help the freshmen shake any opening-day jitters. In particular, freshman running backs Julian Reams (Miami/Coral Reef H.S.) and Ben West (Florida City/Homestead) got long looks working with the first team.
“We’re firing things at them right now because we want to see how they’ll respond,” Strock said. “The young backs looked good. They displayed good quickness, but I’m always a bit skeptical of players practicing in helmets only. When we finally get into pads on Friday, we’ll see how aggressive they are as far as playing football is concerned.”
Probably the play of the morning came during the team’s seven-on-seven drills when freshman quarterback Tavares Kendrick (Florida City/Homestead) hit junior wide receiver Cory McKinney (DeLand) on a post pattern 30 yards down field that McKinney stretched high and grabbed with one hand.
Summer school and missing paperwork kept more than a dozen Golden Panthers off the field, including quarterbacks Josh Padrick (Merritt Island) and Jamie Burke (Sarasota) who were attending class. Both are expected to practice Tuesday.
Among those missing due to injury where offensive linemen David Bailey (right foot) and Johnathan Taylor (right shoulder), wide receiver Julius Eppinger (right wrist) and defensive end Dane Ireson (right knee). There were no injuries reported following Monday’s practice, but it was announced that tight end Joe Struyf (Marathon), the leading receiver at that position for the last two seasons, will be scheduled for groin surgery and could be lost for the season.
ROBINSON CALLS IT QUITS: After speaking with coaches and family members, running back Tori Robinson (Miami/Southridge) officially called it quits after being diagnosed with a heart irregularity following the 2002 season. Robinson was considered a top recruit in FIU’s very first class. After rushing for 730 yards and seven touchdowns for Southridge in 2000, Robinson nursed a deep bone bruise throughout his freshman season in 2001, finishing with 126 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries. That following spring, Robinson registered an irregular cardiogram and he never again took the field. He will, however, remain on scholarship.
“Tori is on heart medication and I’d rather see him graduate, get married, have kids, raise a family, get a good job and be walking down the street than to see something happen to him on the football field,” Strock said.
