WAILUKU >> The way Miami's Larry Coker was working out the Aina team at yesterday's opening Hula Bowl practice, you get the feeling he doesn't want to lose twice in a row. Coker bounces back
at Hula BowlThe Miami coach's enthusiasm
is shining through at the
college all-star classicBy Paul Arnett
parnett@starbulletin.comThe two-hour-plus session had many of the players wiping sweat from their brows, but the Hurricanes' head coach took no notice. Even after one of the Hula Bowl officials reminded him that lunch and a scheduled autograph get-together at the Maui Mall awaited his team, he pressed on.
"OK, let's line up for kickoffs," Coker said enthusiastically, clapping his hands for emphasis. "After that, we'll do kickoff returns."
It would be another 20 minutes before the Aina squad broke from the huddle for the final time yesterday in preparation for Saturday's nationally televised game at War Memorial Stadium. Decked out in a gray T-shirt and black shorts, Coker told his coaches he thought things went well.
"We were crisp out there," Coker said, "for a first workout. But I promise you this, we'll be even crisper tomorrow."
Coker threw a lot at his players in what he felt was a short amount of time. He was also without Iowa quarterback Brad Banks, who didn't arrive until last night, forcing Arizona's Jason Johnson to perform double duty.
"We about threw poor Jason's arm out," Coker said, then smiled. "But he was up to the task. I think he showed the scouts he can play. He has great accuracy and a good sense of what's happening on a football field. That's hard to coach."
It's hard to imagine what Coker accomplished as a head coach in only two seasons with Miami. He won a national championship his rookie campaign in 2002 and lost to Ohio State in a controversial overtime finish barely three weeks ago, his first defeat in 25 games as a Division I coach.
"It still stings, I'm not going to lie to you," Coker said of losing the national title to the Buckeyes. "This is not something you ever get over as a head coach or a player because the opportunities to be in that position are so rare.
"We felt we had won the game. We're running on the field ready to celebrate. That's very difficult to get out of your mind. But before I came over here, I saw our guys working hard in the weight room getting ready for next season. Our motto is to let it pass; never forget it, but get over it. I don't want us to sit around and mope about it anymore."
Coker's upbeat attitude was prevalent throughout yesterday's late-morning, early afternoon workout. The sun was beating down hard on the practice field across from War Memorial Stadium. Anyone with any sense was finding what little shade there was to be offered.
But on the practice field, the players learned a quick version of Miami's offensive attack. Had Heisman Trophy hopeful Ken Dorsey been on the field, things would have gone a lot smoother. Miami's stellar signal-caller had to sit this one out when it was feared he had mononucleosis after the Senior Bowl.
"As it turned out, he didn't," Coker said. "But he had lost so much weight and was feeling so poorly, we decided he shouldn't come over here and play, and hurt his chances at the NFL combine. Ken is a born leader who would have enjoyed being in this game. I certainly missed him out here today."
Johnson filled in admirably, delivering several well-thrown balls, including one to University of Hawaii slotback Justin Colbert, who took it to the end zone for a touchdown. Colbert displayed his speed on the play, impressing Coker.
"He has a very good sense of what to do in a passing offense," Coker said of Colbert. "He lines up in that slot and knows right where to go. He'll see some playing time on Saturday that's for sure."
Coker plans to use as many of his players as often as he can. If he's concerned about not being home to help in recruiting, he doesn't show it. ESPN.com already is predicting the Hurricanes will have the best freshman class in the country.
"Our coaching staff is doing a good job in that area," Coker said, who is forbidden by NCAA rules to speak specifically about a recruiting class until after signing day. "But right now my attention is on this game. We're going to have some fun this weekend and try to showcase these guys for the NFL scouts and general managers. I'm looking forward to coaching in my first all-star game of any kind. It should be fun."
Hula Bowl