[WizKhid]

The Season Starts Now!

(Lamar Miller,10 carries for 166 Yds and 3 TD in the spring game)

FORT LAUDERDALE — The 2001 University of Miami national championship football team was back in South Florida on Saturday.

So were the interceptions.


After playing mostly error free during two previous scrimmages this month, quarterbacks Jacory Harris and Stephen Morris flashed back to their 2010 form by throwing two interceptions each in the Hurricanes' spring game attended by more than 11,000 fans at Lockhart Stadium.


The 100-plus play scrimmage was dominated by sophomore running back Lamar Miller, who provided the day's two most explosive plays with 68- and 64-yard touchdown runs.

But the focus after the scrimmage, as it's been all spring, was on Harris and Morris. Listed as co-No. 1s since practice began in early March, the two quarterbacks appear to have fought to a draw.



"It's too close to call," said coach Al Golden when asked if a starter would soon be named. "We'll let them compete for the next 140 days and figure it out."


Neither Harris nor Morris did much to separate themselves on Saturday.Harris, a senior, completed 18 of 30 passes for 149 yards while Morris was 14-of-22 for 142 yards, including a 23-yard touchdown pass to Kendal Thompkins.

But Harris and Morris each threw two interceptions, raising disturbing memories for UM fans who watched their quarterbacks throw an NCAA-high 27 interceptions in 2010.


One Morris interception was particularly egregious. The sophomore faced a third-and-5 situation from his own 16-yard line and responded by throwing a pass directly to linebacker Sean Spence, who returned it for a touchdown.


"They both threw the ball pretty good and they both did some things that weren't real smart," offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch said. "No, neither of them stood out."


There were extenuating circumstances.


For one, UM kept it simple on offense, using only a half-dozen pass routes and virtually no motion or shifts, according to Golden.


The quarterbacks were also hampered by injuries that kept several receivers from playing. Golden was forced to use a couple receivers who wore yellow, no-contact jerseys because they haven't been cleared for hitting. On one Harris interception, a receiver in a yellow jersey appeared to pull up short to avoid contact, allowing the defender an easy pick.

To make matters worse, Glades Central grad Travis Benjamin injured his right leg during his second offensive series and did not return.

Cause for Concern?




( Injuries could plague Miami's passing game )

"It was very tough," Morris said of having to play without his top pass catchers, which also included injured LaRon Byrd and Aldarius Johnson. "It restricted us in personnel groupings. But that's fine. We still have to execute."


Before Saturday, Harris and Morris had kept turnovers to a minimum this spring. In the Hurricanes' first scrimmage on April 2 at Spanish River High, neither threw an interception. Last week at Miami's Traz Powell Stadium, Harris and Morris were both picked off once.

"They both need to improve in every phase," Fisch said. "They have to play faster, make quicker decisions and trust what they see."

In Golden We Trust!