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Miami Hurricanes open training camp

The University of Miami opened its 2009 fall camp at Cobb Stadium on Saturday morning in front of an enthusiastic crowd of about 1,500 season-ticket holders cheering from bleachers and watching behind security ropes.

There were the usual amount of dropped passes, fumbled snaps and a dropped handoff -- occasionally eliciting a chewing out by assistant coaches -- and plays that charged up the fans.

``Typical Day No. 1,'' UM coach Randy Shannon said. ``There's always a first sloppy day, but for the most part it was pretty decent. Guys flew around a lot more than I expected because we gave them about 10 days off. So it was a good sign.''

Shannon respects decision of two backup QBs to transfer

University of Miami football coach Randy Shannon expressed disappointment Tuesday that two of his four scholarship quarterbacks are transferring, but he said he wished them well and understood they needed to do what was best for them.

Shannon said backups Taylor Cook and Cannon Smith revealed the news to him at separate times. Both players told the Miami Herald separately Tuesday they were leaving the Hurricanes to find other colleges.

``I told both of them I feel bad because they were special to this football team,'' Shannon said in a teleconference. ``Those are two guys that came to the University of Miami and had a sense of what the University of Miami was about. Those guys mean a lot to this football team and mean a lot to me as players and student-athletes.''

Miami Hurricanes want to give seniors nice sendoff

The last time Duke went to a bowl game, Blue Devils quarterback Thaddeus Lewis was a first-grader in Miami. UM quarterback Jacory Harris was about to enter kindergarten.

The two soon became friends at the Northwest Boys & Girls Club, where Harris and Lewis competed in Optimist football.

``He was someone I always looked up to, one of the best kids in the park,'' said Harris, who still listens to the senior's advice.

Source: Miami Hurricanes' Jacory Harris wearing cast on throwing hand

University of Miami quarterback Jacory Harris, who told reporters he ``messed up'' his finger during the loss at North Carolina, is wearing a soft cast on his throwing hand and arm, according to a source close to the situation.

The source said Harris is expected to play at noon Saturday against Duke in the last home game of the season. The injury was not revealed, but Harris likely will not take snaps in practice Tuesday. It is believed the cast, in part, is there to immobilize the hand and prevent more swelling.

Harris was hit more than once at UNC, and spent part of the second half icing his right hand on the sideline.

Greg Cote: Protecting Jacory Harris just became imperative

The imperative for Miami Hurricanes quarterback Jacory Harris shifted unmistakably Tuesday.

UM still hopes and counts on him being special, but now what the Canes need even more is him just being healthy. All of a sudden there is not as much urgency for Harris to be outstanding as to simply be standing.

The Hurricanes lost what little insurance they had at the most important position Tuesday with the transfer of not one, but two more quarterbacks.