Saturday, October 30, 2004
Miami loses starting safety
Hand injury puts Card out for year
By Mark Schmetzer
Enquirer contributor
There are few good times for an injury, but some are better than others.
If given a choice, the Miami RedHawks would have picked a better time to lose their second starting free safety rather than right before their Election Night game against pass-happy Toledo.
But they had no control over sophomore Joey Card suffering a hand injury in their win over Central Florida Oct. 23 that led to season-ending surgery earlier this week.
"He played the whole game, but it was something you can't put off for a few weeks or it could deteriorate," coach Terry Hoeppner said during his weekly press conference Friday.
Card became the starter in the fifth game of the season after fourth-year junior Steve Burke suffered a hand injury.
"We're getting Burke back, but I don't know how he'll perform," Hoeppner said. "He's still got a cast on, but he's been cleared to practice."
Backup sophomore wide receiver Marcus Tate also has been sidelined with another hand injury, Hoeppner said.
Sophomore Jerrid Gaines, who made his first career interception in the fourth quarter against UCF, was listed as Card's backup on the most recent depth chart. Gaines has 10 tackles in eight games this season.
Tuesday's opponent, Toledo, is ranked first in the Mid-American Conference and third in the nation in passing offense.
Rockets quarterback Bruce Gradkowski is ranked second nationally in passing yardage.
Mike Smith, who was sharing tailback time with Luke Clemens, and starting right guard Charlie Norden are expected to be available Tuesday after missing the UCF game with injuries.
SIGH OF RELIEF: Hoeppner was happy with Miami's win over the Golden Knights for several reasons, not the least of which was avoiding an embarrassing loss. UCF's 10-game losing streak going into the game was the nation's longest.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN: The hoopla surrounding Miami's Election Night game, which will be nationally televised on ESPN2, will include an ESPN crew following some of the RedHawks as they cast ballots.
Hoeppner still plans to have his players wear their "I Voted Today" stickers on their helmets.
The players who live on campus will vote at Withrow Court, Hoeppner said.
Hoeppner also plans to send his players, wearing their jerseys and equipped with flashlights, to help Oxford trick-or-treaters after practice on Halloween.
"It's kind of a Miami tradition," he said.
Miami vs. Toledo
