Eye on the U

Hurricanes baseball coach Jim Morris expected to be released from hospital tomorrow to return to Miami

Jim Morris' Miami Hurricanes finally won a baseball game in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament -- a 7-0 victory against Clemson.

Unfortunately, Morris wasn't there to see it.

Morris, 63, who has had a lingering cough through much of the season, was taken by ambulance from the team bus to Duke Hospital during batting practice at Duke's field.

"He wasn't feeling well but he was at breakfast with the team,'' UM assistant coach Gino DiMare told Miami Herald correspondent Dave Droschak. "On the bus is when he started taking a turn for the worse. I know they are running some tests.''

 DiMare called it "a tough day, tough circumstances with coach Morris not being here. If coach is not here you know he's not doing well. Our thoughts are with him and hopefully he's OK.''

  I talked to UM deputy athletic director for business Tony Hernandez on Saturday night, and he told me he visited Morris during the game. Hernandez said Morris' ailment "is not expected to be serious and we're hoping he'll be joining us in Miami Sunday.''

  Hernandez told me he kept Morris informed of what was happening during the game through Morris' wife. “He was kept abreast of the score the entire game,’’ Hernandez said.  

  As for the game, the only ACC tourney win after getting 10-run ruled (10-0) by North Carolina and then falling 7-1 to North Carolina State, UM got another gem by left-handed ace Bryan Radziewski. B-Rad allowed four hits in eight shutout innings.

  The Hurricanes should get into the NCAA Tournament, but it's hard to be optimistic about how they'll do.

   Hopefully Coach Morris, who has been getting plenty of fan criticism for another sub-par season, gets well soon.

   SUSAN MILLER DEGNAN 

 

BankUnited CanesFest on tap following closed scrimmage: from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday.

Canes fans can meet and greet their favorite Hurricanes athletes and coaches from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the BankUnited Center on campus in Coral Gables.

The football players will sign autographs, and fans can purchase single-game and season tickets for the upcoming season. UM also will bring out trophies from the UM Sports Hall of Fame, including the National Championship trophy and Heisman Trophy, and allow fans to take photos with them.

As usual, there will be interactive games and inflatables for the kids, and according to a UM release, "fans young and old alike will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to run through the smoke.''

 USA Olympics coach Amy Deem, who heads the UM track program and earned some serious gold, will be in attendance.

Of note: The Miami Athletics Ticket Office is moving to the BankUnited Center and will offer fans one free ticket for the Sept. 15 home opener vs. Bethune-Cookman if they buy one. There is no limit on the number of tickets that can be purchased.

Tomorrow's scrimmage is before CanesFest, but again, it is closed to family, friends, media and the public.

And unfortunately, don't expect any substantial statistics to come out of that scrimmage. I think Al Golden is going to withhold the stats this time -- except for maybe a few. We'll see.

Of note from Friday's practice: WR Allen Hurns (head) is still in a no-contact red jersey; DE Anthony Chickillo (sinus infection) was out of his limited yellow jersey and in a regular green one.

Have a safe weekend.

SUSAN MILLER DEGNAN