Miami Ohio University Athletics
The Battle for the Bell: 108th Edition
9/23/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 23, 2003
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STORYLINES
1. THE BATTLE FOR THE BELL: This week marks the 108th time since 1888 that Miami and Cincinnati have played for the Victory Bell. It is the fifth-most played rivalry in college football and is the oldest West of the Allegheny Mountains. Miami has won the last two games in the storied rivalry and is 57-43-7 all-time.
2. STOPPING THE RUN: The key to the Miami defense the last two weeks has been its ability to shut down the run. The past two weeks, the RedHawks have stopped two of the nation's top 25 running attacks, allowing a combined 80 yards on 56 carries (1.42 yards per carry) versus Northwestern and Colorado State.
3. A BRAND NEW MAN: After throwing four interceptions in his first 42 passes, junior quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been stellar, not allowing another interception in his last 76 attempts. In those 76 attempts since Iowa, he has completed a mind-boggling 75.0 percent of his passes for 683 yards and 5 TDs.
4. STOPPING THE BIG PLAY: Of the 1,063 yards given up by the RedHawks this season, 407 have come on seven plays of 30 yards or greater, an average of 58.1 yards per play. If you remove the big plays, Miami's defense has allowed 656 yards total on the other 180 plays - 3.5 yards per play.
GENERAL NOTES
TELEVISION COVERAGE: Live coverage of this week's game versus Cincinnati is the second of a three-game local TV package for Miami with Cincinnati's WB64 and ESPN Plus, which includes the ESPN Game Plan satellite package. This means the RedHawks will be seen on TV a minimum of six times this season, adding in three national TV appearances on ESPN. The last game of the WB64 package is Miami's game at Ball State on Oct. 18. Long-time Miami radio color analyst Tim Bray calls the game, while former Miami quarterback Neil Dougherty handles analysis.
SERIES HISTORY: The "Victory Bell" series between Miami and Cincinnati dates to 1888, when the two teams tied 0-0 in Oxford. Miami and UC have met a total of 107 times, with Miami holding a 57-43-7 advantage. Minus two World War II years, 1943 and '44, the series has run continuously since 1909. It is the fifth-most played rivalry in college football and is the oldest rivalry west of the Allegheny Mountains
THE SCIENCE OF GRASS: This Saturday, Miami's Yager Stadium joins the ever-growing list of NCAA and NFL teams opting for FieldTurf's grass-like surfacing solution as it debuts its new field against Cincinnati. FieldTurf's recent installation contracts have included the University of Michigan (Michigan Stadium), the University of Missouri (Faurot Field), the University of Wisconsin (Camp Randall Stadium), Penn State (Holuba Hall), the University of Hawai'i (Aloha Stadium-also the site of the NFL Pro Bowl), the NFL's Atlanta Falcons (Georgia Dome) and the NFL's New York Giants and New York Jets (Giants Stadium).
WINS VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS: Last weekend the Mid-American Conference showed the nation that it is the preeminent non-BCS conference as Marshall upset No. 6 Kansas State, Northern Illinois beat No. 21 Alabama and Toledo took down No. 12 Pittsburgh. Of the MAC's 14 wins versus ranked opponents, Miami has the most, knocking off five since 1962, including three since 1995.
IN THE POLLS: Based on this week's polls, Miami's schedule includes four opponents either ranked or receiving votes - No. 13/No.9 Iowa, Marshall, Bowling Green and Cincinnati. The MAC has a total of five teams recognized in the rankings as Northern Illinois cracked the Top 25 at No. 20/No.22 and Toledo is receiving votes. The MAC's five teams are the most of any of the non-BCS conference.
REDHAWKS AT YAGER: Since moving to Yager Stadium in 1983, the RedHawks have posted a 57-33-4 overall record (.640) and a slightly better 20-8 mark over the past five seasons. In non-conference games in Yager since 1990, Miami is 4-4-1.
HOME-OPENING STATS: Miami owns an 84-23-4 record in home-opening contests. That calculates to a gaudy .766 winning percentage. The RedHawks had won their last six home openers until last year's 29-24 loss to Iowa.
HOGGING THE ROCK: With an offense that is averaging better than 450 yards per game, Miami has been less than accommodating when it comes to sharing with the opposition. In their first three games, the RedHawks have enjoyed substantial advantages in time of possession, including a seven-minute edge at Iowa and a more than nine minute advantage at Colorado State. Miami is keeping the ball an average of seven minutes longer than its opponents this season, which is up from five minutes in 2002.
LIFE BEGINS AT 30: With a win versus Cincinnati, head coach Terry Hoeppner would become the 11th coach in Miami history to record 30 career wins. He needs 31 wins to move into a 10th-place tie with Sid Gilman (1944-47) and Tim Rose (1983-89) and is on pace to rank among the Red and White's top eight winningest coaches by the end of this season.
ONE OF THE TRULY ELITE: In the history and lore of college football, Miami University stands as one of the sport's most storied programs, and last Saturday it made another legendary step when it took the field for the 1,000th time. Now entering its 115th season of play, Miami ranks among the elite in college football as one of just 25 schools with 600 or more wins (613) while holding one of the top 15 winning percentages (.635) in college football. Saturday at Colorado State, Miami became just the 14th school in NCAA history to play in 1,000 games. NOTE: For a complete rundown of the NCAA's all-time winning percentage and victories list see page 190 of the Miami media guide.
PLAYING FOR A DECADE OF EXCELLENCE: With its 38-20 win versus Ohio last season, Miami ensured itself of its ninth straight winning season. The RedHawks are 64-35-2 (.643) during this current string. The school record for consecutive winning seasons is 17 (1943-1959), while the record for consecutive non-losing seasons is 33 (1943-1975).
THE MAC DADDIES: In 55 years of play in the Mid-American Conference, Miami has dominated the conference, winning a MAC-record 231 games on its way to 13 conference titles-three more than second-place Bowling Green.
CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN: For the first time since the early 1990s, Miami headed into the season with permanent captains. After a team vote during preseason camp, the players decided to name two permanent captains who are joined by two additional game captains each week. Senior linebacker Terrell Jones (St. Louis, MO/Mehlville) and senior offensive linemen Frank Smtih (Cedarburg, WI/Cedarburg), a former walk-on, are handling the duties.
The "RoadHawks": With two road wins already this season, Miami is just continuing a trend it started last year by finishing 5-2 away from Yager Stadium-the most road wins in head coach Terry Hoeppner's tenure. The RedHawks' five road wins were just one short of tying the school record of six, which has been equaled eight times. After a three-game homestand that begins this weekend, Miami plays four of its last six games on the road.
SUMMER TOILS: Becoming bigger ... stronger ... faster doesn't just happen overnight and with the new NCAA restrictions on summer practices and preseason camp, players have had to take on more responsibility for their fitness level. The Miami football team took that responsibility in stride as 95 percent of the team and all but one scholarship player spent the summer in Oxford lifting and running as a team. That hard work has paid off as 15 RedHawks are now bench pressing over 400 pounds, led by fullback Andy Capper and offensive lineman Joe Serina at 425.
BUSY AS BEE-SINGS: Identical twins sophomore linebacker John Busing and redshirt freshman wide receiver Ryan Busing (pronounced BEE-sing) have been busy through Miami's first three games. In the RedHawks' season opener at Iowa, John was the RedHawks' fourth-leading tackler with nine takedowns, including two for losses, and Ryan was the second-leading receiver with four catches for 53 yards. Presently, John ranks second on the team with 20 tackles, while Ryan rates fifth on the team with seven receptions for 79 yards. John made his debut last year for Miami as a true freshman, appearing in 10 games and making 17 tackles. Ryan, however, redshirted last year as he learned the Miami offense - not as a receiver, but as one of Miami's back-up quarterbacks. Entering camp this fall, Miami coaches saw the opportunity to take advantage of Ryan's athletic ability, and he quickly found a home at wide receiver.
OFFENSE
SCOUTING REPORT: Since a sluggish start versus Iowa in its season opener, Miami's offense has roared to life over the past two games, amassing an impressive average of 525.5 yards per game. Junior quarterback Ben Roethlisberger leads the RedHawk attack, averaging 311.0 yards passing through the Red and White's first three contests and completing a gaudy 71.2 percent of his passes. Roethlisberger's favorite targets are junior Michael Larkin, who has a team-high 15 receptions for 202 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and sophomore Martin Nance, who has 14 receptions for a team-leading 269 yards and two touchdowns. Miami's ground game features a two-pronged attack that has been paced by senior running back Cal Murray, who is averaging 5.1 yards per carry on a team-high 36 attempts, and junior Mike Smith, who has racked up 82.0 yards per game over the last two outings.
WHERE HAVE YOU BEN: One of the emerging stories in college football this season has been junior quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who entered the season as a dark horse candidate for the Heisman Trophy. In his first 27 games, Roethlisberger has passed for an impressive 7,276 yards, ranking among the top 10 active quarterbacks in college football. One of just four Mid-American Conference quarterbacks to pass for more than 3,000 yards in back-to-back seasons, Roethlisberger aims to join the likes of current NFL quarterbacks Chad Pennington and Byron Leftwich by adding a third straight 3,000-yard passing campaign. A two-time second-team all-MAC selection behind Leftwich, Roethlisberger has completed an impressive 64.3 percent of his career passes and hooked up on a school-record 52 touchdown passes.
ROETHLISBERGER'S RECORD CHASE: Having overtaken every Miami career, single-season and single-game passing record during his first 27 games as a RedHawk, junior Ben Roethlisberger is now setting his sights on the Mid-American Conference record books. Entering this weekend, Roethlisberger ranks eighth on the MAC's career passing yardage (7,276) list and seventh in career pass completions (596) and passing touchdowns (52).
40-40 CLUB: When Miami went off for 44 points at Northwestern and followed that with 41 points at Colorado State, it tallied back-to-back 40-point games for only the fifth time since 1961. The RedHawks had not recorded back-to-back 40-point games on the road since October of 1953 when Ara Parseghian's squad tallied 52 and 48 at Western Michigan and Marshall, respectively. The longest string of consecutive 40-point games in program history came under Parseghian in 1954 when Miami reeled off four straight outings of at least 40 points.
JUMP START: Miami has had no trouble establishing early momentum with its offense this season. The RedHawks have scored on the first drive of each of their first three games, including a field goal versus Iowa and touchdowns versus Northwestern and Colorado State. Leading that charge is Ben Roethlisberger, who has been almost uncanny on first possessions. The junior has completed 18-of-19 passes for 194 yards and two touchdowns thus far in his opening drives.
IN THE TRENCHES: While the position players get all of the stats and most of the attention, anyone who has watched Miami over the past two games knows that the Red and White is winning its battles in the trenches. Paving the way for Miami's offense is a veteran offensive line that returns four starters from last year and weighs in at an average of nearly 300 lbs. per man. The senior trio of right guard Jacob Bell, left tackle Ben Herrell and left guard Frank Smith have made a combined 71 starts over the past the past three seasons. Redshirt sophomores Todd Londot, who started seven games in 2002, and Nate Bunce, the lone newcomer to the line, round out the offensive line, holding down the center and right tackle responsibilities, respectively. Despite weighing in as one of the heavier offensive lines in Miami history, the RedHawks are not sacrificing athleticism with their front five. According to strength and conditioning coach Dan Dalrymple, four of the five have vertical leaps of at least 30 inches.
NANCE BUSTS OUT: Sophomore wide receiver Martin Nance has burst onto the scene for the RedHawks this season. After a solid 2003 debut in which he hauled in five passes for 49 yards at Iowa, Nance riddled the Northwestern secondary by hauling in four passes for 126 yards and the first two touchdowns of his career, including a season-long 61-yard touchdown reception. The sophomore kept up his torrid pace at Colorado State, adding another 94 yards on five catches. A big target at 6-foot-4, Nance is averaging a whopping 19.2 yards per reception.
LIKE MIKE: Junior wide receiver Michael Larkin continues to be a favorite target of RedHawk quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and for good reason. Larkin, who became the fastest player in Miami history to reach 1,000 receiving yards last season-achieving the feat in his first 19 games-leads the Red and White with 15 receptions this season. Since his collegiate debut at Iowa two years ago, in which he totaled 121 yards receiving, Larkin has made at least one reception in each of his 26 games. With touchdown receptions in his last two games, Larkin ranks in a fourth-place tie at Miami with 15 career touchdown receptions.
FINDING THEIR LEGS: Since sputtering to just 54 rushing yards in its season opener at Iowa, Miami's ground game has begun to pick up speed. Paced by senior Cal Murray and junior Mike Smith, the RedHawk running backs rolled to an improved 147 yards and three touchdowns at Northwestern two weeks ago. Last weekend, facing the nation's 17th-ranked run defense, Miami punished Colorado State, which had not allowed any of its three previous opponents to reach the century mark in rushing, for 206 yards and three more scores. Over the last five quarters, Miami's running backs have averaged an impressive 5.5 yards per carry.
MR. SMITH GOES TO THE HOUSE: Junior running back Mike Smith has made quite an impact since returning to the RedHawk lineup versus Northwestern on Sept. 13. After amassing 46 yards and a touchdown at Northwestern, Smith busted out at Colorado State, rolling to a career-best 118 yards and three touchdowns. Smith, who returned to the team this fall after missing last spring due to personal reasons, has shown a nose for the endzone, striking paydirt seven times in his last seven games dating back to last season. Smith totaled 232 yards and averaged 5.7 yards per carry last season in his Miami debut and presently ranks second on the team in yardage while averaging a team-best 6.3 yards per rush.
ENDS WITH MEANS: Coming off stellar performances at Northwestern and Colorado State in which he completed passes to 10 and nine different receivers, respectively, Ben Roethlisberger has been able to keep everyone involved in Miami's passing game, including a pair of dependable tight ends. Last season, RedHawk senior Matt Brandt hauled in 33 receptions-the most by a Miami tight end since 1990. This season, Brandt and sophomore Dan Tyler have continued to earn Roethlisberger's attention. The duo has combined for 11 receptions and 108 yards thus far, with Tyler hauling in his first career touchdown last weekend at Colorado State.
YOUNG TARGETS: With only two returning wide receivers that caught a pass in 2002, Miami's passing game is depending on a lot of fresh faces downfield this season. The trio of redshirt freshmen Ryan Busing-a converted quarterback-and R.J. Corbin and true freshman Ryne Robinson has made a substantial impact over Miami's first three contests, combining for 22 receptions and 212 yards. All three have made at least one reception in each game this season and none has fewer than six receptions on the year.
DEFENSE
SCOUTING REPORT: This weekend's matchup versus Cincinnati once again pits Miami's defense against one of the nation's top rushing offenses. The Bearcats, who come into the week with the nation's 11th-best running attack, are just the third in a string of three Top 25 ground games the RedHawks have faced. The past two weeks the Miami run defense has stiffled Northwestern and Colorado State, holding them to 41 and 39 yards respectively. While the RedHawks rush defense has stopped opponents, the pass defense has given up five plays of more than 30 yards, including a pair of 60-plus yard touchdown passes at Colorado State.
TAKING THE REINS: Since taking over the Miami defense in late February, new defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi has re-energized a Miami defense that finished 96th in total defense (412.7 ypg) and 109th against the pass (273.0 ypg). Narduzzi is just the second defensive coordinator in head coach Terry Hoeppner's five years at Miami. Narduzzi came to Miami from Northern Illinois where he helped coach the Huskies to shares of back-to-back Mid-American Conference West Division Championships in 2001 and 2002. Last season, the Husky defense was the MAC's stingiest against the run, allowing 131.8 yards per game, along with allowing the league's second-fewest points (24.8 per game), which ranked 39th in the nation.
UNLUCKY SEVEN: The Miami defense has made great strides this year, allowing 58 fewer yards per game than last year (412 to 354), but it could be much better if it could eliminate the big play. Of the 1,063 yards given up by the RedHawks this season 407 have come on seven plays of 30 yards or greater, an average of 58.1 yards per play. If you remove the big plays, defense has allowed 656 yards total on the other 180 plays. That calculates out to 3.5 yards per play or 219 yards per game. However, the RedHawks have stood strong as only four of the seven plays have either scored or led to a touchdown.
THE WAY BACK MACHINE: Over the last two weeks, Miami's rush defense has been one of the best in the country, holding Northwestern and Colorado State, two of the nation's Top 25 running offenses, to 41 and 39 yards, respectively. This is the first time since 1986, head coach Terry Hoeppner's first year as a defensive backs coach at Miami, that the Red and White has held back-to-back opponents under 50 yards. That year, Miami held Bowling Green to 24 yards in a 24-7 win and then beat Ohio University, 34-14, limiting the Bobcats to 49 yards on the ground. Miami currently ranks 28th in the nation against the run, giving up an average of 104 yards per game.
THIRD DOWN AND A LONG WAYS TO GO: This season, the Miami defense has forced its opponents in 43 third-down situations, 21 of which have been from 10 yards or longer. Opponents are converting on just 39.5 percent of their third downs overall and 33.3 percent from 10 yards and out. Last week was the high-water mark for the RedHawks this season as they held Colorado State to 3-for-12 (25 percent) on third down and 2-of-4 on fourth down. For a complete run down of both Miami's and its opponents third-down conversions see page 26 of the release.
ONE STEP FORWARD ... TWO STEPS BACK: Just three games into the 2003 season, Miami already has recorded 27 tackles for loss - one-third of the way to its total from last season (82). Senior Phil Smith and sophomore linebacker Terna Nande lead the way in tackles for loss after both recorded a pair last week at Colorado State.
UNDER PRESSURE: Last week at Colorado State, Miami's defense had CSU quarterback Bradlee Van Pelt scrambling for his life as the RedHawks continued to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks. After only being sacked three times total in his first three games, Van Pelt was sacked five times by Miami for 29 yards. It was the first time this year that he had been sacked multiple times in a game. In the last two weeks, the RedHawks have sacked the quarterback seven times and hurried another 11 passes. The RedHawks defensive bookends Phil Smith and Will Stanley have caused opposing offensive coordinators the most problems, as the pair has racked up a pair of sacks each and a combined four quarterback hurries. THE SECOND COACH: Head coach Terry Hoeppner continually calls senior linebacker Terrell Jones, the smartest football player he has ever coached and says, "It's just like having another coach, but one that's out on the field directing the play." Quarterbacking the defense the last two years, Jones has done nothing to discredit his coach. As a true freshman in 2000 Jones was pushed into service due to injuries and went on to be named a Sporting News Freshman All-American, averaging 11.75 tackles per game. If it were not for injuries last year that slowed Jones throughout the season, the St. Louis native might have earned all-MAC honors for a second straight year. In 2001, Jones earned first-team all-MAC honors. After a season-best 11 tackle performance Colorado State last week, Jones took over the team lead in tackles with 27, including 19 solo takedowns.
TRUE SUPER SOPHS: Miami's trio of true sophomores - John Busing, Darrell Hunter and Terna Nande - have taken on key roles in this year's defense after seeing considerable time last year as freshmen. In the first two games, the threesome has combined for 55 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions and a pass defended. After Busing turned in a career day at Northwestern two weeks ago, it was Nande's turn last week as he made seven tackles - two for a loss -, sacked the quarterback once and then intercepted a Bradlee Van Pelt pass that helped lock up the RedHawks' win over Colorado State.
PLUGGING UP THE MIDDLE: Anchoring the center of the Miami defensive line are junior Larry Burt and sophomore John Glavin. Glavin is the typical Miami success story going from walk-on status two years ago to starting this season as a redshirt sophomore. Glavin made significant improvement during the spring, improving most in his quickness to the ball. Burt, who is physically intimidating at 6-foot-4 and 299 pounds, is athletic and one of just two RedHawks to squat over 600 pounds. To show off his athleticism, Burt is capable of doing a standing back-flip flat-footed. The duo continues to cause havoic up the middle and last week at Colorado State they combined for six tackles, two tackles for loss and two sacks. Glavin's performace marked the second straight week the sophomore has recorded four tackles and a tackle for loss.
RACKING UP THE TACKLES: Junior safety Matt Pusateri has become a stalwart in the Miami secondary in just two years. Since making 18 tackles in his collegiate debut at Michigan in 2001, Pusateri has been racking up the tackles and is the only RedHawk to post 100+ tackles in each of the last two seasons (122 in 2001 and 125 in 2002). A 2001 third-team Sporting News freshman all-American, Pusateri needs just 129 more tackles to crack Miami's career Top 10 list. Pusateri is third on the team in tackles after equalling his season high last week with eight versus Colorado State.
TEXAN LASSOS MIAMI OPPONENTS: Sophomore Steve Burke from Spring, Texas, made some noise in his debut as a starting safety against Iowa, making a team-high 12 tackles, including eight solo takedowns. Burke, another Miami walk-on with a strong work ethic, has taken advantage of a Miami defense that relies on its safeties to support the run.
SHARP OUT OF THE BOX: Senior Will Stanley and freshman Tranaine Sills each started their Miami careers as defensive ends off with a bang on their first plays from scrimmage this season. On the first play from scrimmage at Iowa in the season opener, Stanley sprung from his end position and sacked Iowa quarterback Nate Chandler while a week later Sills sacked Northwestern quarterback Brett Basenez in his collegiate debut. Stanley, also a shot putter for the Miami track team, has since become the RedHawks' pass rushing specialist with a pair of sacks and three quarterback hurries
SPECIAL TEAMS
SCOUTING REPORT: Following back-to-back solid efforts versus Northwestern and Colorado State, Miami's special teams unit remains a pillar of consistency in the RedHawk arsenal. Though the status of suspended junior place kicker Jared Parseghian remains in question, Miami has confidence in sophomore Todd Soderquist, who has converted 3-of-4 field goals and 10-of-11 PATs over the past two games. Soderquist benefits from the experience of returning seniors Scott Sagehorn and J.D. Vonderheide who handle Miami's long-snapping and holding responsibilities, respectively. Heading a promising punting game is junior Mike Wafzig, who's averaging over 43.7 yards per punt through three games.
SPLITTING THE UPRIGHTS: True sophomore place kicker Todd Soderquist, who has handled Miami's kick-off duties since coming to campus last year, has made an impressive debut as the RedHawks' place-kicker over the past two games. Soderquist, who was brought to Miami as its first scholarship kicker since Kent McCullough who played at Miami from 1997-00, has converted three of four field goals and 10-of-11 PATs. Soderquist has been filling in for junior Jared Parsehgian, who holds the nation's longest active string of consecutive field goals at 18. Parseghian has missed the last two games due to disciplinary action.
STEADY SNAPPER: After missing the 2002 campaign with an injury, Miami long snapper Scott Sagehorn returns for his fourth season as the program's primary special teams snapper. A high school quarterback, Sagehorn showed a remarkable talent for the position as a walk-on freshman and made his collegiate debut in the 2000 season opener at Northwestern. Named Miami's Freshman of the Year in 2000, Sagehorn has been virtually flawless throughout his career as Miami's snapper for punts, field goals and extra points. He is backed up by senior Alan Eyink who saw action last season in Sagehorn's absence.
A VETERAN LEG: Miami's primary punter, junior Mike Wafzig, is in his third season as the RedHawks' leg of choice. A former all-state wide receiver, Wafzig walked on at Miami and was named the 'Hawks first-string punter as a redshirt freshman. Wafzig is off to the best start of his career thus far, averaging 43.7 yards per punt on nine efforts this season, including a career-long 62-yard effort at Iowa. Versus Northwestern, Wafzig averaged 45.5 yards per punt, including a 51-yard effort from the back of his own endzone and one effort that pinned the Wildcats inside their 20-yard line.
BEN'S BIG TOE: While his arm gets most of the attention, opponents cannot afford to ignore the big toe of RedHawk quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. The double-threat junior, who remains on the field and often drops back to punt on fourth down plays near midfield, has shown a remarkable knack for pinning the opposition deep in its own territory. Over the past three seasons, Roethlisberger has placed 10-of-13 punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line and was even named MAC Special Teams Player of the Week last season after pinning Toledo inside its own 20-yard line three times. Roethlisberger has three career punts of more than 50 yards to his credit, including a career-long 59-yard effort last season at North Carolina.
HERE'S TO YOU MR. ROBINSON: Despite having large shoes to fill, true freshman Ryne Robinson has brought an exciting element to Miami's punt return game. Robinson, who is replacing the RedHawks' all-time leading punt returner Eddie Tillitz (1998-01), showed flashes of brilliance during fall camp and enjoyed a break-out performance at Northwestern. Versus the Wildcats, Robinson averaged an impressive 14.0 yards per return, including an exciting 17-yard return that helped set up a key first-half touchdown for the Red and White. He is averaging 11.6 yards per return on eight returns this season.
NO RETURNING RETURNERS: With senior Korey Kirkpatrick sidelined with an injury, Miami's kick return team is counting on a pair of speedsters with limited experience to get the offense into a good position. One year after graduated senior Milt Bowen broke Miami's career kick return yardage record, sophomore Darrell Hunter and junior Alphonso Hodge find themselves fielding the RedHawks' return responsibilities. Despite limited experience, the duo brings explosive speed to the field, with Hunter clocking a 4.29 time in the 40 and Hodge covering the 40 in 4.40 seconds.
