RedHawks look to clinch bowl berth with win at Ohio
11/20/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 20, 2007
OXFORD, Ohio - IF MIAMI WINS ...: It would improve Miami's season record to 7-5 ... it would improve the RedHawks' overall Mid-American Conference record to 6-1 and its MAC East Division record to 5-1 ... it would allow Miami to clinch an undisputed MAC East Division title and claim its fourth division championship in the last five years ... it would clinch bowl eligibility for 2007 ... it would mark Miami's third victory on the road ... it would be Miami's seventh victory in its last eight games against Ohio (MU leads the all-time series, 51-30-2).
BEST MIAMI PERFORMANCES VS. OHIO: In Miami's previous 83 games against Ohio, here are the RedHawks' top individual efforts:
INDIVIDUAL RUSHING: Terry Carter, 250 yards (26 atts.-250 yds.-2 TD); 10/13/90 INDIVIDUAL PASSING: Ben Roethlisberger, 322 yards (24 comps.-37 atts-0 int.-5 TD); 10/20/01 INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING: Martin Nance, 123 yards (8 recs.-123 yds.-0 TD); 11/21/05
BOWL GAME RAMIFICATIONS: Even though Miami has clinched a berth in the MAC Championship Game on Dec. 1, this Saturday's showdown at Ohio has lots of importance. A win over the Bobcats would not only give the RedHawks sole possession of the East Division title, it would also allow Miami to solidify its standing for Bowl game consideration. A seventh season victory would guarantee that MU's record would stay about .500, regardless of what might happen in Detroit. The MAC has ties with three different Bowl games: 1) The Motor City Bowl--Dec. 26 at Detroit's Ford Field, MAC vs. Big Ten; 2) The International Bowl--Jan. 5 at Toronto's Rogers Center, MAC vs. Big East, and 3) The GMAC Bowl--Jan. 6 at Mobile's Ladd-Peebles Stadium, MAC vs. Conference USA.
BEST OF THE MAC: The combination of Miami's 7-0 victory over Akron on Nov. 14 and Bowling Green's win over Buffalo on Nov. 17 allowed the RedHawks to claim no less than a share of the MAC East Division championship. Because of Miami's previous wins over Bowling Green and Buffalo, the RedHawks automatically win the East Division tie-breaker and are guaranteed to face Central Michigan in the MAC Championship Game on Saturday, Dec. 1, at Detroit's Ford Field. Miami has won more MAC games than any other conference member (258), and its all-time MAC winning percentage of .676 (258-121-11) is far and away the best. MU has won or shared 14 MAC titles, more than anyone else, and will have an opportunity to win its 15th conference championship on Dec. 1.
2007 REDHAWKS AMONG MIAMI'S BEST ALL-TIME TURN-AROUND TEAMS: Through its first 11 games, Miami has already registered four more victories (six) than it had in all of its 2006 season (two). That matches the third-best improvement from one season to another in Miami's 118-year history. The only bigger turn-around stories came 30 years ago when MU's 1977 squad (10 wins) improved its record by seven victories over the 1976 team (three wins), and 100 years ago when Miami's 1907 club (six wins) bettered its record by five victories over the 1906 team (one win).
ONE OF WORST TO FIRST: Coach Shane Montgomery's 2007 club has won five MAC games, compared to only two a year ago. In 60 seasons as a member of the MAC, that three-conference-victory improvement matches Miami's second-best turn-around. The RedHawks can match their best-ever improvement (four wins--three in 1984 to seven in 1985) with a victory on Saturday at Ohio.
MIAMI AMONG COLLEGE FOOTBALL'S ELITE TEAMS: In college football history, Miami ranks 20th in terms of all-time victories with 647. MU is the only non-BCS-affiliated school in this rarified air. Among all-time collegiate teams with the best winning percentage, Miami ranks 16th at .6323 (647-367-44). MU ranks 13th in winning percentage among schools that have played 100 or more seasons, trailing only Michigan, Notre Dame, Texas, Oklahoma, Penn State, Ohio State, Alabama, Nebraska, Southern California, Tennessee, Georgia and LSU.
7, 40, 42: There are three special numbers in Miami football history, and the men who once wore those jerseys all were in attendance the Oct. 13 game. Number seven, once the property of All-America quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, is the latest to be retired by Miami. Thanks to an off-week for the Pittsburgh Steelers, "Big Ben" was able to come back to Oxford on Oct. 13 for the jersey retirement ceremony. Roethlisberger was joined by former Miami player and coach JOHN PONT (#42, retired in 1951), and former MU running back BOB HITCHENS (#40, retired in 1973).
CIGAR GAMES: The old phrase "close, but no cigar" has not applied to the 2007 RedHawks. Seven times this season, the final margin has been seven points or less, and Miami has won five of those seven contests. In 2006, the RedHawks had a 2-5 record in final margins of seven points or less.
HOME-GAME SUCCESS: Following a record seven straight home-game losses, the RedHawks won their last four contests at Yager Stadium, defeating Syracuse (17-14), Bowling Green (47-14), Buffalo (31-28) and Akron (7-0). It's Miami's longest winning streak on its home field since it won five in a row at Yager during the 2004 season.
REDHAWK CAPTAINS: Miami has three captains in 2007, and will name at least one player each week to be a game captain. The three players who were elected by their teammates include quarterback Mike Kokal (Sr., Warren), running back Brandon Murphy (Sr., Strongsville) and linebacker Joey Hudson (Jr., Piqua). The captain for the Ohio game will be named later this week.
IN TWO WEEKS: The RedHawks line up against Central Michigan in the Mid-American Conference Championship Game on Dec. 1 (11 a.m. ET) at Detroit's Ford Field.
REDHAWKS' INJURY REPORT: Mickey Mann (injured knee vs. Syracuse), out for season ... Andre Bratton (injured knee vs. Cincinnati), out for season... Brandon Murphy (injured knee vs. Minnesota), out for season ... Matt McKeown (injured shoulder vs. Ball State), out for season ... Mike Kokal (injured knee vs. Kent State), probable for Ohio game ... Ben Huddle (injured knee vs. Kent State), out for season ... Ryan Kennedy (injured knee vs. Temple), questionable for Ohio game ... NICK DeBARTALO (injured knee vs. Bowling Green), out for season ... Dave DiFranco (injured ankle), probable for Ohio game ... Austin Sykes (re-injured ankle vs. Akron), questionable for Ohio game.
MIAMI'S OFFENSE
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WINNING AND LOSING: In Miami's six victories, the team's rushing yardage (1,174) and its passing yardage (1,263) is virtually the same. In the RedHawks' five losses, the team's passing yardage (1,306) far exceeds its total rushing yardage (341).
REDHAWK RUNNING BACKS IN AND OUT OF REVOLVING DOOR: Because of a series of injuries and surprising performances, a total of seven different Miami tailbacks have had their moments of glory. Here's what has happened since late August:
GAME 1 VS. BALL STATE: Brandon Murphy began the season as Miami's starter, and paced the RedHawks in rushing vs. Ball State (123 yards).
GAME 2 VS. MINNESOTA: Murphy started out strong against the Golden Gophers (78 yards on 12 carries), then suffered a career-ending knee injury. He had season-ending surgery on Oct. 5.
GAME 3 VS. CINCINNATI: Andre Bratton (Woodbridge, VA), who ran for 50 yards vs. Minnesota the week before, took over starting duty, but he was injured early in game three vs. Cincinnati. Senior running back Austin Sykes (Coraopolis, PA) subbed in for Bratton and was MU's top rusher against the Bearcats (76 yards).
GAME 4 VS. COLORADO: Sykes got his first start, but was held to just 29 yards on nine carries.
GAME 5 VS. SYRACUSE: Sykes received his second starting assignment, but the star of the show was Cory Jones (Florence, MS) who gained a team-leading 125 yards vs. Syracuse. Jones was injured on his last carry against the Orange and was forced to sit out the next two games.
GAME 6 VS. KENT STATE: Due to Jones's injury, Sykes started his third game of the season and rushed for a team-high 74 yards.
GAME 7 VS. BOWLING GREEN: Sykes had his career's best effort, rushing for 124 yards on 17 carries. Due to the blow-out, three other young players--redshirt freshman Jamel Miller (Tallmadge) and true freshmen Thomas Merriweather (Florissant, MO) and T.J. Lattimore (Maple Heights)--saw a considerable amount of playing time against BG, combining for 118 yards on 27 carries.
GAME 8 VS. TEMPLE: Sykes got the starting call at Temple, but ultimately gave way to a more productive Jones (40 net yards).
GAME 9 VS. VANDERBILT: Sykes started again at Vanderbilt (49 yards rushing), but left the game in the second half with an injured ankle.
GAME 10 VS. BUFFALO: Sykes was the starter, but gave way to Jones who rushed for 124 yards. Merriweather scored two TDs and gained 28 yards.
GAME 11 VS. Sykes started, but re-injured his ankle. Jones has a team-high 66 yards rushing.
For the season, Sykes leads Miami with 460 yards rushing. Jones is right behind with 361 yards.
MISSISSIPPI MACHINE: Among Miami's top candidates for most improved player is senior Cory Jones. The running back from Florence, Miss. has averaged 5.0 yards per rush in the nine games he's played in 2007, gaining 361 yards on just 72 carries. Nearly 70 percent of Jones's yardage has been recorded in just two games. Jones had not seen any game action in his first four seasons at Miami. He ran for 125 yards vs. Syracuse on Sept. 29 and rushed the ball 19 times for 124 net yards (6.5 average) vs. Buffalo. Jones broke loose for a career-best 57-yard run vs. Buffalo and had a 48-yard gallop vs. Syracuse.
TWO TDs FOR FOUR: Against Buffalo in game 10, freshman running back Thomas Merriweather ran for two touchdowns: a nine-yard TD at 2:56 of the second quarter and a one-yard score at 9:47 in the third period. It was the fourth time this season that a RedHawk running back has scored two TDs in a game. Brandon Murphy scored a pair of touchdowns in the season opener at Ball State, Cory Jones tallied two TDs in game five vs. Syracuse, and Austin Sykes scored two TDs in game seven vs. Bowling Green.
THINGS GO BETTER WITH KOKAL: As a starter this season, Mike Kokal (Sr., Warren) is 3-2 (victories over Ball State, Syracuse and Kent State, and losses to Minnesota and Cincinnati). He moved into eighth place on MU's all-time passing yardage list, now totaling 3,173 yards. Only nine other RedHawk quarterbacks have reached 3,000 passing yards during their careers. Kokal has not played in a game since Oct. 6, but is healthy enough to step in should the RedHawk coaches call upon him.
RAUDABAUGH ADDS TO SEASON NUMBERS: With 189 yards passing against Buffalo, sophomore quarterback DANIEL RAUGHDABAUGH (Coppell, TX) boosted his season total to 1,954 yards in nine appearances. Raughdabaugh, who began the 2007 campaign as Mike Kokal's back-up, needs just 46 yards to reach the 2,000-yard mark. Dating back to Sam Ricketts in 1997, a RedHawk QB has now passed for at least 1,500 yards in 11 consecutive seasons. Against Kent State on Oct. 6, Raughdabaugh averaged 12.1 yards for each of his 15 offensive plays (182 total yards), the best single-game effort among all MAC players in 2007. Career-wise, Raughdabaugh has 2,245 passing yards and 11 touchdown passes.
TWO-HEADED QUARTERBACK: Together, DANIEL RAUGHDABAUGH and Mike Kokal have passed for 2,569 yards and 11 touchdowns during the 2007 season. As a team, Miami has passed for at least 2,000 yards every year since 1999. Raughdabaugh and Kokal passed for 418 yards in game two at Minnesota, the fourth-best all-time single-game mark in Miami history. The only three performances that exceeded that effort were all by former RedHawk great Ben Roethlisberger (525 yards vs. Northern Illinois in 2002, 452 yards vs. Hawaii in 2001, and 440 yards vs. Bowling Green in 2003). As either the head coach or the offensive coordinator, Miami's Shane Montgomery has had a direct hand in the school's top 13 single-game passing efforts. Career-wise, the Raughdabaugh-Kokal twosome has passed for 5,418 yards and 26 touchdowns.
MIAMI QBs IN MAC ACTION: Miami quarterback DANIEL RAUGHDABAUGH has completed an impressive 62 percent of his passes (93 of 150) in five MAC games, averaging 237 yards passing per contest. In three MAC-game appearances, Mike Kokal is completing 64.7% of his passes (22 of 34).
MIAMI'S RECEIVERS: Eighteen different RedHawk receivers have caught passes through the first 11 games of 2007. Ten of those 18 players have recorded their first collegiate receptions this season. Over the past six games, Miami receivers have caught 119 passes and averaged nearly 13 per grab. Among the 119 catches have been 16 receptions of 22 yards or more, including gains of 73, 54, 49, 46, two 43-yard receptions and three 40-yard catches. Eugene Harris (Atlanta, GA) has a team-leading 38 catches for 468 yards and two TDs. The team's next most frequent receivers are Dustin Woods (So., Cincinnati) with 32 catches for 467 yards and Armand Robinson (R-Fr., Reynoldsburg) with 27 receptions for 392 yards. True freshman Chris Givens (Chillicothe) averages a team-high 18.3 yards for each of his 23 catches.
LONG GAINS A GIVEN(S): Chris Givens (Fr., Chillicothe) had a career-tying best five receptions for 78 yards vs. Akron. He had receptions of 55 yards (vs. Minnesota), 40 yards (vs. Buffalo), 39 yards (vs. Cincinnati) and 34 yards (vs. Kent State). Earlier this season against Minnesota, Givens became only the second true freshman receiver in Miami football history to crack the century mark for yardage (five catches for 112 yards).
RETURN TO ROCKY TOP: Miami quarterback turned receiver Jared Elliott (Jr., Franklin, TN) returned to his home state on Oct. 27 and enjoyed the most successful day of his career: four catches for 25 yards. Prior to the Vanderbilt game, Elliott had caught only two passes for 45 yards. He had a 35-yard reception at Colorado this season, his first-ever collegiate catch. That single gain comprised 25.1% of Miami's total offensive yardage (139) against the Buffaloes.
TIGHT END TOTALS: Among Miami's receivers, three junior tight ends have accounted for 26 receptions. Junior Tom Crabtree (Carroll), Jake O'Connell (Naples, FL) and Pat Shepard (Pittsburgh, PA) average 10.4 yards per catch.
MAC-GAME STATS: Through its five Mid-American Conference games (vs. Ball State, Kent State, Bowling Green, Temple and Buffalo), the 5-1 RedHawks are ... *Out-scoring their opponents, 136 points to 92 (average of 22.7 to 15.3) *Out-passing their opponents, 1,427 yards to 1,186 yards (average of 237.8 to 197.7) *Out-rushing their opponents, 944 yards to 681 yards (average of 157.3 to 113.5)
TWO-THIRDS, ONE-THIRD: Of Miami's 4,084 total offensive yards through 11 games, 2,569 yards (62.9%) have come via the passing game.
577-YARD PERFORMANCE SIXTH-BEST: Miami's 577 yards of total offense vs. Minnesota ranks sixth-best in the school's record book. The all-time record offensive explosion came in 2003 vs. Kent State when Miami piled up 648 yards. Five of the top six single-game total offensive efforts have come with Shane Montgomery as either the head coach or offensive coordinator. The 1,154 cumulative yards of total offense by Miami (577 yards) and Minnesota (577 yards) rank as the second-most in MU single-game history. It was just seven yards shy of the all-time mark of 1,161 yards piled up by Miami (616 yards) and Hawaii (545 yards) in 2001. The 1,154 total yards by Miami and Minnesota is sixth-best in the MAC record books. The all-time Mid-American Conference single-game record for total offense by two teams is 1,245 yards by Bowling Green (618) and Northwestern (624).
FRONT-LINE WARRIORS: Three postseason award candidates--left tackle Charlie Norden (Sr., Dublin), left guard Dave DiFranco (Jr., LaGrange) and center Steve Meister (Sr., Allison Park, PA)--have been stalwarts in Miami's offensive effort. DiFranco split time between right and left tackle a year ago, and Meister played the last two seasons at left guard. Miami's offensive line was decimated by injuries a year ago, but has remained healthy and intact throughout the 2007 campaign and earned MAC East Division Offensive Players of the Week on Nov. 5, becoming the first offensive line unit to earn the award in conference history. Norden has an efficiency grade of 83 percent this season, according to offensive line coach Matt Hohman. He has more than 70 knockdowns for the season, and has missed only one assignment in more than 800 plays. Despite playing with an injured ankle (Vanderbilt), DiFranco has graded out at 83 percent this season. He has more than 80 knockdowns, only two missed assignments, and has not allowed a single sack all year. Meister, who has started 34 consecutive games for Miami, has an efficiency grade of 92 percent for the year. He has only one missed assignment all year, and has not committed a single penalty this season.
MIAMI'S DEFENSE:
MIAMI DEFENSE SPINS MAC'S FIRST SHUTOUT: MAC teams have played a total of 101 games thus far in 2007, but Miami lays claim to the only defensive shutout. The RedHawks' 7-0 masterpiece vs. Akron on Nov. 14th was the Conference's first since Nov. 24, 2006, when both Northern Illinois (vs. Eastern Michigan, 27-0) and Western Michigan (vs. Akron, 17-0) last posted the rarity. Miami's shutout was the first it had recorded since Aug. 28, 2004 when it goose-egged Indiana State, 49-0. It's one of only 10 shutouts posted by Miami over the last 23 seasons.
SINGLE-DIGIT SHUTOUTS: Miami's 7-0 win over Akron was the lowest scoring shutout for the school since a 6-0 MU victory over Cincinnati in 1972. In that game, Miami's only scoring play came when Larry Harper returned a kickoff 95 yards.
WINNING DEFENSIVELY: Defensive touchdowns by a RedHawk player are fairly rare, so that's why defensive end Craig Mester's fumble recovery for a touchdown vs. Akron was so special. Not only was it the first defensive TD scored by a Miami player in 2007, it was the first one scored by any Miami player since Nov. 5, 2005, when two different players turned the trick. In that game against Buffalo, Robbie Wilson returned an interception 37 yards for a TD and Darrell Hunter returned a fumble recovery 27 yards for a TD. Research back to 1950 doesn't reveal any other games in which Miami's only score in a shutout victory came by a defensive player.
DEFENSE KEYS MIAMI'S VICTORIES: In five of Miami's six victories, the RedHawks have allowed 14 points or less (13 by Ball State, 14 by Syracuse, 13 by Kent State, 14 by Bowling Green, and seven by Akron). The only exception to that rule was the 28 points scored against Miami by Buffalo in game 10. In MU's five losses, opponents are averaging 35.6 points per contest.
MIAMI DEFENSE HAS STIFFENED: Since back-to-back-to-back games of yielding more than 40 points (41 to Minnesota, 47 to Cincinnati, and 42 to Colorado), Miami's defense has yielded an average of only 16.7 points per game over its last seven contests.
MAC'S SACK MASTERS: With its four quarterback sacks vs. Akron last week, Miami now leads in the MAC in that category with 29. Individually, junior defensive end Joe Coniglio (Rockford, IL) leads RedHawk defenders in quarterback sacks (5.5 for -34 yards) and ranks second in tackles for loss (8.5 for -40 yards). Coniglio had a pair of QB sacks for minus 12 yards vs. Buffalo.
140 YARDS OR LESS: In seven of its 11 games, Miami's defensive unit has held its opponents to rushing yardage of 141 yards or less. The gems include: 25 net yards (26 carries) vs. Bowling Green; 66 yards (26) vs. Syracuse; 100 yards (36) vs. Akron; 103 yards (27) vs. Buffalo; 110 yards (34) vs. Temple; 140 yards (34) vs. Ball State; and 141 yards (42) vs. Cincinnati. The opponents' average gain in those games is just 3.04 yards per attempt.
IMPROVEMENT IN RUN DEFENSE: Through 11 games in 2007, Miami's defense has yielded 4.19 yards per rushing attempt. In 2006, RedHawk defenders gave up 4.76 yards per rush.
MAC TACKLERS: Three of the MAC's top 20 tacklers hail from Miami. Junior outside linebacker Clayton Mullins ranks tied for second among all MAC defensive players with 10.5 tackles per game (116 total). Sophomore outside linebacker Caleb Bostic is 11th in the MAC with 8.5 per contest (85 total). Junior middle linebacker Joey Hudson ranks tied for 20th among league tacklers with 7.6 per game (84 total).
MULLINIZED: Junior linebacker Clayton Mullins (Fairborn) earned MAC East Defensive Player of the Week honors with his performance in game 11 vs. Akron. Not only did his crushing sack of Zips quarterback Carlton Jackson cause a fumble that led to teammate Craig Mester's recovery for the game-winning touchdown, Mullins' registered five tackles for loss among his 11 total stops. He now has a team-leading 116 tackles (58 solos and 58 assists) and paces Miami with 12.5 TFLs for minus 50 yards. Mullins ranks tied for 15th nationally in tackles, and is tied for 45th nationally in TFLs. He had 91 tackles during the entire 2006 season. Mullins now has 211 stops for his career. He has started 23 consecutive games for the RedHawks.
DON'T CROSS THE HUDSON: Junior middle linebacker and tri-captain Joey Hudson (Piqua) continues his amazing comeback. Twice he's earned MAC Defensive Player of the Week honors (vs. Kent State and vs. Bowling Green). Hudson, who suffered a knee injury at Minnesota and whose availability for the balance of the season was very much in question, got back in the starting lineup against Colorado. He has started every game this season, except for the Cincinnati contest. A member of the Butkus Award's "Watch List" and the Rotary Lombardi Award's "Watch List", Hudson now has 84 tackles for the year and shares the team lead with two interceptions.
BOSTIC LAYS CLAIM FOR ALL-MAC HONORS: Caleb Bostic (Galloway) ranks second among Miami players with 86 tackles, and second with 11 tackles for loss. In his first collegiate start, he registered a season-high 17 tackles in the season opener at Ball State game. Bostic is an All-MAC candidate. With the exception of the Vanderbilt game, in which he was sidelined, he has started 10 games for the RedHawks. GAFFORD RANKS AMONG MAC's TOP DB TACKLERS: Sophomore free safety Jordan Gafford (Columbus) continued to build upon his statistics last week, notching four tackles vs. Akron. He has has a career-high 77 total tackles through 11 games, tops among RedHawk defensive backs. Team-wise, Gafford's 49 solo tackles rank second only to Clayton Mullins' 58 solos. In game two at Minnesota, Gafford led all Miami defenders with 13 tackles (including 10 solo tackles). He has been a starter in all 11 RedHawk games during the 2007 season.
MR. WILSON: Junior "Apache" (strong safety) Robbie Wilson (Cincinnati), an All-MAC candidate, has 69 total tackles through the first 11 games of 2007, ranking fifth on the team behind Clayton Mullins (116), Caleb Bostic (86), Joey Hudson (84) and Jordan Gafford (77). Wilson now totals 137 career tackles. He has been a starter in all 11 games.
SUPER-SUB SHULA: Junior linebacker Chris Shula (Cooper City, FL), who started at outside linebacker at Vanderbilt in place of Caleb Bostic, had a career-high 14 tackles against the Commodores. He also started at middle linebacker vs. Cincinnati for an injured Joey Hudson. The grandson of NFL Hall of Fame coach Don Shula has 48 tackles through 11 games, twice as many as the 25 he accumulated throughout the 2006 season.
THOMPSON TOUGH IN THE CLUTCH: Sophomore cornerback Jeff Thompson (Worthington) had one of Miami's biggest defensive plays of 2007 against Buffalo. With the Bulls trailing by just three points and regaining possession of the ball with 2:27 remaining, Thompson's quarterback blitz caused Buffalo QB Drew Willy to fumble the ball. Miami's Travis Craven (Fort Wayne, IN) recovered the loose pigskin on the Buffalo 43 to preserve the RedHawk victory. Thompson continues to be one of Miami's best defensive backs, and is the RedHawks' co-leader with two interceptions. He ranks seventh in total tackles with 45. One of Thompson's best games came at Colorado where he had a career-best five solo tackles. Four of his five stops came on third-down plays by the Buffaloes. Thompson has been a starter at cornerback in all 11 RedHawk games.
IT CAN ONLY BE JERRID: Senior cornerback Jerrid Gaines (Springfield) helped the RedHawks beat Akron by intercepting the Zips' final pass. He also registered five tackles and half of a tackle for loss. Gaines also broke up one pass and had one quarterback hurry. He started the first five games of the season at cornerback, lost his job due to an injury, and has started the last three games in a row.
THE OHIO EIGHT: Eight starters from Miami's talented defensive unit hail from the state of Ohio. Nose tackle Martin Channels is from Xenia "SAM" linebacker Caleb Bostic is from Galloway Middle linebacker Joey Hudson is from Piqua "WILL" linebacker Clayton Mullins is from Fairborn Cornerback Jerrid Gaines is from Springfield "Apache" safety Robbie Wilson is from Cincinnati Free safety Jordan Gafford is from Columbus Cornerback Jeff Thompson is from Worthington
SENIOR STARTERS: The only starters that defensive coordinator Jay Hood loses to graduation are right end Craig Mester and cornerback Jerrid Gaines. Nine starters return in 2008 to Miami's defensive lineup.
MIAMI'S SPECIAL TEAMS:
RICHARDSON SEVENTH IN NCAA PUNTING: Junior punter JAKE RICHARDSON (Oxford) ranks seventh in the latest NCAA stats with an average of 45.20 yards per punt (61 attempts). He's just 1.31 yards behind the nation's leading punter, Cincinnati's Kevin Huber (46.51). Other slightly ahead of Richardson include Toledo's Brett Kern (46.46), Ball State's Chris Miller (45.94), Virginia's Ryan Weigand (45.84), Army's Owen Tolson (45.46), and Georgia Tech Durant Brooks (45.35) Richardson's current 2007 average is just better than Miami's single-season record of 45.0 ypp by Gary Layton in 1994. Twenty-three of Richardson 61 punts have traveled 50 yards or more, including boomers of 64 yards and 62 yards. Richardson's career punting average at Miami after 160 punts is 41.9 yards, is slightly better than Layton's school-record 41.7 career average (1991-94).
THE LATEST RETURNS: Eugene Harris (Fr., Atlanta, GA) ranks third among all MAC players with an average of 9.7 yards per punt return (27 for 261 yards).
FRESH LEGS: True freshmen Jamal Rogers (Fort Myers, FL) and Chris Givens (Chillicothe) make up Miami's kick return tandem. Rogers is averaging 21.3 yards per return (34 attempts) while Givens has returned three kicks an average of 17.0 yards.
GETTING THEIR KICKS IN OXFORD: Junior placekicker NATE PARSEGHIAN (Sylvania) got a chance to play at Kent State back on Oct. 6 and has been in the line-up ever since. "Par" has connected on seven of his 12 field goal attempts and has also has been successful on 15 consecutive PAT attempts. He is Miami's leading scorer with 36 points. Nate is the great grandnephew of college coaching luminary and Miami graduate Ara Parseghian. Trevor Cook (So., Sioux Falls, SD) has made five of his 10 field-goal attempts this season and has converted eight of nine PAT tries.
CRADLE OF COACHES
IN SUCCESSION: In succession, from 1949 through 1977, Miami's head football coaches were Woody Hayes, Ara Parseghian, John Pont, Bo Schembechler, Bill Mallory and Dick Crum. As a group, these six men collectively coached for 148 seasons, won 1,003 games, lost 501 games, and tied 35. Their cumulative winning percentage was .663.
MIAMI ATHLETICS' GSR
Miami University's student-athletes are performing extraordinarily well in the class room, and the most-recent class is among the highest in the nation according to the latest Federal Graduation Rates (FGR) report. The recent FGR figures show that 85 percent of Miami's student-athletes who began college in 2000-01 graduated within the six years permitted by the formula, up six points from the year before (1999-00) and a full 20 percent from just three years earlier (1997-98). Only student-athletes receiving athletics aid are included in the NCAA's reports.
MAC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME:
DETAILS ABOUT NEXT WEEK'S GAME: Thanks to Bowling Green's victory over Buffalo on Nov. 17, Coach Shane Montgomery's Miami RedHawks football team has clinched the Mid-American Conference's East Division title and a spot in the 2007 MAC championship game. Regardless of the outcome of Miami's regular-season finale at rival Ohio University on Saturday, Nov. 24, the RedHawks (4-1 in East Division play) will do no worse than tie for the East Division crown. Due to their potential tie-breaker victories over Bowling Green and Buffalo, Miami is guaranteed to represent the East against West Division winner Central Michigan. It's Miami's fourth MAC East title in the last five years and its third trip in the last five seasons to the Motor City for the championship game. Other tidbits regarding the 11th Annual Marathon MAC Football Championship Game:
Site: Ford Field, Detroit, MI
Time: 11 a.m. EST
Ticket Information: $20 (sections 105, 106, 107); call 1-866-MU-HAWKS
Television: ESPN2 HD
Radio: College Football Radio Network & Miami ISP Sports Network
Media Credentials: order online at www.mac-sports.com by Monday, Nov. 26
Hotel: Marriott Detroit at the Renaissance Center ($88 rate, reserve by Nov. 26 at 216-566-4622)
Press Conference: Friday, Nov. 30, Lions Interview Room, Ford Field ... CMU coach and players from 3:30-4:00 ... Miami coach and players from 4:15-4:45
NOTES ABOUT MIAMI UNIVERSITY
Miami's graduation rates are among the highest nationally, ranking ninth among NCAA Division I public universities and first in Ohio.
The 2007 U.S.News & World Report college rankings list Miami University 21st among the top public universities in the nation.
Miami's retention rate ranks among the best in the nation, with more than 90 percent of students returning for their sophomore year.
Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine names Miami as one of the "100 Best Values in Public Colleges" for 2007.
Business Week magazine ranked Miami among the nation's top 25 undergraduate business programs in the nation for 2007.
Miami graduates achieve high acceptance rates to medical and law schools, at least 15 percent higher than the national average.
QUOTING Shane Montgomery
(About Miami's shutout victory over Akron): "It was a huge defensive effort for us. They always say that offense will keep you in the championship race, but defense is going to win it for you. Against Akron, with their back against the wall, our defense really stepped up. We had kidded around last week that our defense was due to score a defensive touchdown. To have that actually happen in the game at that point was a huge boost for us. Our defense played phenomenally against an Akron offense that had found itself the week before."
(On coordinator Jay Hood's defensive unit): "They've done a tremendous job all year. We've gained some depth at a lot of key positions. We went into the season knowing that at certain positions up front we were very inexperienced. Coach (Rusty) Wright and Coach (Jimmy) Lindsey have done a good job of bringing the young guys along and keeping the guys fresh up front. We knew that the linebacking corps was going to be the strength of our team and, fortunately, we've been able to stay fairly healthy while gaining some depth from some younger players. And our secondary has played really well. We've gotten great leadership from Jerrid Gaines and Robbie Wilson, and steady play from Jordan Gafford and Jeff Thompson. Overall, Jay Hood and his defensive staff have done a great job of putting our players in a position to have success."
(About Miami's regular-season finale at Ohio): "We are going against a team that is capable of being a very good football team. When Ohio lost at Akron two weeks ago, it knocked them out of the race. They're very similar to Akron in that we could face two different quarterbacks. Ohio has one of the best running backs in the league in Kalvin McRae, and they've really relied on him the second half of the year. They have good speed at receiver, so it's going to be an offense that we'll have to adjust to throughout the game. Since I've been at Miami, they've always had one of the top defenses in the league. They're good up front and quite athletic in the secondary. It's going to be a big challenge for us this Saturday."
(On winning a berth in the MAC Championship Game): "We feel very fortunate that, with one game left, we're assured of playing in the championship game, but we've still got a lot to play for this week. We have a chance to get a seventh win and a chance to win the outright title in the East Division. We're not going to look ahead. We're going to put everything we've got into this game."
