College Football History Within Miami's Grasp
12/20/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 20, 2010
OXFORD, Ohio -- College football history is within Miami University's grasp ... an achievement of epic proportions.
A victory over Middle Tennessee in the GoDaddy.com Bowl would give Miami its 10th win of the season, a wonderful accomplishment by itself. But the significance of a 10th victory gets even better for the RedHawks.
If Miami defeats the Blue Raiders on January 6th in Mobile at Ladd-Peebles Stadium, the Red and White would become the first Division I team in the 142-year history of college football to go from double-digit losses (1-11) to double-digit victories in back-to-back seasons.
The odds of this kind of a feat happening for the first time are astronomical.
The closest any Division I school has ever come to doing this was 11 years ago when Coach June Jones' Hawaii Rainbows advanced from a disastrous 0-12 season in 1998 to a 9-4 record in 1999.
Three other teams---South Carolina (from 0-11 in 1999 to 8-4 in 2000), Florida (from 0-10-1 in 1979 to 8-4 in 1980) and Central Florida (from 0-11 in 2004 to 8-5 in 2005)---all had remarkable turn-arounds, but none of them accomplished the feat that is just one game away from the RedHawks.
Among championship sub-division teams, only Montana State has improved from double-digit losses (1-10 in 1983) to double-digit wins (12-2 in 1984) in consecutive seasons. The Bobcats' season began exactly as Miami's 2010 campaign started, compiling a 2-2 record after the first four games. MSU then went on to win 10 games in a row, including the FCS Championship[ Game over Louisiana Tech.
The double-figure losses to double-figure wins feat has never happened among either Division II or Division III teams.
Among professional football teams, it's happened with more regularity as 50 different clubs in NFL and AFL history have advanced from 10 or more losses to 10 or more victories.
However, only five of those 50 pro clubs turned the trick in less than 16 games: 1) the Oakland Raiders went from a 1-13 record in 1962 to a 10-4 record in 1963; 2) the San Diego Chargers went from 4-10 in 1962 to 11-3 in 1963; 3) the Miami Dolphins went from 3-10-1 in 1969 to 10-4 in 1970; 4) the Baltimore Colts went from 2-12 in 1974 to 10-4 in 1975; and 5) the New England Patriots went from 3-11 in 1975 to 11-3 in 1976.
Next season---in 2011---only Memphis (1-11), Bowling Green (2-10), Buffalo (2-10), Akron (1-11), Eastern Michigan (2-10), New Mexico (1-11), UNLV (2-11), Washington State (2-10), Vanderbilt (2-10), Western Kentucky (2-10), New Mexico State (2-10), San Jose State (1-12) have the dubious chance to duplicate what Miami might be able to do on Jan. 6.
Take it from the RedHawks, the view is MUCH better from the top.
--www.MURedHawks.com--
TICKET INFORMATION
Celebrate with fellow Miami fans in Mobile, Ala., for the best price available to the GoDaddy.com Bowl and receive $20 off next year's season tickets! Tickets to the GoDaddy.com Bowl are being offered to any and all Miami fans for a price of $20 per sideline ticket.
Miami fans can get their tickets to the GoDaddy.com Bowl by calling the Miami Athletic Ticket Office at 513-529-4295 (HAWK) or 1-866-MUHAWKS. In addition, tickets will be made available online at MURedHawks.com in the near future.
The Miami Athletic Ticket Office will be open during the normal business hours of 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday - Friday. Walk-up orders can be placed by visiting the Millett Hall Athletic Ticket Office during these hours.
Those purchasing GoDaddy.com Bowl tickets will be eligible for a $20 discount off their 2011 Miami Football Season tickets. For more information call the Miami Athletic Ticket Office.
Miami Athletics has worked with GoDaddy.com Bowl officials to arrange FREE admission for Miami Students. Students will be admitted to the game on a first-come, first-serve basis. Tickets can be requested by MU students by calling the Athletic Ticket Office Number (513-529-4295) or by visiting the Millett Hall Athletic Ticket Office in person. Miami Students will pick up their bowl game tickets in Mobile prior to the game. Miami University identification is required for obtaining student tickets. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Priority seat locations for tickets ordered by Dec. 18 will be assigned according to the Red & White Club Loyalty Points system to active Red & White Club Members.
For more information about the Red & White Club or to join, contact us at: (513) 529-8097 or RWClub@muohio.edu or click here. Your gift DOES make a difference in the lives of Miami student-athletes.
