2011 GoDaddy.com Bowl

Miami vs. Middle Tennessee
Jan. 6, 2011 - Ladd-Peebles Stadium - Mobile, Ala.

MIAMI GAME NOTES

Miami made its 10th bowl appearance on Thursday, improving to 7-3 all-time. The GoDaddy.com Bowl marked the first postseason game since the 2004 Independence Bowl.
Thursday's game marked the first time that Miami and Middle Tennessee met on the gridiron.
For the first time in three postseason opportunities, Miami rallied to a victory after falling behind early. The RedHawks entered the game 6-1 when scoring the first points of a bowl game, but only 0-2 when falling behind.
Miami became the first team in Football Bowl Subdivision history to go from double-digit losses (1-11 in 2009) to double digit wins (10-4 in 2010). The RedHawks' eight-game improvement is tied with three other teams for second place in NCAA history.
Sophomore Zac Dysert, who started the first eight games at quarterback before suffering a lacerated spleen against Bowling Green, returned to the RedHawks' lineup as the holder.
Miami's 35 points were a season high. The previous best was 31 against Colorado State.
True freshman Dayonne Nunley returned the opening kickoff 38 yards for Miami. It was the first time that the true freshman has lined up deep on a kickoff return and first return of his career. It was also a Miami bowl record - besting 35 by Randy Walker in the 1975 Tangerine Bowl - and the second-longest of the season by the RedHawks.
Dayonne Nunley returned an interception 52 yards for a touchdown on the first drive of the third quarter. The pick was the team-high sixth of the season. The return - confirmed as a touchdown by review - was his first for a score and the longest in Miami bowl history. The only other Miami interception return for a score in a bowl game was by Matt Pusateri (35 yards) in the 2003 GMAC Bowl.
Evan Harris later equaled Dayonne Nunley for the team lead with his sixth interception. He returned it 23 yards, giving him 137 for the season, sixth-best in Miami history.
Miami's grabbed two more interceptions, a new season high. D. J. Brown had his second pick of the year with 4:35 left, while Pat Hinkel had his third with just under two minutes left. The RedHawks also had three picks against Eastern Michigan, Cincinnati and Northern Illinois.
Armand Robinson's 70-yard reception late in the first quarter was the longest of pass play in Miami bowl history. Previously, Ben Roethlisberger and Martin Nance connected for a 44-yarder at the 2003 GMAC Bowl in Mobile. The grab was also a career-long for Robinson as he had a 62-yarder against Colorado State.
With 81 yards on four receptions, Armand Robinson made three changes to the Miami record book. He set the school record for catches in a season with 94, while moving into fifth on the single-season yardage chart with 1,062. He also passed Martin Nance for second on the career receptions list (209).
Thomas Merriweather finished the game with 100 yards on 28 carries, his fourth century rushing game of the year. He also reached the mark against Temple, Akron and Eastern Michigan. It was his fifth 100-yard rushing game of his career, joining the Temple game in 2008.
Thursday marked the eighth straight game that Miami had a play cover 40 yards or more from scrimmage. Robinson's 70-yard reception was the first of two Miami plays on the night to exceed that distance.
Senior (grad student) Mike Scherpenberg threw his first career completion late in the first half. He hit Armand Robinson for a nine-yarder.
Miami controlled the clock for the 13th time in 14 games this season. The RedHawks had the ball for a season-high 39:11 compared to only 20:49 for Middle Tennessee. Only Ohio held the ball more than than Miami this season (35:21 to 24:39).
Miami swept the game awards. Freshman Austin Boucher was named Most Valuable Player, while senior Thomas Merriweather was the Offensive MVP. True freshman Dayonne Nunley was the Defensive MVP with DeMarco Paine winning Special Teams MVP.

Miami vs. Middle Tennessee Game Notes

2011 GoDaddy.com Bowl

Miami vs. Middle Tennessee Jan. 6, 2011 - Ladd-Peebles Stadium - Mobile, Ala.

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Miami vs. Middle Tennessee
Jan. 6, 2011 - Ladd-Peebles Stadium - Mobile, Ala.