30 Reasons to Get Excited About Miami Football

8/3/2011 12:00:00 AM | Redzone

Aug. 3, 2011

OXFORD, Ohio - As of Thursday (Aug. 4), only 30 days remain until Miami University's football season opener at Missouri and the anticipation at Yager Stadium is beginning to build among the RedHawk coaches and players.

Miami's players report Thursday for equipment check-in and physicals, with the first pre-season practice scheduled for Friday at 3:50 p.m.

Why should RedHawk fans be excited about the beginning of the 2011 season in 30 days? Here are 30 good reasons:

1. Miami is the defending Mid-American Conference champion.

2. MAC media have picked the RedHawks to win the 2011 East Division title.

3. The 2011 season marks debut of new Head Coach Don Treadwell, a former all-star receiver at Miami.

4. The RedHawks aim for their second consecutive season of double-digit victories.

5. A total of 48 letter winners return from last year's GoDaddy.com Bowl champs.

6. Eight offensive starters from 2010 are back for this season.

7. Nine defensive starters from a year ago return in 2011.

8. Six three-time letter winners are among the 48 veterans, including offensive lineman Brandon Brooks, tight end Kendrick Bruton, wide receiver Chris Givens, safety Anthony Kokal and linebackers Jerrell Wedge and Ryan Kennedy.

9. Miami's linebackers--Wedge, Kennedy, Evan Harris and others--were chosen as the MAC's best at that position by Phil Steele Magazine.

10. Quarterbacks Zac Dysert and Austin Boucher, who cumulatively passed for a MAC-best 3,552 yards in 2010, both return for the 2011 campaign.

11. Veteran defensive linemen Will Diaz, Austin Brown, ANTHONY SHOEMAKER, Mike Johns, Jordain Brown, Wes Williams, C.J. Marck, Jason Semmes and Mwanza Wamulumba all return. Altogether, they've won a total of 14 varsity letters.

12. Letter-winning wide receivers Andy Cruse , Nick Harwell, Luke Swift and Givens all return to the 2011 RedHawk roster.

13. With the exception of captain Jordan Gafford, Miami's defensive secondary returns five different players who started at least one game in 2010. The group includes D.J. Brown, Dayonne Nunley, Pat Hinkel, DEMETRIUS QUARLES and Kokal.

14. Brad Bednar, Josh Harvey and Brooks help anchor an offensive line that averages more than 300 pounds per starter.

15. Although tight end Steve Marck will sit out the 2011 season with an injury he incurred during spring drills, letter winners Dustin White and Bruton both return to the tight end position.

16. It will be a spirited battle during pre-season workouts to see who will fill the starting position at running back. Two-time letter winner Danny Green enters fall drills as the man to beat.

17. Sophomore placekicker Mason Krysinski, who impressed RedHawk coaches during spring drills, will be the regular kicker in 2011. Through his first two semesters in the classroom, Krysinski has a perfect 4.0 grade point average. Punter Zac Murphy, who averaged more than 39 yards per punt in 2010, returns for his sophomore season.

18. Sixteen incoming freshmen make their RedHawk debuts in 2011. The class includes: linebacker Sean Breard from Frisco, TX; offensive lineman TREVAN BROWN from Florence, KY; safety Brison Burris from Humble, TX; linebacker Tre Clifton from South Bend, IN; safety Chrishawn Dupuy from Slidell, LA; receiver David Frazier from Columbia, SC; tight end Andrew Gudeman from Greenwood, IN; receiver Alvonta Jenkins from Camden, SC; linebacker Tim Johnson from Orleans, LA; cornerback JARRELL JONES from Columbus; quarterback Drew Kummer from Cincinnati; offensive lineman Zach Lewis from Mount Prospect, IL; offensive lineman MARCUS MATTHEWS from Manassas, VA; running back Dawan Scott from Columbia, SC; running back Spencer Treadwell from East Lansing, MI; and linebacker Tyler Tucker from East Lansing, MI. Says Coach Treadwell, "We think that we've added a lot of speed to the team with this group of recruits."

19. Besides Don Treadwell, three other Miami football alumni--defensive ends coach Matt Edwards, linebacker coach Jay Peterson and tight ends/receivers coach Mike Bath--serve as RedHawk fulltime assistants.

20. Serving as Miami's offensive coordinator is former Lock Haven head coach John Klacik. MAC football veteran Pete Rekstis, defensive coordinator at Kent State for the last seven seasons, assumed that post for the RedHawks in January.

21. Zak Willis (recruiting coordinator and special teams coordinator), Charlie Fisher (passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach), MARK SPENCER (running backs) and Nick Siatras (defensive tackles) round out the coaching staff.

22. With 51 days still remaining until the RedHawks' home season opener on September 24, Miami's ticket office reports that it has already exceeded last year's season ticket total by six percent. Season ticket prices begin at just $70.

23. Sales of the Football Foursome package for the Family Weekend game against Bowling Green on Sept. 24 are a hot commodity, approaching the 5,000 ticket mark. A value regularly priced at $160, the Football Foursome special is available for just $40! That price includes four tickets to the game, four exclusive Miami visors (not sold in stores), four John Morrell hot dogs and four soft drinks. If fans need additional tickets for the rest of their party, they're also available for just $10 per person and include the visor, the hot dog and the drink.

24. At an average price of just $15 per ticket in a season ticket package, Miami University's faculty and staff receive the opportunity to purchase one of Division I college football's best bargains.

25. For fans that can't come to all six Miami home football games, fans are encouraged to purchase the Three-Game Mini Plan. This special package includes tickets to the biggest 'themed' home games of the season: 1) the Family Weekend home season opener against Bowling Green, the Homecoming game versus Buffalo, and what very well could be a championship-clinching contest against Western Michigan. All three games are Mid-American Conference battles. The Three-Game Mini-Plan has big perks not available to a single-game purchase. The package not only comes with reserved game tickets, but also includes a free hot dog and drink for each game, an exclusive concession line, an exclusive Miami visor (not sold in stores) and the same seat for all three games.

26. Miami hosts the annual Victory Bell game against Cincinnati on October 1. Single-game sales begin on August 15.

27. Miami hosts Army at Yager Stadium on Oct. 8. Prior to the game, Miami will unveil the statues of Bo Schembechler, Paul Brown, John Pont, Ara Parseghian and Earl Blaik in its Cradle of Coaches Plaza.

28. This year's Miami Homecoming opponent is Buffalo (Oct. 29), who the RedHawks defeated a year ago by a score of 21-9.

29. If you like football under the lights, Miami hosts night games at Yager Stadium against Akron (Nov. 3) and Western Michigan (Nov. 16).

30. For long-distance alumni and fans, Miami has expanded its All-Access programming on the school's website, www.MURedHawks.com. Powered by the Miami Bookstore, All-Access will feature more than 100 live events over its internet platform, including three home football games. The subscription price is only $9.95 per month or $79.95 per year, but new subscribers can receive a 10% discount through Sept. 2 by entering promo code 10MU10. Returning subscribers are being offered 20% off through a coupon they will receive in an email from Miami All-Access.

--www.MURedHawks.com--