Homecoming Game Versus WMU Set For Saturday
10/27/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
Miami RedHawks (2-7, 2-3 MAC)
vs. Western Michigan Broncos (5-3, 3-1 MAC)
Game 10: Sat., Nov. 1 • 2:30 p.m.
Yager Stadium (24,286) - Oxford, Ohio
Series vs. WMU: Miami Leads 37-19-1
Series Streak: WMU - 3
Last Meeting: Nov. 16, 2011 (WMU, 24-21)
Television: ESPN3 • Jim Barber (PxP) and John Gregory (Analyst)
Radio: Miami Sports Network • Steve Baker (PxP), Tim Bray (Analyst), Terry Bridge (sideline)
Live Stats: www.MURedHawks.com
Twitter Hits
• The Miami University football team is in its 126th season of football and has an all-time record of 670-429-44 (.606).
• Miami is coming off a 10-3 victory last Saturday versus Kent State and has a 2-7 overall and 2-3 Mid-American Conference record entering the contest with Western Michigan.
• Head coach Chuck Martin is in his first year. Martin spent the past four seasons at Notre Dame and was 74-7 as a head coach for Grand Valley State University from 2004-09. He comes into Saturday’s contest with a 76-14 record as a head coach.
• Miami leads the all-time series 37-19-1 over Western Michigan, but the Broncos have won each of the last three meetings.
• Saturday marks Miami University’s 100th Homecoming and its 98th Homecoming football game. The RedHawks are 61-32-4 all-time on Homecoming.
• Andrew Hendrix currently ranks seventh in the nation in passing yards (2,597), 18th in passing touchdowns (19) and is 14th in total offense per game (317.1).
• David Frazier ranks 10th in receiving yards (813) and 21st in yards per game (90.3) in the nation.
• The RedHawks have won each of their last two home games. The last time Miami won three straight home contests was back in 2010.
Need To Know
• Miami football ranks first all-time in the Mid-American Conference in wins (670), MAC Championships (15), bowl appearances (10) and bowl wins (7).
• In 126 years of Miami football, the RedHawks have had just 31 losing seasons. Since joining the MAC in 1948 (66 years) Miami has had just 14 losing seasons.
• Since 2006 it has been a different story. Miami has had losing seasons in eight of the last nine years, which includes just one MAC Championship (2010).
• Four weeks ago, the RedHawks snapped a 21-game losing streak versus UMass. Miami’s previous win was on Oct. 27, 2012 at home versus Ohio (23-20).
• Head coach Chuck Martin, who earned that title on Dec. 3, 2013, brings an impressive resume to Oxford, Ohio. Not only was he 74-7 in six years at Grand Valley State (2004-09), he has coached in seven national championship games in the past 13 seasons. He has twice been named the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) National Coach of the Year and has been a coordinator on both sides of the ball.
• Martin brought in nine new assistant coaches with him, four of which coached with him during his time at Grand Valley State: Matt Pawlowski (Defensive Coordinator), Eric Koehler (Co-Offensive Coordinator/QB), George Barnett (Co-Offensive Coordinator/OL) and Bill Brechin (Wide Receivers). Pat Welsh (Tight Ends) played for Coach Martin at GVSU.
About Western Michigan
Western Michigan is the hottest team in the Mid-American Conference, entering Saturday with a three-game win streak over Ball State, Bowling Green and Ohio. The Broncos are led by running back Jarvion Franklin, who has 1,148 yards rushing and a country’s-best 19 touchdowns. Quarterback Zach Terrell (261.8) leads a solid passing attack that features a strong pair of wide receivers. Daniel Braverman leads the team with 57 receptions, but Corey Davis is tops in yards (821) and touchdowns (7).
Series Versus Western Michigan
Miami holds a 37-19-1 all-time series advantage over Western Michigan, but the Broncos enter Saturday’s contest having won the last three meetings between the schools. The RedHawks are 22-6-1 overall versus WMU in Oxford, but have not beating the Broncos at home since 2004.
Recapping Kent State
The Miami defense had its best showing of the season, holding the Golden Flashes to just 285 yards of offense and a single field goal in a 10-3 victory last Saturday. Kent State managed just 79 yards rushing and were 2-of-13 on third downs.
Keep Out
Holding a team to a single field goal had not been done at Miami since the RedHawks beat Akron 35-3 back on Nov. 3, 2011.
#MACTION Season Continues
Saturday’s contest versus Western Michigan is the fifth of eight-straight MAC games for Miami to close the regular season. Miami will finish the season with three home games in the final four weeks (includes last week’s game versus Kent State).
Hanging On
Since entering MAC play, Miami has turned the ball over just four times (1 INT, 3 fumbles). In fact, despite the 2-7 record, Miami ranks fifth in the conference in turnover margin (+1).
Hendrix Leads The Way
While senior quarterback Andrew Hendrix has not yet even been on campus for an entire year (transfer from Notre Dame), he has taken the reigns of the Miami offense in a hurry. Through nine games he has completed 176-of-360 passes for 2,597 yards and 19 touchdowns. Hendrix is currently on pace for 3,463 yards and 26 touchdowns. His current pace would rank him second in Miami history for yards and passing touchdowns in a single season.
Figured It Out
You think Andrew Hendrix has figured out this Chuck Martin offense? In the last four games he has completed 90-of-169 passes for 1,255 yards (313.8) yards and nine touchdowns, while throwing just one interception. One month ago he was named ESPN.com’s Capital One Impact Performer of the Week after throwing for 437 yards and four touchdowns in a 42-41 win over UMass.
Streak Snapped
Hendrix threw an interception three weeks ago versus Akron to have a streak of 134 consecutive passes thrown without an interception snapped. Since throwing three picks in a loss to Eastern Kentucky, the senior has thrown just three interceptions in his last six games (259 pass attempts), an average of one interception per 86.3 passes thrown.
Fighting Irish
Joining Andrew Hendrix on the offensive side of the ball from Notre Dame is tight end Alex Welch. Welch, who caught just one pass in 22 games for the Fighting Irish, has 17 catches for 218 yards and two touchdowns in six games with Miami. Two weeks ago he set career-highs in catches (5) and yards (63), while being named the John Mackey Tight End of the Week.
Welch Named to John Mackey Midseason Watch List
The John Mackey Award, given to the nation’s top tight end has announced its mid-season watch list and Miami University’s Alex Welch is one of the honorees. Welch, a fifth-year senior and a transfer from Notre Dame, is fourth on the team with 17 receptions for 218 yards and two touchdowns. He opened his Miami career with four catches for 28 yards and a score versus Marshall, had two catches for 59 yards and a touchdown at Buffalo and set career-bests in catches (5) and yards (63) in a 42-41 win over UMass. Welch was later named the John Mackey Tight End of the Week following his efforts versus the Minutemen.
RedHawks Named MAC Player of the Week This Season
• Quinten Rollins was named MAC East Defensive Player of the Week (week 3) following a performance at Michigan that included eight tackles and an interception.
• David Frazier was named MAC East Offensive Player of the Week (week 4) after recording five catches for 162 yards and two touchdowns in a loss versus Cincinnati. Earned the same award in week 7 versus Akron after recording nine grabs for 132 yards and two touchdowns.
• Andrew Hendrix earned MAC East Offensive Player of the Week after completing 32-of-58 passes for 437 yards and four touchdowns, while adding 91 yards on the ground in week six versus UMass. Hendrix earned the same award following the contest versus NIU in which he threw for 346 yards and two touchdowns and added three more rushing scores versus the Huskies.
Frazier Streaking
Through nine games this season, David Frazier has four 100-yard games. He opened the year with 109 yards versus Marshall and added 106 the following week versus Eastern Kentucky. He established a career-best 162 versus Cincinnati and had 132 versus Akron. Frazier is just one of five RedHawks in school history (Nick Harwell, Martin Nance, Ryne Robinson, Armand Robinson and Andy Schillinger) to have at least four 100-yard games in a single season.
Big Play Rokeem
Sophomore wide receiver Rokeem Williams has established career-highs in catches (27), yards (541) and touchdowns (3) this season and is averaging 20.0 yards per catch. Of his 27 catches this year, 11 of them have gone for over 20 yards this season. Only David Frazier has more 20-yard plays this season (17) for the RedHawks.
Breakout Party
Freshman wide receiver Sam Martin came into the UMass game with three career receptions. Versus the Minutemen, he had four receiving touchdowns, which matched a Miami/Yager Stadium record. In all, Martin finished the contest with eight catches for 111 yards and those four scores.
RedHawks In The MAC
• Andrew Hendrix is second in passing per game (288.6) and first in total offense per game (317.1).
• David Frazier ranks seventh in receptions per game (5.4) and fourth in receiving yards per game (90.3).
• Jarrell Jones ranks 12th in tackles per game (8.3) and first in fumble recoveries (3)
• Bryson Albright is fourth in sacks (5.0)
• Quinten Rollins ranks first in the MAC in interceptions (4) and third in pass defenses (12).
• Tre Clifton ranks second with three forced fumbles.
Man of Steals
Quinten Rollins, who spent the past four seasons with the Miami men’s basketball team, began playing football for the RedHawks during the spring. Rollins, who ranks 12th in MAC history with 214 career steals on the basketball court, has added a different sort of steal this season on the football field. Rollins recorded his first career interception versus EKU, with a jumping catch in the endzone to save a touchdown and added his second interception the following week at the Big House. He added a career-high two interceptions versus UC.
Other Rollins Basketball Stats
• Finished his career ranked second at Miami and 12th in MAC history in steals (214).
• One of only 15 players in MAC history to reach 200 steals.
• Ranked fourth all-time at Miami in assists (391), seventh in games started (106) and ninth in minutes played (3,448).
• Played in 116 career games.
Prove the SID Wrong
Quinten Rollins is believed to be the first college athlete to ever score a basket versus Duke inside Cameron Indoor, intercept a pass versus Michigan inside Michigan Stadium and intercept a pass inside Paul Brown Stadium. Rollins was 1-of-6 shooting versus the Blue Devils as a freshman during the 2009-10 season and intercepted a pass as a fifth-year senior inside the Big House and at Paul Brown Stadium.
Middle Linebacker Machine
In his last 20 games, Kent Kern has seven double-digit tackle performances, including 13 stops versus Marshall and 10 against EKU to open the 2014 campaign. Kern, who was named second-team All-MAC last season led the team with 98 tackles in 2013 and is sixth in the MAC with 39 stops this season.
Quick Impact
In his first career start, Tre Clifton had six tackles and two forced fumbles in the win over UMass. His first forced fumble came inside the Miami redzone as UMass was looking to take a 21-0 lead. His second credited turnover helped Miami set up the game-winning touchdown midway through the fourth quarter. Clifton is currently fourth in the country with three forced fumbles.
Disruption is Production
While Bryson Albright only had four tackles on the stat sheet in a 10-3 win over Kent State, he added four quarterback hurries, a new career-best. Albright leads the team and is fourth in the MAC with 5.0 sacks this season.
Big Thanks To Big Ben
It was announced on Monday (Oct. 27) that former RedHawk, Ben Roethlisberger, and his wife Ashley, had donated $1 million to Miami Athletics to name the field inside the new Indoor Performance Center “Ben Roethlisberger Field.”
