Miami Ohio University Athletics
RedHawks Travel to CMU on Saturday
11/10/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
Miami RedHawks (2-8, 2-4 MAC)
at Central Michigan (6-4, 4-2 MAC)
Game 11: Sat., Nov. 15 • 1 p.m.
Kelly/Shorts Stadium (32,885) - Mount Pleasant, Mich.
Series vs. CMU: Tied 12-12-1
Series Streak: CMU - 2
Last Meeting: Oct. 5, 2013 (CMU 21-9)
Television: ESPN3 • Michael Rehgi (PxP) and Dustin Fox (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 670-430-44 (.606).
• Miami is coming off a 41-10 loss versus Western Michigan on Nov. 1 and has a 2-8 overall and 2-4 Mid-American Conference record entering the contest with Central 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 76-15 record as a head coach.
• The all-time series is tied at 12-12-1 between the two schools, but the Chippewas have won each of the last two meetings.
• Andrew Hendrix currently ranks 23rd in the nation in passing yards (2,693), 21st in passing touchdowns (20) and is 23rd in total offense per game (295.8).
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 seven of the last eight years, which includes just one MAC Championship (2010).
• One month 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 Central Michigan
Central Michigan comes into Saturday’s action with a 6-4 overall and 4-2 conference record. The Chippewas average 24.8 points and 162.5 yards on the ground. A majority of those yards are from runningback Thomas Rawls, who is averaging 144.4 yards per game and has 10 rushing touchdowns. Defensively they allow 21.9 points and 314.1 yards and are led by Justin Cherocci, who has 92 tackles and 5.0 tackles for loss.
Series Versus Central Michigan
The series is tied at 12-12-1 all-time between the two schools, with the Chippewas currently holding a two-game win streak heading into Saturday. Miami is 7-4-1 all-time versus CMU in Mount Pleasant and have not lost on the road versus CMU since 1994.
Recapping Western Michigan
Western Michigan roared out to a 21-0 advantage just 21 minutes into the game and finished the contest with a 41-10 win over Miami. The Broncos dominated on the ground, pilling up 282 rushing yards and finished the game with 499 total yards. The RedHawks finished the contest with 236 total yards.
#MACTION Season Continues
Saturday’s contest versus Central Michigan is the seventh of eight-straight MAC games for Miami to close the regular season. Miami will finish the season on Tuesday, Nov. 25 at home versus Ohio.
Hanging On
Since entering MAC play, Miami has turned the ball over just six times (3 INT, 3 fumbles). In fact, despite the 2-8 record, Miami ranks sixth in the conference in turnover margin (Even).
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 10 games he has completed 183-of-379 passes for 2,693 yards and 20 touchdowns. Hendrix is currently on pace for 3,232 yards and 24 touchdowns. His current pace would rank him sixth all-time at Miami in passing yards and fifth in touchdown passes.
Streak Snapped
Hendrix threw an interception one month 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 four interceptions in his last seven games (278 pass attempts), an average of one interception per 69.5 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 eight games with Miami.
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 10 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 (28), yards (561) and touchdowns (3) this season and is averaging 20.0 yards per catch. Of his 28 catches this year, 12 of them have gone for over 20 yards this season. Only David Frazier has more 20-yard plays this season (17).
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.
Mr. Do It All
Sophomore wide receiver Fred McRae has his best performance of the season as a RedHawk and did it in several different ways versus WMU. McRae established career-highs in kick returns (7) and kick return yards (173) and had a 74-yard kick return to help setup Miami’s lone touchdown of the game versus the Broncos. McRae added 13 yards on the ground and had two catches for 28 yards as well for a total of 214 all-purpose yards.
RedHawks In The MAC
• Andrew Hendrix is second in passing per game (269.3) and total offense per game (295.8).
• David Frazier ranks 10th in receptions per game (4.9) and sixth in receiving yards per game (81.3).
• Jarrell Jones ranks 14th in tackles per game (8.3) and second in fumble recoveries (3)
• Bryson Albright is fifth in sacks (5.0)
• Quinten Rollins ranks first in the MAC in interceptions (4) and fourth 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.
Kern and Jones Out For the Season
Kent Kern and Jarrell Jones, two of Miami’s leading tacklers will miss the remainder of the 2014 football season with injuries. Both were lost in the contest versus Kent State on Oct. 25. Jones leads the team with 75 tackles, while Kern is third with 69 stops.
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.
If You Build It...
Miami’s Athletic Director, David Sayler, has been busy in his first 20 months, adding several facilities for the department. The newest installment can be seen just north of Yager Stadium. The new Indoor Sports Center will serve as the indoor practice facility for a majority of Miami’s sports teams, including football. Installation is expected to be complete by Christmas.
Other facilities in the works/complete are the new weight room at Steve Cady Arena for the ice hockey team (complete), the baseball Legacy Project (has begun) and Millett Hall renovations (almost complete) for basketball and volleyball.
