The 2019 football season is the 150
th anniversary of college football. Here at MiamiRedHawks.com, we will honor some of the all-time greats to play for Miami University as well as those that have made an impact at Miami since their graduation. We caught up with Ron Carpenter to hear about the memories he made while wearing the Red and White. Carpenter is one of just 11 players in school history to be a three-time First Team All-MAC honoree. To this day, he continues to hold the school record with 16 career interceptions, playing from 1989-1992.
I know it's a bit of a broad question, but how would you explain your time at Miami?
RC: My time at Miami was a wonderful experience for me. I grew as a person, I matured as a man. I grew educationally, and I made life-long friendships.
How did Miami help you to prepare for life outside of football?
RC: Miami taught me how to interact with people. Miami taught me how to persevere and how to be successful.
What was your favorite moment on the playing field at Miami and why?
RC: My favorite moment was the last game of my career at Miami. It was against Western Michigan. I needed one more interception to break the all-time record. We were in a cover-two defense and Western tried to send a Tight End down the center of the field. I read it from the start of the play and stepped in front and broke the record.
What advice would you give a student-athlete at Miami to help them achieve their goals?
RC: I would tell any student-athlete at Miami to believe in yourself. Set goals, be coachable, be committed and be consistent.
Did you have a favorite teammate in your time at Miami? What made him special?
RC: I did have a favorite teammate at Miami, John Wauford. He was a great defensive end for us. He had a very high motor and he was tenacious when it came to putting pressure on the quarterback. I could always count on him to have a great game.
What was your favorite place to eat in Oxford?
RC: My favorite place in Oxford to eat was SDS Pizza.
Funniest moment in your time at Miami?
RC: The funniest moment in my time at Miami was a shaving cream fight my roommates and I had with our Resident Advisor (RA). We got shaving cream everywhere, we had a blast and we took pictures to memorialize the occasion.
Was there someone, maybe a professor or advisor that had a major impact on your time at Miami?
RC: Randy Thomas, who is still impacting the lives of students and student athletes at Miami, was a major influence on me. He showed me how to be successful academically and socially at Miami.
Tell us about your life now. What are you doing? Any major accomplishments we should be aware of?
RC: I am currently in the process of accepting a position with the new professional football team in St. Louis Missouri. The XFL is a new professional football league and I will be the Director of Scouting and Analytics for the St. Louis franchise. Also, I earned a Masters of Athletic Administration in 2017.
Is there anything else you would like us (or others) to know about you?
RC: I have a wonderful wife, (Tamara), and four sons, Kamron, Aidan, Aubry and Dawson.
What makes Miami so special?
RC: Miami is special because it is a place that is welcoming and challenging. Miami opened its arms to me. Every step of the way I was encouraged by coaches, administrators, professors and teammates to be the best student-athlete and person that I could be. I came to Miami as a wide-eyed teenager who was unsure of his future. I left Miami as a well-rounded man who knew exactly what he wanted out of life. Everyone who spends time at Miami University understands how special our beloved University is. How do I know this? I know this because when we greet each other, we all say LOVE and Honor.
