Nov. 29, 2007

Complete Release in PDF Format

IF MIAMI WINS ...: It would improve Miami's season record to 7-6 ... it would be the RedHawks' second victory in a MAC Championship Game (2003 was the other) ... it would clinch bowl eligibility for 2007 ... it would be Miami's fourth victory in its last five games against Central Michigan (MU leads the all-time series, 11-9-1).

BEST MIAMI PERFORMANCES VS. CENTRAL MICHIGAN: In Miami's previous 21 games against Central Michigan, here are the RedHawks' top individual efforts:

INDIVIDUAL RUSHING: Deland McCullough, 208 yards (35 atts.-250 yds.-1 TD); 10/22/94 INDIVIDUAL PASSING: Josh Betts, 395 yards (27 comps.-46 atts-0 int.-3 TD); 9/10/05 INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING: Ryne Robinson, 152 yards (8 recs.-152 yds.-1 TD); 9/10/05

BOWL GAME RAMIFICATIONS: A win over the Chippewas would allow Miami to solidify its standing for Bowl game consideration. A seventh season victory would guarantee that MU's record would stay above .500. The MAC has ties with three different Bowl games: 1) The Motor City Bowl--Dec. 26 at Detroit's Ford Field, MAC vs. Big Ten; 2) The International Bowl--Jan. 5 at Toronto's Rogers Center, MAC vs. Big East, and 3) The GMAC Bowl--Jan. 6 at Mobile's Ladd-Peebles Stadium, MAC vs. Conference USA.

BEST OF THE MAC: Miami shared the 2007 MAC East Division championship with Bowling Green and Buffalo. All three schools had identical Division records of 4-2, but because of Miami's previous wins over the Falcons and the Bulls, the RedHawks won the East Division tie-breaker and faces Central Michigan in the MAC Championship Game on Saturday, Dec. 1, at Detroit's Ford Field. Miami has won more MAC games than any other conference member (258), and its all-time MAC winning percentage of .674 (258-122-11) is far and away the best. MU has won or shared 14 MAC titles, more than anyone else, and will have an opportunity to win its 15th conference championship on Saturday.

2007 REDHAWKS AMONG MIAMI'S BEST ALL-TIME TURN-AROUND TEAMS: Through its first 12 games, Miami has registered four more victories (six) than it had in all of its 2006 season (two). That matches the third-best improvement from one season to another in Miami's 118-year history. The only bigger turn-around stories came 30 years ago when MU's 1977 squad (10 wins) improved its record by seven victories over the 1976 team (three wins), and 100 years ago when Miami's 1907 club (six wins) bettered its record by five victories over the 1906 team (one win).

ONE OF WORST TO FIRST: Coach Shane Montgomery's 2007 club won five MAC games, compared to only two a year ago. In 60 seasons as a member of the MAC, that three-conference-victory improvement matches Miami's second-best turn-around. Their best-ever improvement was four wins: three in 1984 to seven in 1985.

MIAMI AMONG COLLEGE FOOTBALL'S ELITE TEAMS: In college football history, Miami ranks 20th in terms of all-time victories with 647. MU is the only non-BCS-affiliated school in this rarified air. Among all-time collegiate teams with the best winning percentage, Miami ranks 16th at .6317 (647-368-44). MU ranks 13th in winning percentage among schools that have played 100 or more seasons, trailing only Michigan, Notre Dame, Texas, Oklahoma, Penn State, Ohio State, Alabama, Nebraska, Southern California, Tennessee, Georgia and LSU.

7, 40, 42: There are three special numbers in Miami football history, and the men who once wore those jerseys all were in attendance the Oct. 13 game. Number seven, once the property of All-America quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, is the latest to be retired by Miami. Thanks to an off-week for the Pittsburgh Steelers, "Big Ben" was able to come back to Oxford on Oct. 13 for the jersey retirement ceremony. Roethlisberger was joined by former Miami player and coach JOHN PONT (#42, retired in 1951), and former MU running back BOB HITCHENS (#40, retired in 1973).

CIGAR GAMES: The old phrase "close, but no cigar" has not applied to the 2007 RedHawks. Seven times this season, the final margin has been seven points or less, and Miami has won five of those seven contests. In 2006, the RedHawks had a 2-5 record in final margins of seven points or less.

HOME-GAME SUCCESS: Following a record seven straight home-game losses, the RedHawks won their last four contests at Yager Stadium, defeating Syracuse (17-14), Bowling Green (47-14), Buffalo (31-28) and Akron (7-0). It is Miami's longest winning streak on its home field since it won five in a row at Yager during the 2004 season.

REDHAWK CAPTAINS: Miami has three captains in 2007, and will name at least one player each week to be a game captain. The three players who were elected by their teammates include quarterback Mike Kokal (Sr., Warren), running back Brandon Murphy (Sr., Strongsville) and linebacker Joey Hudson (Jr., Piqua). The captain for the Central Michigan game will be named later this week.

REDHAWKS' INJURY REPORT: Mickey Mann (injured knee vs. Syracuse), out for season ... Andre Bratton (injured knee vs. Cincinnati), out for season... Brandon Murphy (injured knee vs. Minnesota), out for season ... Matt McKeown (injured shoulder vs. Ball State), out for season ... Mike Kokal (injured knee vs. Kent State), questionable for CMU game ... Ben Huddle (injured knee vs. Kent State), out for season ... NICK DeBARTALO (injured knee vs. Bowling Green), out for season ... Dave DiFranco (injured ankle), probable for CMU game ... Austin Sykes (re-injured ankle vs. Akron), questionable for CMU game.

MIAMI'S OFFENSE

POSSESSIVE: Though Miami lost a disappointing game at Ohio, its offense was on the field for nearly 12 more minutes than the Bobcats (35:55 to 24:05) and accumulated 180 more yards in total offense (379 to 199).

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WINNING AND LOSING: In Miami's six victories, the team's rushing yardage (1,174) and its passing yardage (1,263) is virtually the same. In the RedHawks' six losses, the team's passing yardage (1,553) far exceeds its total rushing yardage (473).

REDHAWK RUNNING BACKS IN AND OUT OF REVOLVING DOOR: Because of a series of injuries and surprising performances, a total of seven different Miami tailbacks have had their moments of glory. Here's what has happened since late August:

GAME 1 VS. BALL STATE: Brandon Murphy began the season as Miami's starter, and paced the RedHawks in rushing vs. Ball State (123 yards).

GAME 2 VS. MINNESOTA: Murphy started out strong against the Golden Gophers (78 yards on 12 carries), then suffered a career-ending knee injury. He had season-ending surgery on Oct. 5.

GAME 3 VS. CINCINNATI: Andre Bratton (Woodbridge, VA), who ran for 50 yards vs. Minnesota the week before, took over starting duty, but he was injured early in game three vs. Cincinnati. Senior running back Austin Sykes (Coraopolis, PA) subbed in for Bratton and was MU's top rusher against the Bearcats (76 yards).

GAME 4 VS. COLORADO: Sykes got his first start, but was held to just 29 yards on nine carries.

GAME 5 VS. SYRACUSE: Sykes received his second starting assignment, but the star of the show was Cory Jones (Florence, MS) who gained a team-leading 125 yards vs. Syracuse. Jones was injured on his last carry against the Orange and was forced to sit out the next two games.

GAME 6 VS. KENT STATE: Due to Jones's injury, Sykes started his third game of the season and rushed for a team-high 74 yards.

GAME 7 VS. BOWLING GREEN: Sykes had his career's best effort, rushing for 124 yards on 17 carries. Due to the blow-out, three other young players--redshirt freshman Jamel Miller (Tallmadge) and true freshmen Thomas Merriweather (Florissant, MO) and T.J. Lattimore (Maple Heights)--saw a considerable amount of playing time against BG, combining for 118 yards on 27 carries.

GAME 8 VS. TEMPLE: Sykes got the starting call at Temple, but ultimately gave way to a more productive Jones (40 net yards).

GAME 9 VS. VANDERBILT: Sykes started again at Vanderbilt (49 yards rushing), but left the game in the second half with an injured ankle.

GAME 10 VS. BUFFALO: Sykes was the starter, but gave way to Jones who rushed for 124 yards. Merriweather scored two TDs and gained 28 yards.

GAME 11 VS. AKRON: Sykes started, but re-injured his ankle. Jones has a team-high 66 yards rushing.

GAME 12 VS. OHIO: Jones got the start in place of the injured Sykes and rolled up 103 yards rushing. Merriweather added 30 yards and a touchdown.

For the season, Jones leads Miami with 464 yards rushing. Sykes is right behind with 460 yards.

MISSISSIPPI MACHINE: Among Miami's top candidates for most improved player is senior Cory Jones. The running back from Florence, Miss. registered his third 100+ rushing game of 2007, racking up 103 in Miami's loss at Ohio. He has averaged 4.8 yards per rush in the 10 games he's played in 2007, gaining 464 yards on just 97 carries. More than 75 percent of Jones's yardage has been recorded in just three games. Jones had not seen any game action in his first four seasons at Miami. He ran for 125 yards vs. Syracuse on Sept. 29 and rushed the ball 19 times for 124 net yards (6.5 average) vs. Buffalo. Jones broke loose for a career-best 57-yard run vs. Buffalo and had a 48-yard gallop vs. Syracuse.

THREE TDs IN LAST THREE GAMES: True freshman running back Thomas Merriweather scored a touchdown in the regular-season finale at Ohio, giving him three TDs in his last three games. Against Buffalo in game 10, the young St. Louisan ran for two touchdowns: a nine-yard TD at 2:56 of the second quarter and a one-yard score at 9:47 in the third period. It was the fourth time this season that a RedHawk running back has scored two TDs in a game. Brandon Murphy scored a pair of touchdowns in the season opener at Ball State, Cory Jones tallied two TDs in game five vs. Syracuse, and Austin Sykes scored two TDs in game seven vs. Bowling Green.

THINGS GO BETTER WITH KOKAL: As a starter this season, Mike Kokal (Sr., Warren) is 3-2 (victories over Ball State, Syracuse and Kent State, and losses to Minnesota and Cincinnati). He moved into eighth place on MU's all-time passing yardage list, now totaling 3,173 yards. Only nine other RedHawk quarterbacks have reached 3,000 passing yards during their careers. Kokal has not played in a game since Oct. 6.

RAUDABAUGH ADDS TO SEASON NUMBERS: With 223 yards passing against Ohio, sophomore quarterback Daniel Raudabaugh (Coppell, TX) boosted his season total to 2,177 yards in 10 appearances. Raughdabaugh, who began the 2007 campaign as Mike Kokal's back-up, needs 189 yards passing this Saturday vs. CMU to crack Miami's top 10 list for single-season passing yardage. Dating back to Sam Ricketts in 1997, a RedHawk QB has now passed for at least 1,500 yards in 11 consecutive seasons. Career-wise, Raudabaugh has 2,468 passing yards, just 181 yards short of tying Jim Bengala (1968-70) for 11th place on Miami's career list. Raudabaugh has 12 touchdown passes. Against Kent State on Oct. 6, Raudabaugh averaged 12.1 yards for each of his 15 offensive plays (182 total yards), the best single-game effort among all MAC players in 2007.

TWO-HEADED QUARTERBACK: Together, Daniel Raudabaugh and Mike Kokal have passed for 2,792 yards and 12 touchdowns during the 2007 season. As a team, Miami has passed for at least 2,000 yards every year since 1999. Raudabaugh and Kokal passed for 418 yards in game two at Minnesota, the fourth-best all-time single-game mark in Miami history. The only three performances that exceeded that effort were all by former RedHawk great Ben Roethlisberger (525 yards vs. Northern Illinois in 2002, 452 yards vs. Hawaii in 2001, and 440 yards vs. Bowling Green in 2003). As either the head coach or the offensive coordinator, Miami's Shane Montgomery has had a direct hand in the school's top 13 single-game passing efforts. Career-wise, the Raudabaugh-Kokal twosome has passed for 5,641 yards and 27 touchdowns.

MIAMI QBs IN MAC ACTION: Miami quarterback Daniel Raudabaugh completed an impressive 59 percent of his passes (114-of-194) in six MAC games, averaging 235 yards passing per contest. In three MAC-game appearances, Mike Kokal is completing 64.7 percent of his passes (22-of-34).

MIAMI'S RECEIVERS: Nineteen different RedHawk receivers have caught passes through the first 12 games of 2007. Eleven of those 19 players have recorded their first collegiate receptions this season. Over the past seven games, Miami receivers have caught 140 passes and averaged nearly 13 per grab. Among the 140 catches have been 18 receptions of 22 yards or more, including gains of 73, 54, 49, 46, two 43-yard receptions and three 40-yard catches. Eugene Harris (R-Fr., Atlanta, GA) has a team-leading 40 catches for 501 yards and two TDs. The team's next most frequent receivers are Dustin Woods (So., Cincinnati) with 38 catches for 542 yards and Armand Robinson (R-Fr., Reynoldsburg) with 29 receptions for 420 yards. True freshman Chris Givens (Chillicothe) averages a team-high 17.6 yards for each of his 24 catches.

LONG GAINS A GIVEN(S): Chris Givens (Fr., Chillicothe) had a career-tying best five receptions for 78 yards vs. Akron. He had receptions of 55 yards (vs. Minnesota), 40 yards (vs. Buffalo), 39 yards (vs. Cincinnati) and 34 yards (vs. Kent State). Earlier this season against Minnesota, Givens became only the second true freshman receiver in Miami football history to crack the century mark for yardage (five catches for 112 yards).

RETURN TO ROCKY TOP: Miami quarterback turned receiver Jared Elliott (Jr., Franklin, TN) returned to his home state on Oct. 27 and enjoyed the most successful day of his career: four catches for 25 yards. Prior to the Vanderbilt game, Elliott had caught only two passes for 45 yards. He had a 35-yard reception at Colorado this season, his first-ever collegiate catch. That single gain comprised 25.1 percent of Miami's total offensive yardage (139) against the Buffaloes.

TIGHT END TOTALS: Among Miami's receivers, three junior tight ends have accounted for 29 receptions. Junior Tom Crabtree (Carroll), Jake O'Connell (Naples, FL) and Pat Shepard (Pittsburgh, PA) average 10 yards per catch.

MAC-GAME STATS: Through its seven Mid-American Conference games (vs. Ball State, Kent State, Bowling Green, Temple and Buffalo), the 5-2 RedHawks are ... *Out-scoring their opponents, 165 points to 130 (average of 23.6 to 18.6) *Out-passing their opponents, 1,650 yards to 1,304 yards (average of 235.7 to 186.3) *Out-rushing their opponents, 1,076 yards to 762 yards (average of 153.7 to 108.9)

TWO-THIRDS, ONE-THIRD: Of Miami's 4,463 total offensive yards through 12 games, 2,816 yards (63.1 percent) have come via the passing game.

577-YARD PERFORMANCE SIXTH-BEST: Miami's 577 yards of total offense vs. Minnesota ranks sixth-best in the school's record book. The all-time record offensive explosion came in 2003 vs. Kent State when Miami piled up 648 yards. Five of the top six single-game total offensive efforts have come with Shane Montgomery as either the head coach or offensive coordinator. The 1,154 cumulative yards of total offense by Miami (577 yards) and Minnesota (577 yards) rank as the second-most in MU single-game history. It was just seven yards shy of the all-time mark of 1,161 yards piled up by Miami (616 yards) and Hawaii (545 yards) in 2001. The 1,154 total yards by Miami and Minnesota is sixth-best in the MAC record books. The all-time Mid-American Conference single-game record for total offense by two teams is 1,245 yards by Bowling Green (618) and Northwestern (624).

FRONT-LINE WARRIORS: Three postseason award candidates--left tackle Charlie Norden (Sr., Dublin), left guard Dave DiFranco (Jr., LaGrange) and center Steve Meister (Sr., Allison Park, PA)--have been stalwarts in Miami's offensive effort. DiFranco split time between right and left tackle a year ago, and Meister played the last two seasons at left guard. Miami's offensive line was decimated by injuries a year ago, but has remained healthy and intact throughout the 2007 campaign and earned MAC East Division Offensive Players of the Week on Nov. 5, becoming the first offensive line unit to earn the award in conference history. Norden has an efficiency grade of 85 percent this season, according to offensive line coach Matt Hohman. He has more than 70 knockdowns for the season, including 12 pins, and has missed only one assignment in more than 800 plays. Despite playing with an injured ankle (Vanderbilt), DiFranco has graded out at 84 percent this season. He has more than 80 knockdowns, only two missed assignments, and has not allowed a single sack all year. Meister, who has started 35 consecutive games for Miami, has an efficiency grade of 87 percent for the year. He has only one missed assignment all year, and has not committed a single penalty this season.

A BRIGHT FUTURE: With only three senior starters--CHARLIE NORDEN (LT), Steve Meister (C) and Austin Sykes (TB)--RedHawk fans cannot help but be optimistic about the future of Miami football. In 2008, if the lineup stays as it is, there will be at least four seniors, two juniors, and a pair of sophomores as starters.

MIAMI'S DEFENSE:

REDHAWKS YIELD 38 POINTS, BUT LESS THAN 200 OFFENSIVE YARDS: Outsiders might assume that Miami had a defensive let-down against Ohio, but it was quite the contrary. The Bobcats were limited to only 199 total yards by the RedHawk defenders on 56 plays. Miami yielded less than 100 yards rushing (81 on 38 attempts) and just 118 yards passing (on 18 attempts).

MIAMI DEFENSE SPINS MAC'S FIRST SHUTOUT: MAC teams have played a total of 107 games thus far in 2007, but Miami lays claim to the only defensive shutout. The RedHawks' 7-0 masterpiece vs. Akron on Nov. 14 was the conference's first since Nov. 24, 2006, when both Northern Illinois (vs. Eastern Michigan, 27-0) and Western Michigan (vs. Akron, 17-0) last posted the rarity. Miami's shutout was the first it had recorded since Aug. 28, 2004 when it goose-egged Indiana State, 49-0. It is one of only 10 shutouts posted by Miami over the last 23 seasons.

SINGLE-DIGIT SHUTOUTS: Miami's 7-0 win over Akron was the lowest scoring shutout for the school since a 6-0 MU victory over Cincinnati in 1972. In that game, Miami's only scoring play came when Larry Harper returned a kickoff 95 yards.

WINNING DEFENSIVELY: Defensive touchdowns by a RedHawk player are fairly rare, so that's why defensive end Craig Mester's fumble recovery for a touchdown vs. Akron was so special. Not only was it the first defensive TD scored by a Miami player in 2007, it was the first one scored by any Miami player since Nov. 5, 2005, when two different players turned the trick. In that game against Buffalo, Robbie Wilson returned an interception 37 yards for a TD and Darrell Hunter returned a fumble recovery 27 yards for a TD. Research back to 1950 does not reveal any other games in which Miami's only score in a shutout victory came by a defensive player. DEFENSE KEYS MIAMI'S VICTORIES: In five of Miami's six victories, the RedHawks have allowed 14 points or less (13 by Ball State, 14 by Syracuse, 13 by Kent State, 14 by Bowling Green, and seven by Akron). The only exception to that rule was the 28 points scored against Miami by Buffalo in game 10. In MU's six losses, opponents are averaging 36.0 points per contest.

MIAMI DEFENSE HAS STIFFENED: Since back-to-back-to-back games of yielding more than 40 points (41 to Minnesota, 47 to Cincinnati, and 42 to Colorado), Miami's defense has yielded an average of only 19.4 points per game over its last eight contests.

MAC'S SACK MASTERS: With its three quarterback sacks vs. Ohio last week, Miami continues to lead the MAC in that category with 33. Individually, junior defensive end Joe Coniglio (Rockford, IL) leads RedHawk defenders in quarterback sacks (6.5 for -42 yards) and ranks third in tackles for loss (10.5 for -51 yards). Coniglio had a pair of QB sacks for minus 12 yards in Miami's big win vs. Buffalo.

140 YARDS OR LESS: In eight of its 12 games, Miami's defensive unit has held its opponents to rushing yardage of 141 yards or less. The gems include: 25 net yards (26 carries) vs. Bowling Green; 66 yards (26) vs. Syracuse; 81 yards (38) vs. Ohio; 100 yards (36) vs. Akron; 103 yards (27) vs. Buffalo; 110 yards (34) vs. Temple; 140 yards (34) vs. Ball State; and 141 yards (42) vs. Cincinnati. The opponents' average gain in those eight games is just 2.91 yards per attempt.

IMPROVEMENT IN RUN DEFENSE: Through 12 games in 2007, Miami's defense has yielded 4.03 yards per rushing attempt. In 2006, RedHawk defenders gave up 4.76 yards per rush.

MAC TACKLERS: Two of the MAC's top 10 tacklers hail from Miami. Junior outside linebacker Clayton Mullins ranks tied for first among all MAC defensive players with 10.8 tackles per game (129 total). Sophomore outside linebacker Caleb Bostic is 10th in the MAC with 8.5 per contest (93 total). Junior middle linebacker Joey Hudson ranks tied for 22nd among league tacklers with 7.5 per game (90 total).