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August 2010
Miami youth movement continues on defense
Two true freshmen are expected to be in the starting lineup on defense when Miami University opens its football season on Saturday, Sept. 4 at Florida.
Mwanza Wamulumba has jumped from third to first on the depth chart at defensive end and Dayonne Nunley has regained the starting nod from senior Brandon Stephens at cornerback.
“Mwanza’s really doing a tremendous job for a freshman,” Miami coach Michael Haywood said. “He continues to improve each and every day. We understand that Mwanza’s going to make mistakes because he’s a true freshman.”
Wamulumba has displayed a mixture of strength, speed and agility along the defensive line. As a high school junior in Maryland he won the state heavyweight title in wrestling.
Nunley is one of three Miami players from Gateway High School in Monroeville, Pa. — the others are senior tight end Jordan Stevens and true freshman tailback Orne Bey.
Two other true freshmen who could see action in “The Swamp,” otherwise known as Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, are cornerback Demetrius Quarles and strong safety Dante Taylor.
“Nunley is starting to perform really well at the corner position along with Demetrius Quarles, who’s going to come in, play a little corner, and Nunley moves into the nickel back position,” Haywood said.
“Dante Taylor is going to make the trip this week and he has a chance to play in this game as well,” the Miami coach said. “So you’re going to have a lot of young players in the secondary.”
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TweetMiami has new starter at free safety
Junior Anthony Kokal, one of Miami University’s top defensive players last year, will be replaced as the starting free safety when the RedHawks open their season at Florida on Saturday, Sept. 4.
The new starter on the depth chart is sophomore Pat Hinkel.
“(He) is starting in place of Kokal,” Miami head coach Michael Haywood confirmed at the first of his weekly press conferences today, Aug. 30. “He’s had a much better camp and is playing more physical. Kokal is going to have to become a more physical player, and Kokal is one of the leaders we have on this team who usually plays really well for us, and he’s going to have to step his game up because the young guy is playing a little bit better than he is.
“I think that transition was made about a week ago,” Haywood said. “That was an on-the-field deal. Kokal came up, missed a tackle, Lance (Guidry, Miami defensive backs coach) left it to me and I said hey, do what you’ve got to do.
“Pat Hinkel is playing really well,” Haywood noted, “and he’s also playing on a number of special teams.”
Kokal caused the fourth-quarter fumble which helped preserve Miami’s only victory, over Toledo, in 2009, and he finished as the team’s second-leading tackler with 105, including a team-high 54 unassisted tackles.
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TweetAs of now, it appears that two newcomers will handle the majority of Miami University’s punt returns this season.
Nick Harwell is No. 1 in that capacity, head coach Michael Haywood said.
Harwell, a redshirt freshman who came to Miami from the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School, also is No. 2 at wide receiver behind Luke Swift.
The No. 2 return man is junior DeMarco Paine, the former Iowa player and transfer from Iowa Central Community College who has been so impressive at wide receiver in summer camp.
“He’s going to play a lot of different roles for us,” Haywood said of Paine. “He’s back deep as a kickoff return guy, he’s No. 2 as the punt return guy. He’s playing a lot on our special teams and he’s playing a lot on our offense as well.”
Last year’s punt return duty was mostly split among Dustin Woods (six returns, 8.3-yard average), Eugene Harris (five returns, 10.0 average) and Mitch Anderson (four returns, 3.0 average). Woods and Harris were seniors last season. Anderson, a former walk-on who was a classroom senior with junior eligibility in 2009, no longer is with the program.
Jamal Rogers, who is back after returning three punts for 33 yards last fall, is another possibility. He returns after totaling 934 all-purpose yards as a junior, including 505 receiving and 396 on kickoff returns.
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TweetMiami has impressive depth at tight end
Miami University football coach Michael Haywood said his team’s tight ends will be extremely involved with the RedHawks’ offense this season, both in the passing and especially running games.
“We’re going to use the tight ends,” he emphasized.
Sophomore Steve Marck, who had six receptions for 72 yards and a touchdown last season, and whose older brother, C.J., is a RedHawk linebacker, is the projected starter. But he has plenty of stiff competition for playing time.
“The light came on last spring for Kendrick Bruton and he has played significantly better than he did the previous year,” Haywood said of his junior tight end, who is No. 2 on the depth chart. Bruton started seven games last year, mostly as a blocker, and caught one pass for 7 yards.
“He’s doing a really good job in the run game and is doing a much better job in the passing game,” Haywood said of Bruton, an honorable mention all-state selection at Miamisburg High School.
“Steve Marck is starting to perform a little bit better,” Haywood noted. “He’s more of a receiving tight end than a blocking tight end, so we need to make sure that we work on his technique and fundamentals in the run game.”
Also in the mix are senior Jordan Stevens, who switched to tight end after earning two letters on defense and who started one game last season (six catches for 49 games and a touchdown in 12 games played), and true freshman Dustin White.
“Jordan Stevens is No. 3 at this time and he has to keep improving each and every day and learning how to block,” Haywood said, “because it doesn’t come natural for him.
“Probably the most talented guy out of all of them is Dustin White, who’s fourth right now,” the Miami coach said. “He’s going to travel as a freshman to Florida. He is so athletic. What we have to do is develop him in his strength so he can become a better blocker at the point of attack and become a better overall tight end.
“Did you ever see that kid run?” Haywood asked. “That kid is smooth. He’s under sized, he’s 6-1½, 235 (pounds), but he is really smooth and he’s a physical player.”
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TweetRogers’ kickoff return role in jeopardy
Senior Jamal Rogers is Miami University’s all-time leader in kickoff return yardage with 1,950, which is more than 100 yards ahead of the former leader, Milt Bowen (1999-2002), but right now Rogers is not among the top candidates at that unsettled position.
Miami head coach Michael Haywood was asked about his leading candidates for kickoff return man.
“You’ve got DeMarco Paine, Orne Bey, Luke Swift, (Dayonne) Nunley,” Haywood said. “Those are the four major guys that are back there deep.”
Swift returned 17 kicks last season with an average return of 14.1 yards, and his longest was 21 yards. Those are not good numbers. The other three — Paine, a junior transfer, and Bey and Nunley, both true freshmen — have yet to play their first down for the RedHawks, who open their season next Saturday, Sept. 4 at No. 3/4 Florida.
Haywood said he is more concerned with the blockers than the returners.
“It’s primarily the up-front guys, those are the guys who have to spring the guys back deep,” he said, “and they have to do a much better job of sustaining their blocks. We’re getting better, but we aren’t where we need to be.”
Rogers has seen his return numbers drop over each of the last two seasons after averaging 22.6 yards as a freshman. He averaged 20.8 yards per return as a sophomore and 18.0 yards last year.
His production as a wide receiver, however, has risen each year, from 19 catches for 173 yards in 2007, to 42 catches for 359 yards in 2008, to 54 catches for 505 yards last fall. Rogers is listed at No. 2 as the X receiver behind Chris Givens on the depth chart. (Armand Robinson is No. 1 at H receiver, Luke Swift is No. 1 at Z receiver.)
And there still is a possibility that Rogers will return kicks as a senior.
“(Rogers) is on the depth chart as a punt returner and a kick returner,” Haywood said, “but he’s not the leading guy right now.”
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TweetNot surprisingly, Miami is huge underdog
The oddsmakers have Miami University’s football team as a 35-point underdog in the RedHawks’ season opener against the Florida Gators on Sept. 4.
Five touchdowns.
Well, that’s improvement of a kind, I guess. Last fall Miami lost its first two games to Kentucky and Boise State by an average score of 45-0.
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TweetMcCullough lands on his feet again
The football field isn’t the only place Miami University offensive intern coach Deland McCullough has known adversity, and overcome it.
McCullough, who suffered three serious knee injuries with the Cincinnati Bengals, Philadlephia Eagles and the Canadian Football League’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers, later went to Harmony Community School in Cincinnati, where he became head coach for four years, and then athletic director, and then principal.
Harmony closed its doors at the end of 2008 after the state claimed there was a “lack of financial oversight” at the school. McCullough noted that he left the school with a clean slate, but not before getting caught up in the the controversy — and there was a lot of it.
“It was probably the roughest time in my life,” McCullough said, explaining that the controversy affected his wife and children “and this stuff didn’t really have anything to do with them.”
McCullough added that “for me personally, nothing ever happened. From audits to lawsuits and all of those things. There was a machine pushing a lot of stuff that never amounted to anything.”
Now he is back at Miami, where he rushed for 1,026 yards in 1992 and was named Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year. That was just the start of a brilliant college career.
Following an injury-plagued sophomore season, he returned to form in 1994 with 1,103 yards, and then saved the best for last, rushing for 1,627 yards and scoring 14 touchdowns in his senior year.
“I’m very excited about being back here,” McCullough said. “I love this university.
“I’m grateful to coach (Michael) Haywood for giving me a chance to come here,” he said. “I’ve got a lot to learn, but I think I’ve got a lot to offer, too.”
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TweetMiami’s Stephens had to battle for first-string role
As the Miami RedHawks prepare for their Sept. 4 season opener at Florida, senior Brandon Stephens is listed as the probable starter at cornerback.
But it’s not a role Stephens was handed automatically even though he started all 12 games there last season and ranked fifth on the team with 35 unassisted tackles.
“You’ve got to come back and compete for your job,” Miami coach Michael Haywood said following the RedHawks’ Pigskin Scrimmage last weekend. “You’ve got to come back and take your job. That’s what I talked to Brandon Stephens about. We’ll evaluate the tape and see how well he played today.”
Stephens obviously played well enough to nudge his way ahead of true freshman Dayonne Nunley, who has been impressive in camp, and who had jumped past Stephens on the depth chart.
“No guarantees here,” Haywood said. “You earn the right to play for Miami University.”
Another true freshman who has raised eyebrows at cornerback is Demetrius Quales, who could be the team’s nickel back.
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TweetFour named as Miami team captains
Two seniors and two sophomores have been named co-captains of the 2010 Miami University football team, head coach Michael Haywood announced.
Senior safety Jordan Gafford, senior offensive lineman Bob Gulley, sophomore quarterback Zac Dysert and sophomore defensive lineman Austin Brown were the four players selected by their teammates to lead the RedHawks.
“These four young men were overwhelming choices to serve as co-captains,” Haywood said. “All four of them are members of our leadership council and all four are starters. We’ll rely on them to be leaders on and off the field.”
Gafford, a captain for the second year in a row, attempts to earn his fourth letter at Miami in 2010.
“We refer to Jordan as our defensive coach on the field,” Haywood said. “He calls our signals and is one of the Mid-American Conference’s top defensive players.”
Gulley, currently listed as the team’s starter at left guard, has displayed his tenacity as a player by performing through a myriad of injuries during his collegiate career.
“There may be more talented players than Bob, but very few are as tough as he is,” said Haywood. “He sets a great example for our younger players.”
Dysert is coming off a season in which he passed for 2,611 yards and rushed for 258 more.
“Zac has matured and become an outstanding leader,” Haywood said. “I call him the chief executive officer of our offense.”
Despite only being in his second season of college football, Brown has emerged as one of Miami’s more talented defensive lineman.
“Through great determination and charisma, Austin has developed into the leader of our defensive line,” Haywood said. “He takes charge of the linemen and has made them a more cohesive and more productive unit.”
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TweetTanner impresses, but RedHawks need Brooks
The good news for Miami University’s offensive line is that true freshman Jeff Tanner has been impressive and has worked his way up to second string at right tackle, behind redshirt freshman Josh Harvey.
“Jeff Tanner on the offensive line has really done a tremendous job,” Miami coach Michael Haywood said of the 6-foot-3, 288-pound graduate of Moeller High School. “He’s a physical young man who really works hard.”
The bad news is that Miami’s line won’t be in peak condition without junior guard Brandon Brooks, who is trying to recover from a hamstring injury.
“We still haven’t solidified our offensive line,” Haywood noted. “We had Brandon Brooks for two days, two practices. We were a significantly better offensive line when Brandon Brooks and those guys were moving people.
“We need Brandon Brooks back because he can really do some good things for us and help us be more dominant up front,” the Miami coach said.
The interior line continues to be shuffled. At last glance, sophomore Cory Brown (6-5, 295) has replaced the injured Andrew Phelan at No. 2 left tackle behind Matt Kennedy, redshirt freshman John Anevski (6-3, 290) has moved from No. 2 center to No. 2 left guard, and sophomore JoJo Williams, who played on defense last season, have moved from No. 2 right guard to No. 2 center.
Also, now it’s seniors Bob Gulley and Nate Williams battling it out at right guard, with Gulley listed as No. 1.
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TweetMiami’s Merriweather shows toughness
Miami University tailback Thomas Merriweather wore one of the camouflage “warrior jerseys” during the RedHawks’ Pigskin Scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 21, for good reason.
“He has the opportunity to become a really good player. He has shown a lot of physical toughness in the run game and in the protection game,” head coach Michael Haywood said of the 5-foot-10, 213-pound senior from Florissant, Mo. “He has become a lot stronger in the upper body and he is in better condition (than he was last year).”
In 2009 Merriweather rushed for 291 yards, averaging just 2.9 yards per carry.
Haywood was asked if he would consider rotating tailbacks. Danny Green saw the bulk of the running for the first-string offense during the scrimmage after Merriweather was banged up on the first play.
“We don’t change up much, we don’t switch backs,” Haywood said. “Merriweather is a horse. He can carry the ball 25-30 times a game.”
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TweetHaywood not happy about Miami turnovers
The Miami University first- and second-string offense committed four turnovers during the Pigskin Scrimmage today, Aug. 21 at Yager Stadium, which was one of the few bright spots for a first-string defense that gave up touchdowns on two of the first three possessions.
“Last year we barely got any turnovers,” junior linebacker Jerrell Wedge noted. “This year people are tackling the ball more.”
Miami coach Michael Haywood, however, saw the turnovers — two lost fumbles and two interceptions (one apiece by junior free safety Anthony Kokal and true freshman cornerback Dayonne Nunley) — more as a bad thing for his offense than a good thing for his defense
With the season opener at Florida just two weeks away, this isn’t the time for Miami’s quarterbacks, running backs and receivers to start giving away the ball.
“I’m always concerned about turnovers, when you give back so many balls, get the ball stripped,” Haywood said. “It’s techniques and fundamentals. Catch the ball with your hands and tuck the ball in.
“It’s going to be addressed,” he promised. “We have practice (Sunday), we’re going to give the players off on the first day of class on Monday, and we’ll come back and start preparing for Florida on Tuesday and we’re going to definitely address (the turnovers). We’re going to make sure we get it corrected.”
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TweetMIami women’s soccer opener postponed
The home and season opener for the Miami University women’s soccer team, scheduled to be played today, Aug. 20, against Alabama A&M, was postponed due to transportation problems with Alabama A&M arriving in Oxford.
The game has been rescheduled for Saturday, Aug. 21 at 5 p.m. at Miami Soccer Field. Check with MURedHawks.com for any possible further schedule changes.
The RedHawks will play an exhibition match against the North London Soccer Club on Sunday, Aug. 22 at 1 p.m. as originally scheduled.
Admission to both matches is free.
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TweetMiami hires new volleyball assistant
Miami University volleyball head coach Carolyn Condit announced today, Aug. 20 the addition of Buck McCoart as a new assistant coach. He comes from the University of Cincinnati, where he had spent the past two seasons as a volunteer assistant.
“I am so pleased to offer Buck his first full-time collegiate assistant position — and no better place than at his alma mater,” Condit said. “Buck loves the game and is a sharp young man who is developing into a fine coach. He will help our program in many areas, including on-court training and recruiting.”
While McCoart was with the Bearcats he helped train their liberos and defensive specialists, scouted opponents and played on the scout team. He also assisted in planning their practices.
Over the past two years, McCoart has coached the 16-1 team for the Cincy Classics Volleyball Club. Prior to that he was the head coach of the 17-1 and 18-2 teams for the Team Z Volleyball Club. He began his collegiate coaching career as an assistant at Thomas More College from 2007-08.
McCoart is a 2005 Miami graduate who was a member of the men’s club volleyball team for four years. He also coached the women’s club team in 2005, leading the RedHawks to a Division II national championship.
“It’s great to be back at Miami and coaching for my alma mater,” McCoart said. “This is a great opportunity for me to express my pride and loyalty for this university. I am really looking forward to working with the coaching staff and team as we prepare to compete for a MAC Championship.”
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TweetFullbacks impress Miami football coach
Here is a bit of trivia concerning Miami University’s 2009 football season:
Who totaled more yardage gained last season, either running the ball or catching passes, Miami’s fullbacks or the interior offensive linemen (centers, guards and tackles)?
The correct answer: the offensive linemen. Brandon Brooks had one catch for 1 yard. The fullbacks, zero all the way around.
Which shouldn’t be surprising considering that of the two fullbacks on the roster last season, redshirt freshman Sasha Miller did not play and true freshman Justin Semmes was redshirted. It was truly a forgotten position.
It might be a little different this year. Fullbacks aren’t likely to be much more than blockers, though they might get the ball on a short-yardage situation or two. But head coach Michael Haywood likes what he has seen so far during summer practice, especially from Semmes.
“He’s done a really good job at fullback,” Haywood said. “A physical young man, a really strong guy, a good leader and a great competitor.
“He’s backed up by Vince Helmuth, the transfer from Michigan,” Haywood noted. “Vince has been injury-prone throughout camp, but when he’s in there he’s been doing a good job.”
Helmuth, a sophomore who at 6-foot-1, 283 pounds weighs exactly the same as starting center Brad Bednar and is heavier than left tackle Matt Kennedy (275), hurt his back early in the first summer scrimmage last Saturday.
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TweetMiami-Duke game part of ESPN marathon
Miami University’s basketball game at Duke will be part of a 24-hour marathon on Tuesday, Nov. 16 consisting of 18 games to be shown live over various ESPN networks.
The RedHawks and Blue Devils will square off at 7:30 p.m. in a game to be shown on ESPNU.
Miami (Fla.) plays at Memphis in the first game of the marathon, starting at midnight, followed by St. John’s at Saint Mary’s (2 a.m.), Central Michigan at Hawaii (4 a.m.), Stony Brook at Monmouth (6 a.m.), Robert Morris at Kent State (8 a.m.), Northeastern at Southern Illinois (10 a.m.), Oral Roberts at Tulsa (noon), La Salle at Baylor (2 p.m.) and Virginia Tech at Kansas State (4 p.m.)
All of those games will be shown on ESPN.
At 5:30 p.m., ESPNU will show Marist at Villanova, followed by Ohio State at Florida (6 p.m. on ESPN) and a women’s game with Baylor at Connecticut (6 p.m. on ESPN2).
ESPN will broadcast Butler at Louisville at 8 p.m., followed by Belmont at Tennessee (9:30 p.m. on ESPNU), South Carolina at Michigan State (10 p.m. on ESPN), San Diego State vs. Gonzaga (11 p.m. on ESPN2), and Nevada or Pacific at UCLA (11:30 p.m. on ESPNU).
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TweetMore reshuffling on Miami’s offensive line
Recent injuries have forced Miami University coach Michael Haywood to move some new players into the offensive line’s two-deep units.
Redshirt freshman Evan Wiley, true freshmen Evan Grubbs and Jeff Tanner and junior Steve Bray are among the linemen who have seen increased time on the practice field.
Junior guard Brandon Brooks suffered a hamstring injury recently and could miss 2-3 weeks and sophomore tackle Andrew Phelan had a recurrence of a foot injury which might sideline him for the season.
Grubbs, a 6-foot-5, 286-pound tackle who also starred as a basketball player at Highlands High School in Fort Thomas, Ky., had been unable to perform at the start of summer camp due to an injury from high school.
Bray (6-1, 248), the son of Miami broadcaster Tim Bray who joined the team as a walk-on, has been taking turns at center.
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TweetLineman Brooks ‘to be out for a while’
One of the biggest players on Miami University’s football roster, 6-foot-5, 315-pound offensive lineman Brandon Brooks, might not be available for the RedHawks’ season opener at Florida on Sept. 4.
“He’s out right now,” Miami head coach Michael Haywood said today, Aug. 17 following his team’s afternoon practice. “He’s going to be out for 2-3 weeks with a pulled hamstring. He’s going to be out for a while.”
Brooks, a junior from Milwaukee who has gained mention on a couple preseason All-Mid-American Conference teams, had been switched from tackle to left guard, where he was in competition with senior Bob Gulley for the starting position.
Brooks started 12 games at left tackle last season. Gulley started the last 11 games at left guard in 2009.
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TweetRedHawks have good shot at early wins
If the projections from the Cosgrove Computer Rankings are accurate, the Miami RedHawks have an excellent shot at owning a 2-1 record three games into the 2010 football season.
The RedHawks are projected as the 101st best team among the 120 teams in the big-school division. Or the 20th-worst team, however you want to look at it.
That’s actually a slight improvement from last year. And three of Miami’s 12 opponents this year are ranked even lower, and the RedHawks will play all two of them in their first three games. And both games will be at Yager Stadium.
Miami’s home opener on Sept. 11 is against Eastern Michigan, which takes the bottom prize on the poll at No. 120. The following Saturday the RedHawks face Colorado State (No. 112) at home.
Akron is ranked No. 114, and the Zips will play host to Miami on Nov. 17.
On the other hand, Miami also must face four teams ranked in the top 30 of the Cosgrove preseason poll: Florida (No. 8), Temple (15), Central Michigan (23) and Cincinnati (27).
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TweetMiami offense lagging behind
There is an often-repeated saying that football coaches can’t ever be totally satisfied by what they see during a scrimmage. It’s almost impossible for both the offense and defense to look good.
During the RedHawks’ first summer scrimmage this morning, Aug. 14, it was the offense that gave themselves the short straw by coming up with only one field goal during the regular session and one touchdown during a two-minute drill.
“There are significant strides ahead for our offense at this point in time,” Miami coach Michael Haywood said.
That’s a polite way of saying Miami’s offense was bad.
“Usually at this time the offense is behind the defense,” Haywood pointed out, “but we have to pick it up up front. As you could tell today, our defensive line and that front seven did a really good job coming off the ball on the running game, and in the pass game the defensive backs overall did a pretty nice job of covering.
“On the other hand, we’ve got to do a better job up front on the offensive line,” he said. “We’ve got to recognize the fronts, we have to make sure we make the proper ID, we have to make sure we’re popping out like the guys (on defense) that are coming. The running backs have to step up protecting, the wide receivers have to run better routes.”
This and that:
• Prior to the scrimmage Miami practiced its punting and redshirt freshman Zach Murphy had a couple good kicks. True freshman kicker Mason Krysinski and true freshman quarterback Robert Partridge also participated but weren’t quite as consistent.
• True freshman Willie Culpepper, who is the lightest (175 pounds, and that might be a stretch) and the most light-footed of Miami’s tailbacks, is taking his turn returning kickoffs for the RedHawks.
• One of the hardest hits during the scrimmage was delivered by sophomore defensive end Wes Williams on senior tailback Thomas Merriweather. On the previous play, Merriweather had driven ahead for some good yardage and he and a few blockers delivered their own punishment to senior cornerback Brandon Stephens, who was in on the tackle but not until after his helmet came flying off.
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TweetMiami depth at wideout excites Dysert
There might have been better wide receivers at Miami University than those who will haul in the passes of Zac Dysert this fall, perhaps better 1-2 tandems at wideout.
Michael Larkin and Martin Nance, for instance, or Nance and Ryne Robinson. Some of the more mature fans might remember Doc Ulrich and Hal Paul from coach George Blackburn’s 1948 Redskins.
But it’s unlikely that any Miami squad has had more quality depth at wide receiver. Armond Robinson had 67 catches for 788 yards a year ago and earned all-Mid-American Conference recognition. Jamal Rogers is back from a 54-catch season. Chris Givens has recovered from an injury and is looking better than he did in 2007, when he had seven TD catches.
And those receivers, along with Andrew Cruse and Luke Swift, two sophomores with tons of potential, are working hard just to keep up with the two transfers, DeMarco Paine and Nick Harwell.
Dysert smiled at the thought of all that talent.
“It makes everything a lot easier for me,” Dysert said of the receiver depth. “Just in case the defense double teams somebody, it doesn’t really matter. We’ll just go to two other guys. Any other guy is someone you can go to. Everybody’s going to be reliable.”
Dysert, whose 247 completions during his redshirt freshman year ranks fifth on Miami’s single-season list, said he feels “great right now. I have a better grasp of the offense this year and I feel a lot more comfortable back there.”
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TweetMiami’s Phelan might miss season
Miami University offensive lineman Andrew Phelan, a Lakota West graduate, might be forced to miss the season due to a recurring foot injury, RedHawks coach Michael Haywood said today, Aug. 12.
“Andrew Phelan, from the foot surgery he had in high school, he may be out for the year,” Haywood said following practice at Yager Stadium. “Now the doctor has to go back in and repair it because it (the original repair) didn’t last.”
“He had a chance (to play),” Haywood said. “He was playing pretty well at the end of last spring. It’s really unfortunate because the first day he was out here (in summer practice) he was showing some good things and he started feeling the pain in his foot again.”
At the beginning of summer practice Phelan, a 6-foot-4, 295-pound sophomore from West Chester Twp., was listed second on the depth chart at left tackle behind redshirt freshman Josh Harvey.
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TweetTough times for Thomas Merriweather
It has not been an easy first five days of Miami University summer camp for senior tailback Thomas Merriweather.
First, the veteran running back was unable to pass his conditioning test on Friday, Aug. 6, the day before the first practice, and although he did pass it the following day, he was relegated to working out with the freshmen and third-string players for the first three days of practice.
During Monday’s third day of practice he was running with what used to be called “reckless abandon.” He got hit by a couple defenders and his helmet popped off, but he continued to drive his feet forward for another 8 yards until he was brought to the ground, none too gently.
On Tuesday Merriweather was back with the first string, taking handoffs from quarterback Zac Dysert. Midway through the afternoon session, the first session this summer which included the entire team and full pads, Merriweather took a major-league hit.
He spent a couple minutes on the ground, several more on his knees, and spent the rest of the practice trying to recuperate under the shade of a nearby tree.
Wide receiver DeMarco Paine, the junior college transfer, had a better day in heat which soared into the mid-90s. He worked with the first string and broke loose for a long touchdown after catching a pass from Dysert, and he also worked out with Jamal Rogers returning punts.
Sophomore wide receiver Luke Swift also broke free for a long touchdown catch.
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TweetCarsey status with Miami football unclear
Rumors around Miami University football practice this afternoon, Aug. 10, were that Miami strength and conditioning coach James Carsey no longer is working with the football program.
Carsey, who oversees strength and conditioning for all of Miami’s varsity sports, was not present at practice. Miami spokesman Mike Pearson said he had no official word about Carsey.
Carsey has been with Miami’s strength and conditioning program since 2001, when he was an intern, and he took over as head coach in 2006 after Dan Dalrymple left to become the head strength coach for the New Orleans Saints.
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TweetHaywood doesn’t mind heat wave
Towels were draped over players’ heads and shoulders during the Miami RedHawks’ third day of practice today, Aug. 9, but that slight convenience to the 90-plus heat during the afternoon session belonged only to the first- and second-string players.
Their main practice session had been that morning and it was the freshmen and third stringers who worked out, all out, in the afternoon heat in full uniforms and helmets. No towels.
Head coach Michael Haywood didn’t seem to mind the heat.
“This is a great mid-summer day as we practice for Gainesville, Fla.,” he said, referring to Miami’s season opener at Florida.
“It’s great practice for that game,” Haywood said. “It’ll be a heat wave down there.”
It’s not that Haywood isn’t concerned about the conditions. “The guys have to make sure they hydrate,” he said. “We’ve had only two guys who’ve had cramps.”
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TweetRed and White will rake in green from Florida trip
Miami University’s football team is just two days into summer practice, but the RedHawks already are assured of setting at least one record — a good record — for the 2010 season.
Miami’s season opener at the third-ranked University of Florida will give the RedHawks not only a game on national TV (ESPN) but also a financial field day. The school will receive $700,000 for the contract, according to Miami Deputy Athletic Director Jason Lener, who said that amount “is higher than any (one-game amount) in previous years.”
The oddsmakers are certain to make Miami University’s football team a multiple-touchdown underdog for the opener, but the RedHawks hope to be more than an expensive punching bag when they face Florida for the first and only time since 1973, when they beat the Gators 16-7 in the Tangerine Bowl.
The last time Miami visited the Sunshine State, by the way, was in 2003, when the RedHawks overpowered the University of Central Florida 56-21 in a Mid-American Conference game. It was Miami’s 11th straight victory during coach Terry Hoeppner’s greatest season in Oxford, capped by its 49-28 victory over Louisville in the GMAC Bowl.
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TweetBoucher looking better for RedHawks
Redshirt freshman quarterback Austin Boucher was throwing passes which were consistently sharp and on target as he alternated with starter Zac Dysert during Miami University’s first summer practice session today, Aug. 7 on the practice field next to Yager Stadium.
It’s a far cry from last summer, when Boucher was ill and struggled with just about everything, including his passes, which seemed to be in slow motion.
Miami coach Michael Haywood said Boucher still needs to pick up the pace of his release on certain passes, but agreed that he is playing better.
“(Boucher) threw it nice and sharp on the intermediate routes and the short routes,” Haywood said. “He needs to do a better job of getting the ball out of his hand a little bit quicker on deep balls. But his knowledge of the offense has significantly improved.”
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TweetMiami looking to Lone Star for many stars
The recent announcement that offensive tackle Cory Brown is transferring to Miami University from Tyler (Texas) Community College gives the RedHawks a total of 11 football players from the Lone Star State, the most from any state outside Ohio.
Brown is a native of Grand Prairie, Texas.
The other Texans on the Miami roster are freshman defensive tackle Delvin Becks (a native of Houston), sophomore wide receiver Kevin Bresnahan (San Antonio), freshman running back Willie Culpepper (San Antonio), freshman wide receiver Nick Harwell (Missouri City), redshirt freshman defensive lineman Kelvin Jackson (Missouri City), freshman defensive back Trey Payne (Spring), freshman defensive back Allen Veazle (Houston), sophomore offensive lineman JoJo Williams (Houston), defensive end Wes Williams (Houston) and freshman running back Tracy Woods (Galena Park).
The Texas-to-Miami connection should come as no surprise. Miami head coach Michael Haywood was the recruiting coordinator for the University of Texas in 2004.
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TweetMU men announce blockbuster non-league schedule
The 2010-11 Miami University men’s basketball team is setting records and the start of the season still is more than three months away.
The RedHawks have announced today, Aug. 4, that they will play a program-record 16 home games during the regular season, three more than any other season, and that their non-conference schedule will include two of the last three NCAA champions (Duke, 2010, and Kansas, 2008), the 2007 national runner-up (Ohio State) and the 2010 NIT champion (Dayton).
“I hope our fans will be as excited about this schedule as I am because it has a little bit of everything,” Miami coach Charlie Coles said. “Sixteen home games give our athletes more opportunities to play in front of our fans at Millett Hall than ever before, which was important to us as we put our schedule together.
“Included in those are a home tournament and hosting local schools Xavier and Cincinnati, which is the Bearcats’ first trip to Millett Hall in nearly 20 years,” he noted. “We’ll get to go toe-to-toe with some of the best college basketball players in the country, test ourselves against some great programs and visit some of the most legendary venues in college basketball.”
Miami opens the season at home on Nov. 12 against Towson before hitting the road to take on the Duke Blue Devils on Nov. 16.
The RedHawks then host a three-day, six-game, sub-regional Nov. 20-22 as part of the 2010 O’Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic. Teams projected to play in Oxford for the CBE Classic sub-regional are San Diego State, Green Bay and IUPUI. Matchups for the sub-regional will be announced at a later date.
Then Miami heads Ohio State for a Nov. 26 meeting.
On Dec. 1, Miami will be at home against Xavier in the first meeting of its four local rivals. Dayton is a road game for the RedHawks on Dec. 4 before they return home to host a pair of contests against Saginaw Valley State (Dec. 7) and Troy (Dec. 11). After taking a week off for final examinations, the RedHawks travel to Wright State for a Dec. 18 meeting.
Miami will be at home against Cincinnati on Dec. 21, marking the first time the Bearcats have played in Oxford since the 1992-93 season, which, coincidentally, also was the last time Miami faced Ohio State when it defeated the Buckeyes in the opening round of the NIT.
The RedHawks travel to Belmont for a Dec. 30 meeting before heading to Kansas for a Jan. 2 game.
In February, Miami will play in the ESPN BracketBuster as a road team. The opponent will be announced in early February.
“When you look at our non-conference schedule, and our schedule as a whole, it’s not going to be easy,” Miami junior forward Julian Mavunga said, “but it’s truly exciting and something we are really looking forward to as a team. As young men, we are coached by our coaches to be champions, and we are ready for this challenge.
“It’s what we’ve been working toward the entire off-season, and we play to win no matter who the opponent is that day,” Mavunga said “Playing all four local schools allows us to compete against other athletes who are close to us, and gives each of us a chance for bragging rights in the area. And having Cincinnati on our home court for the first time since 1993 is something really special … We know it’s a tough schedule, which always prepares us for our conference schedule, but we are excited as a team at the challenges ahead and are really looking forward to the season.”
Ten of Miami’s 14 non-conference opponents advanced to postseason play last year, including five NCAA Tournament participants (Duke, Ohio State, Xavier, Kansas and San Diego State). Three of those teams advanced to the Sweet 16 (Duke, Ohio State and Xavier). Three teams competed in the NIT (Dayton, Cincinnati and Troy), and Green Bay and IUPUI both participated in the College Basketball Invitational.
Season tickets can be purchased by visiting the Miami University Athletic Ticket Office or by calling 1-866-MUHAWKS or 513-529-HAWK.
For the Ohio State game, season ticket holders may purchase an equivalent number of tickets to their 2010-11 season tickets. Quantities will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last.
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