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Several factors play into Miami 'returning to football tradition'

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By Pete Conrad, Staff Writer Updated 1:54 AM Sunday, August 30, 2009

OXFORD — Ever since the day Mike Haywood was named as Miami University’s 33rd head coach, the same five words have been uttered over and over.

The coaches are focused on, the players are striving for, the fans are clamoring for “returning to Miami’s football tradition.”

The RedHawks, who are less than a week away from their opener, are coming off three straight losing seasons for the first time in 18 years and only the second time since the start of World War II.

Haywood’s task for Miami is to begin the journey back the tradition of Terry Hoeppner, who coached the RedHawks to back-to-back bowl berths and a No. 10 national ranking.

Back to the tradition of Randy Walker, whose teams pulled major upsets over Northwestern, North Carolina (twice) and Virginia Tech.

Back to the tradition of coaches from Sid Gillman in 1947 to Tim Rose in 1986, whose teams won 15 Mid-American Conference Championships and played in seven bowl games.

The success of that journey will depend on these story lines:

A new head coach, a new atmosphere

The RedHawks who sufferd through last year’s 2-10 nightmare are saying they feel like they’ve been given a fresh start under Haywood, a strict disciplinarian who at the same time has gone to great lengths to give all players a chance to compete for playing time.

Raudabaugh emerges from a four-way battle

When summer workouts began there was a four-way battle at quarterback. Daniel Raudabaugh who, like the rest of the offense had a rough year in 2008, but won the job over Zac Dysert, Clay Belton (who has since left the team) and Austin Boucher. Raudabaugh looks more confident, a man who knows what to do and how to do it.

A very scary schedule

Six of Miami’s first seven games will be played away from Yager Stadium, including the season opener Saturday, Sept. 5 against Kentucky, which will be played at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati but has been designated as a home game for the RedHawks. Their second game is at Boise State, a team that has finished four of the last seven seasons ranked among the nation’s top 15 in the polls.

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