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SCOUTING THE REDHAWKS

By Pete Conrad

Staff Writer

OXFORD — It's difficult to remember the last time the Miami RedHawks were so eager to start a football season or, more precisely, to push the disastrous 2006 season somewhere far behind them. The dark side of the moon would be just about right.

The RedHawks lost six games they should have won, and now most experts don't even consider them contenders in the Mid-American Conference East Division.

Despite the pain of last season, the offensive line that crumbled, the running game that stumbled, Miami coach Shane Montgomery honestly believes he has a team that can beat anybody on his schedule. Now, if he can just get his players to believe.

"We feel like we have a lot to prove from last year," Montgomery said, "and I like where we're at right now."

Miami is inexperienced at spots, such as wide receiver and the defensive line, but there doesn't seem to be a lack of talent, size or speed.

The one thing the RedHawks need to avoid at all costs is an early-season losing streak. Following the Ball State opener, they play a difficult non-conference schedule which includes road games at Minnesota and Colorado. If Miami is 0-5 or 1-4 when it resumes Mid-American Conference play on Oct. 6 at Kent State, it's going to be another long year.

Three players you know now

Senior QB Mike Kokal (6-foot-2, 213 pounds) kept his composure despite being sacked about every four seconds and finished second in the Mid-American Conference in passing yards (219.9 per game) and second in total offense (245.1) while throwing just eight interceptions.

Junior WR Dustin Woods (5-11, 187)) was Miami's big-play man as a redshirt freshman last fall, coming up with an 80-yard TD reception against Northern Illinois, a 52-yard TD catch at Purdue and a 51-yard kickoff return at Purdue.

Junior LB Joey Hudson (6-2, 240) led Miami with 97 tackles as a first-timet starter, intercepted two passes in overtime loss at Purdue, recorded a career-high 16 tackles in the 9-7 victory at Bowling Green and tied for second among the nation's leaders in interceptions by a linebacker (five).

Three players you will know in October

Redshirt freshman WR Armand Robinson (6-1, 197) won't make people forget Ryne Robinson, but he has earned a starting position on a team which is loaded with talented young receivers.

Freshman WR Chris Givens (6-2, 198) also played defensive back in high school at Chillicothe. Judging from the way he has been running routes and catches passes during summer camp, his decision to concentrate on offense was a good decision for himself, a better decision for the RedHawks.

Freshman LB Ryan Kennedy (6-1, 218) is expected to return from a banged-up knee in time for the Minnesota game on Sept. 8. If he shows no ill effects from the injury, it could be just a matter of time before he challenges for a spot in the starting lineup. He could be another one of those great Miami linebackers.

By the numbers

6 Consecutive losses to start the 2006 season.

20 Games in which Miami scored 40 or more points in three-year span from 2003-05.

0 Games in which Miami scored 40 or more points in 2006.

7 Miami quarterbacks who have passed for 300 or more yards in a game. Ben Roethlisberger did it 14 times, followed by Josh Betts (8), Mike Bath (4), Mike Kokal (2), Sam Ricketts (1), Mike Bates (1) and Terry Morris (1).

12 Years since a RedHawk has kicked a 50-yard field goal.

Schedule

Aug. 30, at Ball State, * 7 p.m.

Sept. 8, at Minnesota, Noon

Sept. 15, CINCINNATI, Noon

Sept. 22, at Colorado, 3:30 p.m.

Sept. 29, SYRACUSE, 3 p.m.

Oct. 6, at Kent State,* 3 p.m.

Oct. 13, BOWLING GREEN,* 3 p.m.

Oct. 20, at Temple,* Noon

Oct. 27, at Vanderbilt, 2 p.m.

Nov. 3, BUFFALO,* 3 p.m.

Nov. 14, AKRON,* 7:35 p.m.

Nov. 24, at Ohio,* 2 p.m.

* MAC game

Tickets

Tickets can be purchased by calling 1-866-684-2957. Season tickets range from $70 to $85. Single-game tickets range from $15 to $20.

The coach

Shane Montgomery is 9-14 going into his third season at Miami. The former North Carolina State quarterback was the Offensive MVP of the 1988 Peach Bowl and the 1989 Copper Bowl. He played for the Raleigh Durham Skyhawks in 1990 in the inaugural season of the World League of American football.

Biggest game of the season, and why

Thursday's season opener at Ball State is a game the RedHawks needs to win in order to prove to themselves that they know how to win. Confidence and momentum can be everything in college football, and last year Miami found itself lacking in both following a series of early-season close losses.