Alter vs. Centerville
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MIAMI FOOTBALL
RedHawks have opportunity against Bulls
Miami, which is 9-0 against Buffalo, could be tied for first — and claim the first tiebreaker — in MAC East.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
OXFORD — For the first time in almost two years, the Miami University football team will play a game in November that has something at stake besides pride.
It won't be a major topic of conversation, at least officially, around practice this week. But head coach Shane Montgomery wants to make sure his players at least savor the moment.
Extras
The RedHawks' game against the Buffalo Bulls on Saturday afternoon at Yager Stadium will go a long way in deciding the Mid-American Conference East Division championship.
Should the Bulls score their first-ever victory over the RedHawks, they would clinch a share of the East Division title and put Buffalo one win away from a berth in the MAC Championship Game.
Should the RedHawks beat the Bulls, Miami and Buffalo would be tied for first place, and Miami would own the first tiebreaker with two games left.
RedHawks coach Shane Montgomery said he wants to keep his players on an even keel this week.
"When you're dealing with 18- to 22-year-olds, you have to make sure they keep focused on your priority, and right now our priority is to play a good game against Buffalo," Montgomery said Tuesday at his weekly press conference.
But he also is a realist.
"You can try not to talk about it all you want," he said, "but everybody realizes what's at stake ... We're not going to talk about it a whole lot. They realize the magnitude of this game."
That's not a bad thing, Montgomery said, as long as they approach it as an opportunity.
"Last year at this time we were playing for pride more than anything else," he noted.
The Miami coach said he would emphasize to his players that, "Yeah, it's an important game, but enjoy preparing for it this week. A lot of people around the country would be glad to be preparing for a game like this."
Montgomery said he doesn't think the RedHawks will have trouble getting motivated for the Bulls, even though Miami has won all nine games in its series with Buffalo.
"You're facing a team that's typically at the bottom of the standings," Montgomery said. "All you have to do is look at the standings now."
Prior to this season, Buffalo's all-time record in MAC games was 8-56.
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197
or pconrad@coxohio.com.
