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Miami tapped as one of three contenders for MAC crown
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
DETROIT — The Mid-American Conference News Media Association has anointed three football teams as the main title contenders for the 2008 season. And yes, the Miami RedHawks are one of them.
A year after sharing the MAC East Division championship with the Bowling Green Falcons and Buffalo Bulls, the RedHawks have been picked to finish a close second to the Falcons this fall.
Bowling Green received 206 total points, including 17 first-place votes, in the balloting which was announced Tuesday, July 29, during the MAC Preview at Ford Field. Miami was next with seven first-place votes and 202 total points. No other East Division team was within 50 points of the Falcons.
Defending MAC champ Central Michigan dominated the MAC West, pulling in 29 of the 36 first-place votes and 207 total points. Ball State was a distant second with 168 points.
"The sky's the limit," said Miami senior Dave DiFranco, a 6-foot-4, 305-pound guard who attended the Preview along with head coach Shane Montgomery and teammate Clayton Mullins. "We can beat anybody on our schedule. But anybody can beat us, too. It depend on how we play."
It also might depend on whether Miami can remain healthy. The RedHawks have talent and experience, but they've been devastated by injuries the last two seasons. Miami went 2-10 in 2006 but rebounded last season to earn a berth in the MAC Championship Game. The RedHawks lost the game to Central Michigan 35-10 and finished 6-7 overall.
"Two things are a little different this year," Montgomery said. "First of all, we've got a much bigger senior class than we've had the last two years. We have 18, and most of those guys, if they're not starting, they'll contribute a lot.
"No. 2, we've got a lot more starters back," the Miami coach added; the RedHawks have 24 players who started at least some of last year's games. "They know what to expect, what it takes to get back to the top. I think those guys are well grounded enough to know it's not going to be easy."
The RedHawk players are scheduled to report to preseason camp Saturday, Aug. 2, with the first practice to be held the next day.
Miami's season opens Thursday, Aug. 28, at home against Vanderbilt.
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com.
Football poll by the MAC News Media Association, with total points, and first-place votes in parenthesis:
EAST DIVISION
1. Bowling Green (17) 206
2. Miami (7) 202
3. Buffalo (3) 145
4. Kent State (2) 137
5. Temple (2) 120
6. Ohio (3) 119
7. Akron (2) 78
WEST DIVISION
1. Central Michigan (29) 207
2. Ball State (5) 168
3. Western Michigan (2) 143
4. Toledo 98
5. Eastern Michigan 80
6. Northern Illinois 60
