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StumbleuponMiami Game Day: RedHawks vs. UC
Thursday, September 18, 2008
behind the mask
Jake Richardson
PUNTER, SENIOR
Q What has been your most memorable moment on a football field?
A The Michigan game this year, with all the people there, and I had my best game ever.
Q What is your favorite movie?
A "The Boondock Saints." It's sort of a shoot-em-up film.
Q Which three items would comprise your perfect meal?
A My perfect meal would be steak, my mom's scalloped potatoes and green beans.
Q With which person from history would you like to hold an hour-long conversation?
A Pope John Paul II. I was raised as a Catholic and I got to go to the World Youth Day in Toronto, Canada and I got to within about 5 yards of his car as he was driven by.
Q Where would you go if someone offered to send you on a two-week vacation?
A I'd like to go to Australia once. I've never really been anywhere out of the country.
BY THE NUMBERS
13
Years Cincinnati went without a kickoff return for a touchdown before Mardy Gilyard's 97-yard return against Oklahoma on Sept. 6.
19
Miami's national rank in pass defense.
1946
The year the original "Victory Bell" reappeared after it had disappeared in the 1930s.
take five
Which first-year Miami starter has made the biggest impact so far?
Sophomore cornerback Ben Bennett. His 78-yard interception return while making his first start against Charleston Southern last weekend set up what proved to be the game-winning touchdown.
How does Daniel Raudabaugh stand on Miami's career passing chart?
He moved up to eighth on the all-time passing yards list last week. He has 3,461 career yards, which is within striking distance of No. 7 Larry Fortner (1976-78), who has 3,667.
Will Miami go with one running back at any point this season?
Thomas Merriweather has seen the bulk of the action so far since the RedHawks have been careful with Andre Bratton, who is recovering from an injury. But until one pulls away from the other in terms of production — and so far neither has done that (Merriweather is averaging 3.7 yards per carry, Bratton is at 2.6) — coach Shane Montgomery will continue to use both.
What is the key match-up of Saturday's contest?
Miami's linebackers against UC's running backs. The Bearcats have had remarkable success running the ball against the RedHawks in recent seasons and their two top runners, John Goebel and Scott Johnson, are averaging a combined 6.3 yards per carry.
Who's hot among Miami's offensive lineman?
Steve Sutter had a second straight "championship performance" rating from the coaches.
Key Players:
Miami: Senior punter Jake Richardson has had two straight remarkable performances and is leading the nation by a wide margin. Senior linebacker Joey Hudson, who was hampered by injuries last season, is playing like an all-MAC first teamer. He leads Miami with 31 total tackles, including 4.5 for loss.
Cincinnati: Junior quarterback Tony Pike has a strong arm but little experience. Senior wide receiver Dominick Goodman is a sensational pass catcher with tons of experience, which should help Pike.
Scouting Report:
The Miami RedHawks hope to snap a two-year losing streak against the Cincinnati Bearcats, and judging from scores against blockbuster opponents Miami seems to have a good shot. Miami lost to Michigan by 10 points, UC lost to Oklahoma by 26. But Oklahoma is a better team than Michigan, and the RedHawks have struggled on offense. Last week they were far from perfect even while playing Charleston Southern. That does not bode well for a team facing Cincinnati's defense whose pride was hurt in the Oklahoma game. That defense includes former Hamilton High School standout Brandon Underwood, a senior and starting cornerback.
— Pete Conrad
LEADERS
PASSING
Miami
Player COMP ATT YDS TD INT
Daniel Raudabaugh 58 104 740 2 4
Cincinnati
Tony Pike 8 18 73 1 1
RUSHING
Miami
Player RUS YDS AVG TDS
Thomas Merriweather 57 210 3.7 3
Cincinnati
John Goebel 17 89 5.2 1
RECEIVING
Miami
Player REC YDS AVG TDS
Jamal Rogers 15 134 8.9 0
Cincinnati
Dominick Goodman 16 204 12.8 3
TEAM TOTALS
Miami
Offense 333.0 yds./game
Defense 323.0 yds./game
Cincinnati
Offense 441.5 yds./game
Defense 393.5 yds./game
SCHEDULE
Aug. 28 Vanderbilt L, 34-13
Sept. 6 at Michigan L, 16-6
Sept. 13 Charleston Southern W, 38-27
Today at Cincinnati 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 4 Temple 3:30 p.m.
Oct. 11 at Northern Illinois 3 p.m.
Oct. 18 at Bowling Green Noon
Oct. 25 Kent State 3:30 p.m.
Nov. 4 at Buffalo 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 11 Ball State 7 p.m.
Nov. 21 at Toledo 7 p.m.
Nov. 28 Ohio 12:30 p.m.
MAC STANDINGS
East
Division All Games
W L W L
Buffalo 1 0 2 1
Bowl. Green 0 0 1 2
Kent State 0 0 1 2
Miami 0 0 1 2
Akron 0 1 1 2
Temple 0 1 1 2
Ohio 0 1 0 3
West
Ball St. 1 0 3 0
Cent. Mich. 1 0 2 1
W. Michigan 1 0 2 1
Toledo 1 0 1 1
E. Michigan 0 1 1 2
N. Illinois 0 1 0 2
