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Sports TwitterRedHawks begin quest to win MAC vs. Owls
Saturday, October 04, 2008
OXFORD — Coach Shane Montgomery and his Miami University football team have a chance today, Oct. 4, to put the first four games of the 2008 season behind them — to turn them into memories of no consequence, obsolete.
There is one condition. If the RedHawks lose to Temple in their Mid-American Conference opener at Yager Stadium, those first four games — three losses and an unimpressive victory — will seem more real than ever.
"We still have played nowhere near where we're capable," Montgomery said. "Is it the teams we've played? Is it more us? I don't know. We've lost to three pretty good football teams."
But for the time being, the most important number for the RedHawks is zero. That is their number of MAC losses.
Montgomery noted that Ball State, Western Michigan and Central Michigan all stand 2-0 in the MAC.
"On the other hand, Bowling Green and us are the only teams in the (MAC East Division) without a loss," he said. Bowling Green, like Miami, opens its MAC season today.
"Our goals are still there," Montgomery said. "Everything is in front of us. The second half of the season is truly in front of us. We've got to get off to a good start in the league. ... If you get off to a good start, you're in the driver's seat somewhat and in control of your own destiny."
The RedHawks aren't the only team in the MAC East who has taken a hit in nonconference games. Of the seven teams in the division, six have overall losing records. The only exception is Bowling Green at 2-2.
The West Division teams have fared better, but still, 10 of the 13 MAC teams do not have an overall winning record.
Which, according to Montgomery, is deceiving.
"I thought the MAC would be really strong going into the season," he said. "From what I've seen, I think this might be the strongest it's been. ... There have been a lot of scares out there. There were a lot of close misses."
Some examples: Toledo's 55-54 overtime loss to Fresno State (ranked No. 25 at the time). Northern Illinois' 31-27 loss to Minnesota. Ohio's 26-14 loss to Ohio State (ranked No. 3 at the time). Temple's 12-9 overtime loss to Connecticut (now ranked No. 24).
The Owls have been haunted by close losses this year. They also were defeated in a pair of MAC games by Buffalo and Western Michigan by a total of six points.
"They could very easily be 4-1 right now," Montgomery said.
