TODAY’S GAME
Presbyterian at Miami, 3:30 p.m.
WONE-AM (980), WMOH-AM (1450)
Chuck Martin left no doubt. He’s excited for Miami’s football season to get under way.
He used the word three times in the first minute of his opening statement during his weekly media conference.
What has Martin most worked up is what he sees as improvement in the athleticism, team speed and depth of the RedHawks going into the opener of his second season as Miami’s coach today against Football Championship Subdivision Presbyterian at Yager Stadium.
“I’m personally very excited to see a lot of these kids play,” Martin said. “I’m not real nervous about it. Getting off to a fast start should help this team.”
Presbyterian, which is located in Clinton, S.C., and finished 6-5 overall and 3-2 in the Big South Conference last season, is opening its 103rd season of college football and ninth as a Division I program. The Blue Hose, who lost 55-3 at Northern Illinois in their 2014 season opener, have 15 returning starters – nine on defense, four on offense and two specialists.
The defense ranked second in the Big South in total defense last season, led by two first-team all-conference picks, linebacker Donelle Williams – who holds the Blue Hose Division I career tackling record – and defensive back Ed Britt, who became the first player in conference history to return an interception, a fumble and a blocked field goal for touchdowns last season.
The RedHawks, opening their 127th season, will have their share of new faces on offense, including fifth-year senior quarterback Andrew Kummer, who is expected to start, and redshirt freshmen running backs Kenny Young and Alonzo Smith. Martin’s main concern going into the opener is the turnover on the offensive line, which has been plagued by injuries.
“It’s been whoever shows up plays at guard,” Martin said. “It’s been a revolving door.”
Sophomore Zach Hovey and redshirt-freshman Jordan Rigg are listed as the probably starters at offensive guard on Saturday.
Martin also is wondering what he’ll get from Kummer and two first-year quarterbacks, redshirt-freshmen Gus Ragland and true freshman Billy Bahl, both of whom are also expected to play.
“The quarterback position is more nerve-racking for me than anything,” he said.
Still, Martin was more than ready to finally have an opponent to prepare for instead of watching his RedHawks beat up on each other.
“We can start focusing on Presbyterian and scheming what they do,” he said. “Now, we flip the gears. You want to feel like you’re just entering fall camp, not leaving it.”
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