Sept. 4, 2007

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IF MIAMI WINS ...: The RedHawks would be 2-0 for the 46th time in their 119-year history ... it would mark Miami's first victory against a Big Ten opponent since Sept. 13, 2003, when the RedHawks defeated host Northwestern, 44-14 ... MU would improve its record against Big Ten teams to 13-38-2.

MIAMI HEAD COACH Shane Montgomery (North Carolina State, `90) is in his third season at the helm of the Miami program, owning a 10-14 record ... Montgomery led the RedHawks to a share of the MAC East Division title in his first season (2005) ... also serves at the offensive coordinator and has since 2001 ... since that time, Miami has consistently ranked among the top 30 in passing offense and has ranked among the top 45 nationally in total offense five times.

MINNESOTA HEAD COACH TIM BREWSTER (Illinois, `94) is in his first season guiding the Golden Gophers... he was named the 26th head coach in Minnesota history on Jan. 17, 2007, after spending the past five seasons in the National Football League and the last two as the tight ends coach for the Denver Broncos.

THE SERIES
• Miami and Minnesota are meeting for just the second time in their respective storied histories.

• In their lone meeting on Sept. 17, 1988, Minnesota downed the Red and White 35-3 on the strength of 302 rushing yards, including 179 yards and three touchdowns from the Golden Gophers' all-time leading rusher and current Minnesota radio analyst Darrell Thompson. Thompson also threw for a touchdown in the UM win.

• Saturday marks Miami's 53rd meeting against a Big Ten opponent. The RedHawks are 12-38-2 against Big Ten teams. Last season, the RedHawks dropped a 21-3 decision to Northwestern in Oxford and suffered a 38-31 overtime loss at Purdue in back-to-back weekends to open the season. Miami's last win against a Big Ten foe came against Northwestern on Sept. 13, 2003, in a 44-14 win at Northwestern.

• Miami has faced at least one Big Ten team each of the last seven years.

MIAMI VS. MINNESOTA & THE BIG TEN: Miami is 0-1 vs. Minnesota, losing a 35-3 decision at the hands of the Gophers on Sept. 17, 1988, at the Herbert Humphrey Metrodome. In that game, Minnesota running back Darrell Thompson rushed for 179 yards and three touchdowns. Miami's only highlight that day was Chuck Konrad's 50-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. It's one of only eight RedHawk field goals of 50 yards or more. Miami is scheduled to play Minnesota again in 2011 at the Gophers' new on-campus stadium. Three years later, Minnesota will play Miami in Oxford in 2014.

The RedHawks have an all-time record of 12-38-2 against teams from the Big Ten Conference. Miami has recorded five of those 12 victories against Northwestern, three each against Purdue and Indiana, and one against Michigan State.

HIGH SCHOOL DAYS: Miami's PETE WALTERS (OL, Sr., Columbus) and Minnesota quarterback Mike Maciejowski played together at Upper Arlington High School. Altogether, the Gophers have 12 players who hail from the state of Ohio.

BIG TEN GREATS ONCE IN MIAMI'S CRADLE: Throughout the sports world, Miami University is recognized as "The Cradle of Coaches" because of the number of coaching legends who began their careers on the Oxford campus. Two current Big Ten coaches have Miami roots: Jim Tressell of Ohio State (Miami assistant coach 1979-80) and Ron Zook of Illinois (Miami player 1973-75).

In the last several months, three former Miamians who were Big Ten head coaches have died. Former Northwestern coach Randy Walker and Michigan's legendary Bo Schembechler were both players and head coaches at Miami, while former Indiana head coach Terry Hoeppner also was a Miami head coach. Other former Big Ten head coaches who have Miami ties include Ohio State's Paul Brown and Woody Hayes, Illinois' John Mackovic and Gary Moeller (also at Michigan), Indiana's John Pont (also at Northwestern) and Bill Mallory, and Purdue's Jim Young. Additionally, Minnesota Director of Athletics Joel Maturi served as Miami University's Athletics Director from 1998 until assuming his post at Minnesota in 2002.

Other coaching greats with Miami roots include Bill Arnsparger, Red Blaik, Carm Cozza, Dick Crum, Paul Dietzel, Weeb Ewbank, Sid Gillman, Dave McClain, John McVay, Joe Novak, Ara Parseghian, Larry Smith and Dick Tomey.

RALLY TIME: Miami's game-winning touchdown at Ball State marked the sixth time in the 24-game Shane Montgomery Era that a game was decided in the last two minutes of regulation. Last season, three games were decided in the last 76 seconds, and Miami wound up on the losing side on every occasion. Against Kent State on Sept. 16, Mike Kokal's potential game-tying two-point PAT pass failed after his own two-yard run had pulled the RedHawks into striking distance. KSU wound up winning, 16-14. On Oct. 28, Miami lost to Ball State, 20-17, after the Cardinals scored a TD with 1:11 remaining in the contest. One week later, on Nov. 4, Western Michigan kicked a game-winning field goal with 1:16 left in the fourth quarter to win, 27-24.

In 2005--Montgomery's first season as head coach--Central Michigan scored a 60-yard TD with 1:44 left to defeat Miami, 38-37. The only other time besides last Thursday that Montgomery's MU squad has won a close game came on Oct. 22, 2005, when Eastern Michigan missed a game-tying PAT kick with 13 seconds left, leaving the RedHawks on top by a score of 24-23.

The last time Miami's offense won a game in the final seconds of regulation was on Oct. 13, 2001, when it beat Akron, 30-27. Redshirt freshman quarterback Ben Roethlisberger hit Eddie Tillitz on a 70-yard TD pass with no time remaining to give the RedHawks the victory. Just nine seconds earlier, Akron kicked what it thought was a game-winning field goal. Miami's offensive coordinator was Shane Montgomery.

A DIFFERENT STORY: Miami's one-point, season-opening victory at Ball State was at the opposite end of the spectrum from what it experienced in 2006. The RedHawks went 2-6 in MAC play a year ago, with the six losses coming by a combined total of just 32 points (5.3 ppg). Miami either led or was tied in the fourth quarter in five of those six losses and lost four of the games by three points or less.

FOR STARTERS: With its 14-13 come-from-behind victory at Ball State in game one, Miami improved its all-time record in season openers to 79-34-6 (.689) ... it marked the first season-opening win during the Montgomery Era.

FIRST-TIMERS: Of the 65 Miami players who traveled to Muncie for the Ball State game, 16 individuals saw their very first collegiate action. The group included four true freshmen, 10 redshirt freshmen, one sophomore and one junior. Among the first-timers were EUGENE "GENO" HARRIS (WR, R-Fr., Atlanta, GA), Armand Robinson (WR, R-Fr., Reynoldsburg), Jared Elliott (WR, Jr., Franklin, TN), Chris Givens (WR, Fr., Chillicothe) , Jordan Stevens (DL, R-Fr., Monroeville, PA), Ben Bennett (DB, R-Fr., Capitol Heights, MD), Peris Edwards (DB, R-Fr., Toledo, OH), Brandon Stephens (DB, R-Fr., Strongsville), Deandre Gilmore (DB, Fr., St. Louis, MO), Mike Rummler (LS, R-Fr., Cincinnati, OH), Alex Stewart (DL, R-Fr., Westerville), Bob Gulley (OL, R-Fr., Berea), ZACHARY MARSHALL (OL, So., Mason), Morris Council (DL, Fr., Decatur, GA), Sean Redwine (DL, R-Fr., Reading) and D.J. Svabik (DL, R-Fr., Van Wert).

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN PERFORM WELL: The RedHawks' 2007 front five yielded just three sacks vs. Ball State, despite the fact that starting right guard Matt McKeown (Jr., Cincinnati) injured his shoulder on the very first play of the game. McKeown likely will be out for the Minnesota game; his status for the remainder of the season is unknown. Junior guard Josh Satterthwait (Roswell, GA) and redshirt freshman Bob Gulley (Berea) filled in admirably for their disabled teammate and will likely both play against Minnesota. The rest of Miami's starting offensive line is healthy. It consists of Charlie Norden (LT, Sr. Dublin), Dave DiFranco (LG, So., LaGrange), Steve Meister (C, Sr., Allison Park, PA) and Steve Sutter (RT, Jr., St. Henry). Miami's 2006 offensive line surrendered a whopping 49 quarterback sacks, ranking 118th nationally, but is one sack under its season average from 2006.

McVAY EXPECTED TO BOLSTER YOUTHFUL RECEIVING CORPS: Sean McVay (Jr., Marietta, GA), Miami's second-leading returning receiver, missed the Ball State game due to a thumb injury, but he could return to the pass-catching rotation against Minnesota. Dustin Woods (So., Cincinnati) was Miami's most frequent target against the Cardinals, catching five passes for 46 yards. Redshirt freshman Armand Robinson (Reynoldsburg) made his first career start versus BSU and caught four passes for 33 yards. Other wideouts who had receptions in game one included redshirt freshman Eugene Harris (Atlanta, GA) with two catches for five yards, and true freshman Jamal Rogers with one catch for 12 yards. RedHawk receivers who saw action but did not receive a pass included junior Jared Elliott (Franklin, TN), redshirt freshman Donovan Potter (Trotwood) and true freshman Chris Givens (Chillicothe).

MURPHY'S LAW: Senior running back Brandon Murphy (Strongsville), who struggled with an ankle injury throughout the 2006 campaign, sparkled against Ball State. He scored twice, including the game-winning touchdown (six yards) with just 17 seconds remaining. Of the 123 net yards Murphy had against the Cardinals, 59 came on a play in Miami's very first drive. The carry was Murphy's second-longest career rush and his longest since a career-best 67-yard carry against Akron on Oct. 15, 2005. It was his sixth career game of 100 or more yards rushing.

NEARLY TWICE AS EFFECTIVE: Miami runners averaged 4.7 yards per carry against Ball State, gaining 178 yards on 38 rushing attempts. In 2006, RedHawk runners averaged just 2.7 yards per carry.

THE RETURNS ARE IN: Redshirt freshman receiver and punt returner Eugene Harris (Atlanta, GA) made his collegiate debut against Ball State a memorable one. "Geno" returned four punts for 110 yards, an average of 27.5 per return. He saved his best effort for last, returning Chris Miller's 50-yard punt a total of 56 yards, putting the RedHawks on the 23-yard line. Brandon Murphy took it from there, rushing four times, including a six-yard game-winner with just 17 seconds left. Harris, who wears the same jersey number (No. 2) as his predecessor--Ryne Robinson, now with the NFL's Carolina Panthers--had Miami's best single-game punt return performance since Robinson's 139 yards (four returns) at Michigan on Sept. 4, 2004.

CAUSTIC BOSTIC: Sophomore linebacker Caleb Bostic (Galloway) led all RedHawk defenders in the Ball State game with 17 tackles in his very first start. He came up with a big defensive stop on third down in the third quarter, which helped prevent a Cardinal touchdown. With two yards to go and the ball on the three-yard line, Bostic came up with a stop in the back field to force Ball State to kick a field 22-yard field goal. Bostic's 17 tackles were the most by a Miami player since 2001 when Matt Pusateri record 18 in the RedHawks' season opener at Michigan.

MULLINS' BEST EFFORT: Junior linebacker Clayton Mullins (Fairborn) compiled a career-best 15 tackles against Ball State, including a game-best seven solo stops. His previous single-game record was 12 tackles at Cincinnati in 2006.

REDHAWKS GET A KICK OUT OF RICHARDSON: Junior punter JAKE RICHARDSON (Oxford) started off slowly against Ball State, but wound up being a big part of Miami's come-from-behind victory. Richardson averaged only 26.5 yards for his first two punts, but boomed the last three (62, 54 & 56) for an average of 57.3 yards. His longest was a 62-yarder that Miami downed on Ball State's three-yard line.

HUDSON ON LOMBARDI AND BUTKUS WATCH LISTS: Miami junior middle linebacker Joey Hudson (Jr., Piqua) is among 60 players on the watch list for the ROTARY LOMBARDI AWARD (top lineman in college football) and among 66 players on the watch list for the BUTKUS AWARD (top collegiate linebacker). Hudson had five tackles versus Ball State in the season opener.

MIAMI'S COOK ON GROZA WATCH LIST: RedHawk placekicker Trevor Cook (So., Sioux Falls, SD) is among 29 preliminary candidates for the 16th Annual Lou Groza Collegiate Placekicker Award. Cook missed field goals of 32 and 46 yards, but did connect on two important PATs, including the game-winner with 17 seconds left.

REDHAWK CAPTAINS: Miami has three tri-captains in 2007, and will name a fourth player each week to be a game captain. The three players who were elected by their teammates include quarterback Mike Kokal (Sr., Warren), running back Brandon Murphy (Sr., Strongsville) and linebacker Joey Hudson (Jr., Piqua). Senior Craig Mester (Grand Rapids, MI) was the game captain for the Ball State contest. The fourth captain for the Minnesota game will be named later this week.

BEST OF THE MAC: Following its victory versus Ball State, Miami improved its record to 41-18-1 in its Mid-American Conference openers (.692). The school has won more MAC games than any other (254), and its all-time MAC winning percentage of .674 (254-120-11) is far and away the best. MU has won or shared 14 MAC titles, more than any other program. Miami's next MAC game isn't until Oct. 6 when it plays at Kent State.

MIAMI AMONG COLLEGE FOOTBALL'S ELITE TEAMS: In college football history, Miami ranks 20th in terms of all-time victories with 641. MU is the only non-BCS-affiliated school in this rarified air. Among all-time collegiate teams with the best winning percentage, Miami ranks 16th at .6336 (642-362-44). MU ranks 13th in winning percentage among schools that have played 100 or more seasons, trailing only Michigan, Notre Dame, Texas, Oklahoma, Penn State, Ohio State, Alabama, Nebraska, Southern California, Tennessee, Georgia and LSU.

CRADLE CONTRIBUTES TO MINNESOTA VIKINGS: Current Minnesota Viking wide receiver Martin Nance played for Miami University from 2002-05. The 2005 RedHawk MVP was a favorite target of current Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, and ranks second on MU's all-time career lists for receptions, receiving yards, and TD catches.

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