RedHawks struggling to win at home

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Miami has lost six straight at once-friendly Yager Stadium, last winning in 2005.


University of Cincinnati football coach Brian Kelly proved one thing when he said it would not be in the Bearcats' best interests to play at Yager Stadium: He hasn't been paying attention.

Lately, it hasn't been in the Miami RedHawks' best interests to play at Yager Stadium.That's something they hope to turn around this afternoon when Miami and UC hook up for the 112th time.

The RedHawks have lost six in a row on their home field. They haven't walked off the Yager turf smiling since Nov. 5, 2005, when they lambasted Buffalo 54-13.

"We have to get back to playing well at home," Miami coach Shane Montgomery said. "To be a championship football team, you've got to win your games at home."

In order for the RedHawks to win at home today, they'll have to do something nobody has done this season ? score more than three points against the UC defense.

"I'm sure they feel like they've got a lot of momentum," Montgomery said of the Bearcats, who've thrashed both opponents, Southeast Missouri State (59-3) and Oregon State (34-3).

"It's a tremendous defensive team, a team that has not given up a touchdown," the Miami coach added. "They've got great team speed on defense, and they had an outstanding defense last year. They're playing fast and they're very opportunistic."

The Bearcats already have intercepted eight passes, including two apiece by senior free safety Haruki Nakamura and junior cornerbacks Mike Mickens and DeAngelo Smith.

UC has unveiled a spread offense this season, but Montgomery hasn't forgotten about last year's game at Nippert Stadium, when the Bearcats outrushed the RedHawks 253 yards to 36.

"They've still got two or three really good running backs, so even though they spread you out and go 3-4-5 receivers, you still have to stop the running game," Montgomery said. "Even though they like to throw the ball, we have to stop the run."

Although Greg Moore rushed for 119 yards against Miami last season, the senior running back is No. 3 on UC's depth chart. No. 1 is senior Butler Benton, who leads the Bearcats with 148 yards and a 6.4 average per carry.Key players: Miami ? Sophomore RB Andre Bratton replaces senior Brandon Murphy, out with an injured knee, as the RedHawks' go-to ballcarrier today, and Bratton was impressive last week at Minnesota, rushing 12 times for 50 yards, including a touchdown in overtime. Jr. LB Chris Shula gets his first start in place of injured Joey Hudson, a Piqua product, at middle linebacker and, like Bratton, gave a blue-chip performance last week with a career-high 11 tackles. Cincinnati ? Sr. QB Ben Mauk, who spent the last four years at Wake Forest, is off to a sensational start at the Bearcats' starter, having completed 66 percent of his passes with four touchdowns and only one interception. Sr. DB Haruki Nakamura has become a turnover specialist. He forced a fumble in the opener against Southeast Missouri State and had two interceptions last week against Oregon State.

Scouting report: The Bearcats are on a roll, especially on defense, and the RedHawks were knocked slightly off-kilter last week, losing not only what appeared to be a comeback victory at Minnesota but also two key players in tailback Murphy and middle linebacker Hudson. Miami, however, has the advantage in motivation thanks to the words of Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly, who doesn't think playing in Oxford is such a hot idea, and the fact that the RedHawks are starved for a home win. Miami has lost six straight at Yager Stadium, a streak that is becoming intolerable to Miami fans and alumni.

 

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IT?S FINALLY GAME DAY!!


Here at Bearcat Insider, we usually formally announce the importance of each Bearcat game with an ?It?s Game Day!? post on the message board. I?ve changed the tradition slightly by incorporating it in a short game day story. Changing tradition has been a touchy subject of late.

The two schools may be only a short drive from each other, but the two Cincinnati area schools have a very different look about their rosters. The Bearcats have in the neighborhood of 35 players from the Cincinnati area, but Miami has barely 10. Will the rivalry mean more to the team with more local ties? Or will the Miami coaching staff have an edge since they?ve all coached in this rivalry?

After an uncharacteristic losing season in 2006, Miami is hoping to return to its winning ways, but the Redhawks have already been hurt by the injury bug again this season. Running back Brandon Murphy is probably out of the game, and All-MAC linebacker Joey Hudson is also hurt and unlikely to play. If Hudson can?t go, he?ll be replaced by Chris Shula, the son of ex-Bengal head coach Dave Schula.

If you?re a Bearcat fan, reports of Ben Mauk?s arm being tender may be cause for concern, but Tony Pike or Dustin Grutza are capable replacements if Mauk can?t go.

Coach Kelly took a lot of heat this week after commenting that he didn?t really want to continue this series in Oxford. If the series were to be played in Cincinnati every year, it would actually be returning to the original tradition since games weren?t played in Oxford until the early 70?s. Plus, few Bearcat fans in attendance will forget the 1994 game when the Miami time keeper truly homered the Bearcats allowing the Redskins extra time to get into field goal range to tie the game.

 

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Miami has QB choice entering battle for Victory Bell

Cincinnati comes to Yager Stadium with unbeaten mark



Shane Montgomery has two options -- and he likes both -- as Miami gears up for one of college football's oldest rivalries.

The RedHawks coach was coy during this week's MAC coaches teleconference on the subject of Miami's pair of quarterbacks.Mike Kokal has started both of Miami's games this year, but it was backup Daniel Raudabaugh who was called on late during last week's triple-overtime loss at Minnesota.

"We feel really good with both of them, which is a lot better than not feeling good with either of them," Montgomery said. "This is a good problem to have."

There's a chance both QBs may see action today during Miami's home opener against Cincinnati, Montgomery said.

This is the 112th meeting for the Victory Bell, a tradition that dates back to 1888. The game is noon at Yager Stadium in Oxford, Ohio.

"It's a terrific rivalry," Montgomery said. "I grew up in the state and knew a lot about Miami history. Until I got here seven years I really didn't understand how important the rivalry was."

Miami is 1-1, while Cincinnati is 2-0.

The Bearcats' tenacious defense has yet to allow a touchdown. They defeated Oregon State 34-3 and Southeast Missouri State 59-3.

Cincinnati's last win at Oxford was in 1999.

"They just create havoc. They stop the run. They've got a really fast front seven," Montgomery said of the Bearcats.

"They have a good mixture of blitzes. They've been very opportunistic.

"It will b e a very big challenge for us offensively."

So will the loss of starting running back Brandon Murphy to a knee injury. He is not expected to play Saturday.

But it was Raudabaugh who sparked the RedHawks last week. He took over in the fourth quarter with Miami down 28-12 and threw touchdown passes to Armand Robinson and Chris Givens.

Raudabaugh then led the RedHawks on a game-tying drive that ended with a 36-yard field goal with 11 seconds left.

"I knew we'd probably have to drop back and throw it every single down," Montgomery said. "He's a little bit more of a traditional drop-back passer than Mike Kokal. That's why I decided to put him in there.

"Daniel brings a lot to the table. We feel like both of them would be really good at running our regular offense."