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As the Miami University football team gears up for its 2007 season, they are prepared to put last season behind them and return to the Mid-American Conference championship.
With many brutally long practices in the heat under its belt, the Red and White is prepared to channel its built up energy into victories on the field-hopefully to prove that last year's losing season was a one-stop shop.
The RedHawks open their 2007 season with a conference road game Aug. 30 against Ball State-the first time they have started with a MAC game since 1997. The Cardinals defeated the RedHawks 20-17 last season at Yager Stadium.
"They are a great team with a lot of speed," said quarterback Mike Kokal. "We just have to counter their energy with some big plays and momentum on the other side of the ball."
The RedHawks are also prepared to go into a loud, rowdy stadium.
"Ball State will be playing their first game in a newly renovated stadium," Kokal said. "So, for the most part they are going to be pretty amped up."
Head Coach Shane Montgomery has had the Ball State game circled on his calendar all summer, and hopes that the off-season training has paid off for the RedHawks.
"The guys have been working hard this summer and in the off-season learning how to work as a team and win as a team," Montgomery said. "I have a lot of confidence in them."
Last season the 'Hawks showed some strengths, but were just unable to collect wins. Kokal, who was second in average passing yards per game in the Mid-American Conference, knows the team was close in many games.
"We need to be able to learn to win again," Kokal said. "We lost 10 games last year. We almost learned to lose."
Kokal is not the only RedHawk looking to quickly turn things around.
Senior defensive back Jerrid Gaines recognizes that the RedHawks need to get off to an early start-especially on the defensive side of the game.
"We need to create more turnovers," Gaines said. "This is something we lacked last year, and I think it really hurt us."
Although defensive star Joey Card graduated, there is still plenty of experience on the defensive side of the ball to keep the RedHawks' opponents off the scoreboard.
In addition to the leadership Gaines will bring, junior Joey Hudson will be called upon to help guide the 'Hawks, as will defensive lineman Craig Mester.
The RedHawks will also look to stay healthy, after being plagued by injuries last season.
One of the biggest injuries in 2007-08 was starting running back Brandon Murphy, who played in limited action in just eight games.
With Murphy returning to the starting line the RedHawks are looking to get back on track and hopefully take some of the pressure off Kokal and the passing game.
On the special teams the Red and White have increasing confidence in junior punter Jake Richardson and are working to train new starting longsnapper Mike Rummler.
"I feel really good with the talent level of the team, we are a young and inexperienced team, but I think we can work around that this year," Montgomery said.
Looking ahead and past the injuries, Miami prepares to play a tough schedule this season with games against schools from the Big Ten, Southeastern and Big 12 conferences.
"As the league gets tougher and tougher every year, we can't worry about the opponent," Montgomery said. "When it comes down to it, whether it's Minnesota or Colorado, we need to be selfish and worry about ourselves and getting better as a team."
