The Miami University football team begins this season with new hope, as they look to make last year's 2-10 record a distant memory.
At the center of the hype for this season is a group of 29 freshmen players who will be the future of the RedHawks.
After graduating 11 seniors from the team, seven of which started at their position, the new talent will have to be ready to jump right in.
"Right now we feel very confident going into the season," Head Coach Shane Montgomery said. "As far as the freshmen are concerned, we felt really good about this class. We felt like this, in the seven years that I've been here, was the best class we've brought in."
Not only will these athletes have to get used to playing college football, but they'll also have to adjust to college life just like any other new Miami student.
Unlike a traditional first-year student, these first-years will have to worry about attending practices, film studies and games-as well as dealing with the normal transitions from high school to college.
Among the first-year students hoping to get their first steps on the college field are Clay Belton, who was ranked 30th nationally amongst freshmen quarterbacks by ESPN.com, linebacker Ryan Kennedy, and receivers Chris Givens, Jamal Rogers, and Armand Robinson.
So far for the young RedHawks, the summer practices leading up to the start of the season have gone fairly smoothly.
"It's been as good as I can ask so far," Belton said. "As a freshman, you come in and start getting a grasp of everything you 'gotta do; it just makes you feel good about yourself."
Not to say that there haven't been any struggles for the touted prospect.
"The harder parts have been at my position, quarterback; there's a lot more to learn," Belton said. "A lot of the conditioning, getting ready; it's a lot different than high school."
One of the biggest holes to fill will be by the young receiving core in Givens, Rogers, and Robinson, who will have to make up for graduated star Ryne Robinson-who is currently playing in the NFL for the Carolina Panthers.
Armand Robinson understands that the college game is much different than in high school.
"It's a lot of bigger people, faster people, smarter and a lot of people with better work ethic than in high school, so it's a whole new level," Armand Robinson said.
If having to deal with 300-pound linebackers and lightning-quick safeties isn't bad enough, all the first-years are quickly getting introduced to classes and the Miami Plan.
"So far I like it, classes are going well, you got the Miami Plan," Belton said. "It's all just lot more independent."
Even though the school year is young, Robinson said that so far the mix between football and classes hasn't caused too many problems.
"No, I mean classes, I try to get in there early and graduate early, that's my main goal," Armand Robinson said.
Although thousands of Miami students will make the trek down to Yager Stadium to see these players on the field this year, they'd be just as likely to be studying in the library, on the Slant Walk, or sitting among the crowds during lunch at Shriver Center.
For now Armand Robinson and his fellow first-year RedHawks are enjoying their college experience while playing for what is usually one of the Mid-American Conference's best teams.
"Me and the fellas we just been coming out everyday doing the best of our abilities," Armand Robinson said. "We're young, but I'm not going to use that as an excuse because we've been working all summer. Like coach said, we can do it because I feel like Miami is one of the better teams in the MAC."
Belton is nothing but positive as hopefully the young 'Hawks can help lead the team back to the postseason.
"Everyone's coming in with the same goals and that's trying to get a MAC Championship and make it to a bowl game this year," he said.
