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After a rousing weekend of upsets across the nation, the RedHawks will look to create some upset magic of their own as they travel to Minneapolis to take on the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers.
"(Last weekend's upsets) show us it can be done," Head Coach Shane Montgomery said. "We don't think we're the underdog."
While no one shook the college football world more than Appalachian State with its shocking win over No. 5 University of Michigan at the Big House, Miami University surprised a few of its own with a 14-13 come-from-behind win at Ball State.
"We needed to get a win like that for our confidence," Montgomery said. "It's a great feeling for us."
Miami will try to recreate those good feelings against a hungry Gophers team, still stinging from its 32-31-overtime loss to Bowling Green last weekend in Minnesota.
Minnesota lost a tale of two halves last Saturday: Bowling Green rocked the Golden Gophers throughout the first half only to see Minnesota rebound in the second half to force overtime. However, the Falcons finished off the Gophers with a two-point conversion in overtime.
The 'Hawks realize that Minnesota will be looking to avenge its opening loss this weekend against the Red and White.
"Bowling Green's win motivates us to play harder because we know Minnesota will be fired up," said Mike Kokal, Miami's quarterback.
While Minnesota will be penciled in as the favorite, Miami's odds may be better than they appear on paper.
In Sports Illustrated's latest college football ranking, Miami bested its upcoming opponent by 21 places-finishing with a ranking of No. 72 to Minnesota's No. 93.
Miami is also slotted five spots higher than Bowling Green-the team that left the Twin Cities on top last weekend.
One criticism from last week's win at Ball State was the RedHawks' underachieving passing attack.
Kokal admitted that he missed a few passes and that the aerial attack isn't quite where the team wants it to be. The 'Hawks managed only 118 yards passing in Muncie, including two interceptions by Kokal.
However, Minnesota may prove to be the right spot for the RedHawks to revive their stagnant passing game. In its past two games, including last year's Insight Bowl, Minnesota has yielded 857 yards passing, with Bowling Green lighting up the Gopher secondary for 415 yards last weekend.
With senior running back Brandon Murphy putting up numbers similar to 2005 and a lackluster Minnesota secondary, Kokal and company will have a great opportunity to kick the Miami offense into high gear in the Twin Cities.
Last week also showed something most Miami fans hadn't seen in a long time-a comeback win in the fourth quarter.
"We pulled out a win (late in the game)," Kokal said. "We couldn't do that last year."
Montgomery also saw Miami's play down the stretch as an improvement from last year.
"We feel good about the way we finished the game," Montgomery said. "We feel confident winning in the fourth quarter."
While winning one game late doesn't dramatically change the Miami landscape for the rest of the season, it is a sign that this is a much different team taking the field than a year ago.
"We have more experience this year and are a little deeper everywhere," Montgomery said. "It kept us fresher in the fourth (quarter)."
Miami fielded 16 players making their collegiate debut against Ball State, including one of the heroes of the evening, redshirt freshman Eugene Harris. Harris brought the RedHawks back into the game with a 56-yard punt return to set up Murphy's game-winning touchdown run with 17 seconds remaining.
"We want them to play more and more as they get their confidence up," Montgomery said. "We want to get the young guys ready with as much playing time as possible early."
Kokal is breathing a sigh of relief this season with the return of Murphy in the backfield.
"I don't feel like I have to make every play (with Murphy)," Kokal said. "Last year I felt like I had to."
Murphy, who collected 123 yards and two touchdowns against Ball State, credits a change in attitude for Miami's newfound success down the stretch early this year.
"We're staying positive," Murphy said. "If there's still time on the clock, we can do anything."
A more subtle change this season will be the alteration in attire for the Red and White; this year's uniforms will be without the players' names on the back.
"We have to get back to playing team football," Montgomery said. "They have to earn the names back; guys will get their individual rewards the more we win."
With no names on their backs, Miami hopes to have Minnesota looking at nothing but their back numbers Saturday in the Humphrey Metrodome.
