The Miami University football team doesn't exactly look to be at the top of its game with its worst start since 1989 going into Saturday's rivalry showdown against the University of Cincinnati.
But Head Coach Shane Montgomery said that the game has the potential to be exactly the type of game that can turn things around for the RedHawks (0-4 overall, 0-1 MAC).
"With the rivalry over the years, it's a special football game," Montgomery said. "I'm glad we have that right now at this at this point because we are coming off of two disappointing losses. ... When you're coming off some disappointing games I think it's very good to have a meaningful game at this point."
The Miami-Cincinnati rivalry is billed as "the oldest rivalry west of the Alleghenies" and is the fifth longest in the nation. Saturday's match up will be the 111th meeting between the schools. Miami holds a 59-44-7 edge in the series.
Each year, the two teams play for the Victory Bell, where the winner gets to carry the bell back to its campus. The bell is currently housed at Yager Stadium after the RedHawks demolished the Bearcats 44-16 in 2005.
"We know we're down, but we're not out yet," junior defensive end Craig Mester said. "We have to beat Cincinnati ... No matter how the season is going for either one of us we're going to be coming to play that day."
The Bearcats are currently 1-3, but Montgomery said Cincinnati's record isn't indicative of their talent level and believes the Bearcats will be a challenge for the Red and White.
In their last two games the Bearcats have been within a field goal and have had the lead at halftime against Ohio State and Virginia Tech, respectively, before their nationally-ranked opponents pulled away late.
"It's going to be a very challenging game for us to play Cincinnati, a veteran squad," Montgomery said. "(They were) a very young team last year but have a lot of experience back this year."
UC returned 17 starters this season, compared to a RedHawk squad that had to replace 16 starters from last year's team and has had 13 players make their first career starts so far this year.
Although Miami's young offense has struggled to get points on the board, the RedHawks face a Cincinnati team that has allowed 33 points per game since its season opener.
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Montgomery said that he hopes to bring balance to the offense and establish an effective rush.
"We're going to have to try and run the football against UC," Montgomery said. "Even though they're like our defense, they're very aggressive. They are going to try and stop the run first and make us one dimensional."
Despite their yielding 33 points per game, Cincinnati brings a capable run defense to the table. The Bearcats allow just 118.5 rushing yards per game and ranked 33rd nationally in tackles for loss.
That doesn't bode well for the 'Hawks, as Miami ranks near the top nationally in sacks allowed and has failed to establish any kind of consistency in its rushing attack.
Sophomore quarterback Dustin Grutza leads the Cincinnati offense, which is gaining 219.5 passing yards per game, but ranked 112th nationally in rushing offense.
Montgomery said that for the most part he has been happy with the RedHawks' defense.
Miami's defense has allowed only three first-quarter scores and four first-half touchdowns this season, two of which came in last Saturday's loss to Syracuse University.
Miami looks to extend its success against the Bearcats in the Battle for the Bell and, more importantly, end its four-game slide.
The game is slated for 3:30 p.m. at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati.
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