 There are times when a trip to the scenic western United States might be restful, educational or otherwise rewarding. Miami football coach Mike Haywood wasn't counting on the first option, but he can still hope his young squad benefits from the latter two following a 48-0 loss Saturday at No. 12 Boise State.
Miami has a tradition of including some of the nation's top teams on its schedules, but in a rebuilding year such as 2008, that tradition can produce some "ultra-challenging" matchups. Such was the case Saturday, which in some ways seemed to be a replay of Miami's season opener against Kentucky.
Miami lost 48-0 at Boise State one week after a 42-0 loss to Kentucky at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati. The 48-point loss was Miami's worst since a 49-0 loss at Michigan State Sept 16, 1989. It also marked the first time Miami has been shut out in its first two games of the season since 1940. Although a two-game scoreless start has happened five times, three of those occasions were scoreless ties.
It may be of little solace to the youthful RedHawks of new head coach Mike Haywood, but in some respects, they actually produced more offense against Boise State than No. 16 Oregon did the previous week. Miami had 197 yards of total offense Saturday. Oregon picked up 152 yards. Miami also had 14 first downs against BSU, while Oregon managed just six in a 19-8 loss.
What proved particularly costly for the RedHawks Saturday were turnovers. Starter Daniel Raudabaugh and redshirt freshman Zac Dysert each threw two interceptions. The Broncos also took advantage of a blocked put with 35 seconds left before halftime. Four plays later, quarterback Kellen Moore hit Titus Young on a 25-yard TD pass to give the hosts a 20-0 lead.
Moore threw four touchdown passes on the evening, connecting on 16-of-26 passes for 307 yards. He was intercepted once. He gave way to Mike Coughlin after Boise State built up a 34-0 advantage in the third quarter.
Raudabaugh, meanwhile, went 21-for-35 for 155 yards. Chris Givens led the RedHawks in receiving with seven catches for 61 yards, while Armand Robinson added another 54 yards on five receptions. That tied a career high for Robinson.
NOTES: - After going 2-for-15 on third down conversions against Kentucky, Miami finished 7-for-15 at Boise State.
- Redshirt junior cornerback Brandon Stephens picked up his first career interception in the second quarter.
- Dysert, a redshirt freshman, got his first game action against Boise State, who welcomed him by intercepting his first pass.
- Miami does not play a home game in Yager Stadium until Oct. 3 when defending Big East champion Cincinnati - an area rival - comes to Oxford. The RedHawks' only other remaining non-conference game is at Northwestern (Oct. 10).
- Miami's next game is at Western Michigan, a team which nearly upset Indiana Saturday and is led by dynamic quarterback Tim Hiller.
|
