CNNSI.com - 2000 College Football Preview - CNNSI.com's Miami (Ohio) preview

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Miami RedHawks

Switch to air-oriented attack should help

College Football: The New Century

'99: 7-4, 6-2 MAC

Coach

Terry Hoeppner (second season, 7-4)

Key offensive players

Mike Bath, QB, Sr.
The MAC's returning leader in passing efficiency at 136.7.

Sly Johnson, WR, Sr.
Ranked second in the nation with 145.3 receiving yards per game and 31.1 yards per catch in 1999.

Alex Sulfsted, OT, Sr.
An All-MAC candidate who will be starting his third straight season.

Key defensive players

Andy Aracri, DT, Sr.
Was first-team All-MAC in 1999 and led the league in tackles-for-loss with 23.

Ivan Maisel's Player of the Century: Travis Prentice, RB, 1996-99
"Touchdown Travis rushed for more TDs (73) than anyone in I-A history."

Brightest Moment: Miami's 21-12 upset of No. 8 LSU in Baton Rouge on Sept. 20, 1986, which was called the greatest college football upset of the'80s by Sports Illustrated.

Lowest Moment: Miami's 1988 season of 0-10-1, which was its only winless season in the modern era.

Key newcomer

Ben Roeth, QB, Fr.
Roeth is the jewel of the Miami recruiting class. He set Ohio state single-season records last year in high school with 4,000 yards passing and 84 touchdowns.

Throwback player

Due to injuries at the linebacker spot, Nick Monk was converted to a starting fullback to linebacker. He ended up playing both ways for several games before a knee injury prevented him from finishing the year as a two-way player.

21st century player

An ACL tear in the fourth game of 1999 ended a spectacular campaign for Johnson. The coaching staff expects him to be back in 2000 just as strong or stronger.

Fast fact

Quarterback Mike Bath is 17-5 as a starter, despite battling through a shoulder injury in late '99.

Outlook

Miami's program is a solid one with only one losing season in the 1990s. Installing a pass-oriented offense should work well in the MAC. The Miami defense should be improved and deeper up front and in the secondary, but it needs depth. If the quick-strike offense works, the defense will be on the field often. The program is on the right track, but may be in the middle of the pack in the MAC this year.

--Stan Crawley