The Real Miami Stands Up

This last weekend was typical at Miami. It began with a Friday-night jaunt by Coach Shrider into the countryside in search of those small-school ballplayers who can shoot and might still be growing. Saturday he was back to his team of today, which easily beat Kent State 87-55, a victory that made Miami 9-0 in the Mid-American Conference. The Redskins were a bit ragged against Kent—it was exam time, and they had practiced only twice during the week—but they still put on their usual show. Most significantly, while the offense lacked its usual precision, the tough defense was maintained. The game was over early simply because Kent was not able to shoot against Miami; the Golden Flashes got off only 11 shots in the first 11 minutes.

Miami runs into some interesting non-league competition this week. First the Redskins and 6-foot-5� Charley Dinkins must battle Dayton and 7-foot Henry Finkel at Dayton. And then, of all things, there will be a Miami game, that is, Miami University vs. the University of Miami at Miami Beach in a contest guaranteed to confuse a lot of neighborhood bookies. The Redskin players would like to see the loser get the brackets this time.

"These kids have pride and heart," Coach Shrider says. "They were all stars in their home towns but then they were overlooked, and now they have a chance to show that they shouldn't have been. We could tell they were going to be good as soon as they worked together as freshmen. Early in their sophomore year we played Bowling Green, and they beat us 86-36. That's right, 86-36. I came into the locker room, and most of them were crying. I said, 'All right, don't worry. I can't say don't forget it, because you were humiliated and you'll never forget this.' But there was a return game, and I mentioned that. It was January 12. I remember that, because we kept saying it and I'd write it up on the blackboard—January 12, the 12th of January. And, you know, we beat 'em.

"They're really unselfish, really a team. Sometimes I wish they were a little tougher, a little more hard-nosed, but I guess they just never will be. The trouble is, what these guys are—they're boys you'd like your daughter to marry. Doesn't that sound corny?

"Well, I'll tell you, I'm just thinking a little corny now. But if we can beat Ohio U. again and win the conference and get along in that NCAA tournament thing, wouldn't we be something? Everybody would be for us. They'd have to—all these kids nobody ever heard of. We'd have to be everybody's favorite, the team of the common man. Now just how would that be in old Miami-brackets-Ohio?"

It would be 85� and the sun would be shining.