The coach proved it on the first offensive play Saturday against Ball State. Sam Ricketts lofted a high-arching, touch pass that Jay Hall ran under and caught for a 43-yard gain.
The play turned out to be the key to Miami's 27-10 victory in the opener in a Mid-American Conference game at Yager Stadium.
The first play was big, not because of the yards it gained, but because of the tone it set.
"It opened up a lot of eyes," Hall said. "It showed it wasn't the same Miami. Last year, we did not throw deep on them at all."
This year, Ricketts picked Ball State apart, hitting 17-of-31 for 248 yards. Hall, a junior from Walnut Hills, caught five passes for 92 yards. The other wideout, Trevor Gaylor, caught five for 51 yards. In all, Ricketts completed four passes of 20 yards or more.
Ricketts admitted afterward that he was a little skeptical of the Walker's pregame, pass-happy proclamation.
"We were all a little antsy," Rickets said. "We've heard in the past that we were going to throw more. But when things got tough we went back to the comfort zone: the running game. But (Walker) is committed to it."
The passing game has the potential to be so good.
"This is first time I feel like we have the total package," Walker said. "We've had quarterbacks who could throw. But now we have receivers who can stretch the field and make plays, and an offensive line who can protect."
With that in mind, Walker had scripted the first-play bomb as soon as the game plan was put in.
The only question on the play was would the ball come down.
"He threw a rainbow," Hall said. "It was so high it got lost in the sun."
But Hall made a good play to gather it in. The seed was planted.
"That play got them (Ball State) thinking," Ricketts said.
Travis Prentice, who ran for 113 yards and two touchdowns in his first start at tailback, saw that.
"Before it was run, run, run," Prentice said. "Now, they've got to play you square. They can't put nine men on the line."
Miami, the MAC favorite, trailed 10-3 13 seconds in the second quarter.
But Miami put together a 10-play, 76 yards drive - five passes, five runs - just before the half. Prentice followed the offensive line's surge in for a 1-yard TD, and Miami went up 13-10.
BSU ran nine plays in the third quarter and netted zero yards. Miami went 76 yards in 11 plays on its second drive of the half. This time, Prentice took it in with an 11-yard run that included a nice hesitation move behind the line of scrimmage. "When you keep driving and drive, it wears them down," Prentice said.
Miami's defense, which was shaky early, limited Ball State to 65 yards in the second half.
Tongue-twisted
The public address announcer made it through the first half, but when announcing who was back to receive the second-half kick, he slipped.
"Back for the Redskins is . . . I mean, for the RedHawks."
Popular among the fans were T-shirts that read: "I am and will always be a Redskin."
Saturday's Ball State game was the first major sporting event since Miami switched its nickname from Redskins to RedHawks.
By the way, the logo with the Indian is still painted on the sidelines.
Hot off the bench
JoJuan Armour, a junior outside linebacker who lost the starting job for unspecified team rules violations, had eight tackles, including five for losses, and two sacks for minus-10 yards.
Stat of the day
Miami was 5-for-5 on third-down conversions on its touchdown drives.
"It's hard to go 5-for-5 going against air," Ball State coach Bill Lynch said, "much less with 11 guys trying to stop you."
Tip-top shape
Miami outscored its opponents 63-39 in the fourth quarter of the games last year. Conditioning was a big part of that.
It appears the RedHawks are in good shape this year as well.
"They (Ball State) got tired," quarterback Sam Ricketts said.
Dusted
MU coach Randy Walker said Dustin Cohen, a sophomore linebacker from Summitt Country Day, has a chance to be one of the best ever at his position at MU.
Cohen looked like it Saturday. He had 11 tackles and broke up two passes. He won the starting job with three games to play last year as freshman.
Ball State 3 7 0 0 - 10
Miami 3 10 7 7 - 27
First Quarter
BS-FG Lockliear 42, 7:39
MU-FG Scott 34, 4:39
Second Quarter
BS-Josetti 39 run (Lockliear kick), 13:47
MU-FG Scott 36, 8:40
MU-Prentice 1 run (Scott kick), 2:51
Third Quarter
MU-Prentice 11 run (Scott kick), 8:21
Fourth Quarter
MU-Ricketts 15 run (Scott kick), 13:37
A-9,437.
BSU Miami
Firstdowns 14 20
Rushes-yards 40-88 39-132
Passing 150 248
Comp-Att-Int 13-22-1 17-31-1
Return Yards 114 100
Punts-Avg. 7-42.0 3-43.3
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 1-0
Penalties-Yards 8-65 5-60
Possession 28:54 31:06
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING-Ball St., Moore 22-62, Josetti 13-18, Terrell 3-7, Pickett 2-1. Miami, Prentice 26-113, Ricketts 4-13, Adkins 5-10, Monk 2-6, Smith 1-0, Schacke 1-(minus 10).
PASSING-Ball St., Josetti 13-22-1-150. Miami, Ricketts 17-31-1-248.
RECEIVING-Ball St., Geesman 3-29, Compas 3-18, Davis 2-55, Moore 2-20, Terrell 1-16, Reese 1-9, Place 1-3. Miami, Hall 5-92, Gaylor 5-51, Adkins 3-48, Prentice 2-23, Vaughn 1-27, Johnson 1-7.
