Tuesday, September 12, 2000
Miami vs. Ohio State first meeting since Titanic
By RUSTY MILLER
AP Sports Writer
COLUMBUS, Ohio — For No. 17 Ohio State, it's a final tuneup before starting the Big Ten season a week later against Penn State. For Miami University, it's a game that only comes along once every 89 years or so.
“We don't play on ESPN and in front of close to 100,000 people on a regular basis,” Miami coach Terry Hoeppner said Monday.
The RedHawks haven't played the Buckeyes since the Titanic was in drydock, back in 1911. Both teams are 2-0, but they're separated by a lot more than the 100 miles between Columbus and Oxford.
The Buckeyes dominate in the hearts and minds of Ohioans. It's trite but true that most kids who grow up within the borders dream of someday wearing scarlet and gray. That explains why Ohio State's coaches seem to get almost every in-state blue-chip recruit.
“They kind of choose who they want in the state and we fight over who's left,” Hoeppner said.
But it's not as if the Mid-American Conference hasn't done its part to grab some attention. MAC members Toledo, Western Michigan and Ohio University have stolen the Big Ten's thunder with victories over Penn State, Iowa and Minnesota, respectively, in the last two weeks.
Ohio State coach John Cooper said he has first-hand knowledge of the MAC's history of springing upsets.
“It happens every year,” he said. “This isn't the first time the MAC has beaten other teams. Toledo beat Purdue a couple of years ago, didn't they? When I was coaching out at Kansas, Ohio University came out and beat us and we had a good team. It happens.”
Then he added, “It happens if you let it happen.”
Linebacker Joe Cooper said attitude means everything when the Big Ten faces the MAC.
“These MAC schools have been beating up on the Big Ten,” he said. “We're not going to let that happens to us. This is our house.”
Former Toledo head coach Chuck Stobart is now Ohio State's offensive coordinator. He said he has seen the signs posted in a campus building in Oxford, listing the RedHawks' upsets over the years against LSU, Virginia Tech, North Carolina and Northwestern, among others.
“They're very scary,” said Stobart. “You'll get a lot of guys in the MAC who really wanted to play in the Big Ten but were shunned. They'll really, really play hard.”
Quarterback Steve Bellisari said none of the Buckeyes are taking the RedHawks lightly.
“It's a good eye-opener,” he said. “Last year we played Ohio U. and we were tied 10-10 at the half. They came out and played hard. I'm pretty sure Miami's going to do the same thing.”
Ohio State is coming off a 27-17 victory late Saturday night at Arizona. The defense dictated the tempo and held the Wildcats at bay until the offense came up with enough big plays to overcome deficits of 7-0 and 17-10.
“It all goes back to our philosophy from day one — putting quarterbacks in a position where they have to throw the ball and then going after them,” defensive coordinator Fred Pagac said. “Right now, our players are putting their ears back and rushing the quarterback.”
At the same time, Ohio State's offense has a lot of faults to correct. The Buckeyes had 13 penalties — most when they had the ball — for the second week in a row and also has three turnovers.
Miami opened its season with a 33-30 road upset of Southeastern Conference member Vanderbilt. Last week, it opened MAC play with a 34-17 victory at Eastern Michigan.
Cooper has no doubt that Ohio State will get Miami's best shot.
“Their press release says this is one of the biggest games in the history of their school,” he said. “It's been 1911 since we played them. It won't get any bigger than this one, will it?”
As Hoeppner signed off the MAC coaches' conference call Monday, the moderator wished him and his team good luck.
“I hope we don't let the league down,” Hoeppner said. “Everybody else has been doing their part.”
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