Sunday, February 24, 2002
Hoeppner pumped about Miami's schedule
First 3 games to test RedHawks
By Ian Duthie
Enquirer contributor
With the release of the 2002 football schedule, both Miami players and coaches know the challenge that awaits them.
“If you compare our first three games nationally, I think they rate as difficult as any,” said fourth-year coach Terry Hoeppner, whose team finished 7-5 last season. “It's a testament to where we think this program is headed, with the most difficult schedule we have ever played.”
The RedHawks open the season at North Carolina, then host Iowa before traveling to Louisiana State. Those teams' combined record last season was 25-13, and all three schools won a bowl game.
The RedHawks defeated both UNC and LSU the last time they played; Miami beat the No.12 Tar Heels 13-10 in 1998 and the No.8 Tigers in 1986. LSU was the highest-ranked team Miami has ever defeated. After winning the Sugar Bowl and finishing the season ranked No.7, the Tigers again should be a top-10 team when they play in “Death Valley” on Sept.14.
“We know the history here of beating bigger schools, and nothing would be better than adding another game to our list,” Miami wide receiver Eddie Tillitz said.
Iowa will be the first Big Ten team to play in Oxford, Sept.7.
“I can already feel the excitement building,” quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. “The team loves the fact that we are playing the best competition possible. Home against Iowa will be special for the school and our fans.”
Counting the annual game against longtime rival Cincinnati, all four of MU's nonconference opponents will have played in a bowl game. UC was the only team to lose its postseason game.
Toledo, which beat UC in the Motor City Bowl and won the Mid-American Conference's West division, and MAC East champion Marshall are other bowl teams the RedHawks must visit.
“There is nothing easy about our schedule in or out of the league, and that is the way we like it,” Hoeppner said.
The game against Marshall is on a Tuesday night, a first for Miami, and will be televised nationally by ESPN. The six bowl teams from last season are twice as many as any other MAC team plays this season.
New MAC member Central Florida closes the season at MU on Nov.23. Central Florida becomes the 14th team in the conference and evens the two divisions. Last season, the unbalance made divisional games more important, because they were all that counted toward winning the division.
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Hoeppner pumped about Miami's schedule
