By Mark Schmetzer
Enquirer contributor

Folks in the Miami football program spent a lot of time patting each other on the back for a wonderful 2003 season.

But some of them also spent time kicking themselves for having blown the opportunity at a 14-0 season by losing a game at Iowa they considered, in hindsight, winnable.

Coach Terry Hoeppner is confident that the RedHawks who return from last year, especially the 13 who started the Iowa game, will remember the experience as they trot onto the field at Michigan Stadium today to face No. 8 Michigan.

"The way we prepared after that game told me a lot," Hoeppner said. "We learned a lesson. We need to learn from that experience.

"I think we're a mature enough team. We're a confident team now."

The game matches a pair of similar programs. Both are defending conference champions breaking in new junior quarterbacks, though Miami's Josh Betts has one more start under his belt than Michigan's Matt Gutierrez.

Michigan coach Lloyd Carr is impressed with Betts' athleticism.

"They may have some running plays designed for him," Carr said. "He's a good athlete who can throw the ball, and they've surrounded him with a lot of experience."

Both programs have long, strong traditions of winning while emphasizing academics.

They also have strong ties to each other, such as Miami athletic director Brad Bates, a 1981 Michigan graduate. Bates played defensive back for Bo Schembechler, who left Miami after the 1968 season for the top job with the Wolverines.

"What makes this game special has a lot to do with Bo Schembechler," Bates said. "You can't separate the two institutions. The two institutions are connected forever because of him."

But there's no denying that the scope of Michigan's operation is wider than Miami's.

"Hopefully, the teams aren't as far apart as the programs," said Hoeppner, referring to budgets, season-ticket bases, average attendance and television appearances.

The last Wolverines game that wasn't televised was their game against Miami Sept. 30, 1995. Today's game will be the 108th consecutive Michigan game to be televised, a streak second-longest in the country only to Notre Dame's 137.

"I'm not belittling our program at all, but they definitely have some advantages there," Hoeppner said.

Miami at No. 8 Michigan

Kickoff: Noon, Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor.

Records: Miami 1-0, Michigan 0-0 (10-3, 2003).

TV: ABC.

Radio: WMOH-AM (1450).

Series: Michigan leads 3-0.

Line: Michigan by 13.

What to watch: Can Miami stop Michigan's running game enough to unleash its linebackers on untested quarterback Matt Gutierrez? Starting for the first time in front of 107,501 people could rattle the junior.

Miami	Team statistics	Mich.*
454.0	Offense avg.	446.7
162.0	Avg. by rush	175.9
292.0	Avg. by pass	270.8
204.0	Defense avg.	297.2
44.0	Avg. by rush	116.6
160.0	Avg. by pass	180.5
49.0	Avg. pts. for	35.4
0.0	Avg. pts. against	16.8

*Stats from last season.