By Mark Schmetzer
Enquirer contributor

MIAMI VS. KENT STATE

Kickoff: 2 p.m. today, Yager Stadium, Oxford. Records: Kent St. 1-4 (0-2 Mid-American Conference), MU 2-3 (1-1). Radio: WCKY-AM (1360), WMOH-AM (1450). Series: Miami leads 41-10-0. Line: Miami by 20.

OXFORD - As if he hadn't seen enough of them live and in the course of routine reviews, Miami coach Terry Hoeppner had a videotape prepared that consisted exclusively of the 19 turnovers committed by the RedHawks in their first five games of the season. What he discovered didn't surprise him.

"I don't think it's ever just one thing," Hoeppner said. "Our turnovers are a combination of mental mistakes and bounces not going our way. Part of it's mental. Part of it's physical."

Regardless of the reason, there's still a bottom line.

"We've got as many turnovers in five games this season as we had in 14 games last year," Hoeppner said. "That's unacceptable. Our defense and kicking game have been good enough to win some of the games if not for the self-inflicted wounds."

The RedHawks (2-3, 1-1 Mid-American Conference) hope to slow the trend - if not reverse it - when they meet Kent State (1-4, 0-1) in a 2 p.m. MAC East Division game at Yager Stadium.

Third-year junior quarterback Josh Betts has been a major culprit in Miami's turnovers. Betts, in his first year as the starter, has thrown seven interceptions, and he has committed two of the RedHawks' four fumbles - three of which were lost - in the 33-25 loss at Marshall.