By Mark Schmetzer
Enquirer contributor

The situation has all of the potential of being a quarterback controversy - without the quarterbacks.

Instead, the protagonists are Miami's placekickers, fifth-year senior Jared Parseghian and junior Todd Soderquist. They have shared almost equally the RedHawks' placekicking duties from the opening kickoff of the first game, and because neither has proven himself to be decisively better than the other, the look shows no signs of changing.

"Right now, the system's working," Parseghian said.

Said Soderquist: "This is the first I've heard of it, but it's working out good."

The plan as conceived by coach Terry Hoeppner was for the two kickers to alternate on every kick, except for the longer field goals. Through Miami's first six games, Parseghian had handled 17 kicks and Soderquist 16.

Parseghian was 3-for-3 on field goals in last Saturday's win over Kent State to leave him 5-for-7 this season, along with 9-for-10 on PATs. Soderquist, who handles all of the kickoffs, was 4-for-4 on PATs to keep himself perfect at 13-for-13. He also made a 43-yard field goal to improve to 2-for-3 this season.

The plan started forming last spring, Soderquist said.

"I was doing well," he said. "We were both pretty even. None of us took the lead."

Hoeppner decided that letting Soderquist handle half of the kicks would help him stay warm and loose for the longer field goal attempts.

"I didn't ask them," Hoeppner said. "I said, 'Here's what we're going to do.' I'm sure it's been done before. If you watch them in practice, there's really not any difference."

Said Parseghian: "Todd and I both have our strengths and weaknesses. He's got a bigger leg. I probably get the ball up a little quicker."

Soderquist's personal best is a 52-yard field goal he made in high school while helping Battle Ground Academy of College Grove, Tenn., win a state championship. Parseghian's best is a 44-yarder he made for St. John's Jesuit in Toledo.

"He has to overkick it to get it there," Hoeppner said.

The plan gives Soderquist experience that should help him next season when, presumably, he becomes the sole starter.

"This year has been fun, but I'm definitely looking forward to the chance to do everything," he said.

Parseghian, who owns the Miami and Mid-American Conference records with 18 consecutive field goals, could have been upset at losing his starting job, especially because it could hurt his chances of kicking in the NFL.

Instead, he felt lucky he wasn't replaced after slumping in the spring.

"Right now, the NFL and all that stuff is on the back burner," he said. "We have a season to finish up."

Added Hoeppner: "They haven't complained to me. They know not to do that."