Wednesday, October 20, 2004
Injuries mount; subs come to rescue
Miami football
By Mark Schmetzer
Enquirer contributor
OXFORD - Terry Hoeppner can't remember the last time his Miami football team lost so many starters to injury in the course of one game.
Five RedHawks starters were forced out of Saturday's 25-7 win at Buffalo at various times for injuries, Hoeppner said Tuesday. They ranged from freshman left guard Charlie Norden in the first series to sophomore wide receiver Ryne Robinson late in the game.
Three seniors - strong safety Matt Pusateri, running back Mike Smith and wide receiver Michael Larkin - also were sidelined with various problems, though the law prevents Hoeppner from being more specific.
"That's the first time we've had that many starters unable to play," Hoeppner said. "We expect to have them all back."
Miami had planned to rotate another redshirt freshman, Steve Meister, with Norden at left guard, but Meister played the entire game. Senior Luke Clemens took over the bulk of the ball-carrying duties and set season highs with 26 carries and 96 yards.
The deep receiving corps shook off the losses of Larkin and Robinson and helped quarterback Josh Betts post numbers good enough to be named Mid-American Conference East Division offensive player of the week.
Hoeppner was impressed with the contributions of sophomore Frank Wiwo at Pusateri's position. Wiwo, a former cornerback, stepped in and helped the defense hold Buffalo to 28 yards of total offense in the second half.
"I said at Sunday night's meeting, 'We kept telling Frank to be ready,' and he was ready,' " Hoeppner said. "He did a great job."
At 4-3 overall and 3-1 in the conference, the RedHawks remain a half-game behind Marshall (3-3, 3-0) in the division standings. They need to go undefeated, while the Thundering Herd lose two games, to win the division and earn a berth in the MAC championship game.
"It serves as continued motivation," Hoeppner said. "We've just got to keep playing. We still have a chance. There are a lot of teams still in it."
Akron is tied with Miami in the standings. In the West, Toledo and Northern Illinois both are 4-0 in the MAC and 5-2 overall. Eastern Michigan is 3-4 and 3-1, and Bowling Green is 4-2 and 2-1 and on a three-game winning streak.
Hoeppner also hopes that an 8-3 Miami team would prove attractive to a bowl game having trouble filling its automatic berth.
"There are other scenarios out there," he said. "There aren't many at-large bowl games, but there are some. You just better go play every week.
"I think we can get a lot better as a team," he added. "We've got four games to do it. Hopefully, we'll hit our stride."
MU vs. Central Fla.
