Last night the Miami RedHawks played in the GoDaddy.com bowl and defeated the Blue Raiders of Middle Tennessee State University 35-21. I have been down in Mobile since Wednesday to partake in the bowl festivities and support the RedHawk football team. The festivities included a Mardi Gras Parade, a fireworks display, and of course pep rallies for each team. The Miami University Marching Band and Cheerleaders were on hand to get all the RedHawk faithful pumped up for the big game. While the floats were quite amazing, the best part of the parade was watching the football players try to catch the beads and moon pies that were being thrown into the crowd. Miami University President Dr. Hodge and Athletic Director Brad Bates were both in the parade and yes, they threw beads too! The hotel I stayed in was the team hotel and the staff was nothing but accommodating, they even decorated the lobby with Miami Flags and signs of support from the student body and the Oxford Kroger. Staying in the team hotel also meant many funny encounters with the members of the football team.
The team left for Mobile last Saturday and they have enjoyed the Southern hospitality to the fullest extent. While in Mobile they were able to visit the USS Alabama battleship, and participated in and WON the bowling tournament pitting the two teams against each other in a competition not on the football field. Possibly a sign of things to come…
When Thursday finally arrived the team was electric with excitement, this was Miami’s first bowl since 2004 and we had a chance to make NCAA history. A RedHawk win in the GoDaddy.com Bowl would mark the first time in NCAA history that a team went from double digit losses to double digit wins. The players went through their normal game day routines and boarded the buses to go to the stadium. The game was long and hard fought through the first 3 quarters but in the 4th quarter the defense stepped up into high gear and intercepted Middle Tennessee’s passes multiple times. The interceptions stopped touchdown trading that had occurred the first three quarters and sealed the victory for the RedHawks of Miami University. Under the direction of interim coach Lance Guidry and under the watchful eye of new head coach Don Treadwell the Miami University RedHawks became the GoDaddy.com bowl champions and added to their already historical season. Worst to first in the Mid-American Conference, a nine game win improvement (tied for most in NCAA history), and the first team to ever go from double digit losses (1-11 in 2009) to double digit wins (10-4 in 2010) in NCAA history.
Well it’s time to board my plane and head back to Oxford so I can continue to read applications and answer all of your questions. Don’t forget our last application deadline is February 1st! I’m also going to leave you with some pictures from my trip.
Love and Honor! Go RedHawks!
A couple of floats from the Parade
Miami Representatives in the Parade: President Hodge, Athletic Director Dr. Bates, & the MUMB (Miami University Marching Band)!
Some of the guys on Gameday (Left: Tight end Ken Bruton; Right: Defensive linemen Austin Brown and Will Diaz)
Welcome New Members of the Miami Family (Left: New Head Football Coach Don Treadwell; Right: Newly Admitted Class of 2015 Student Curtis Jefferson)
Miami Players Celebrate their 10th win! (Clockwise from top-left: Wide Receiver Armand Robinson; Linebacker Evan Harris; Linebacker Austin Moore; Defensive Lineman Jordain Brown)
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