Spring Break
Kokal still deserves starter role
Pat's points
Patrick Murray
Issue date: 9/14/07 Section: Sports
The challenges and questions will not go away for the Miami RedHawks football squad.
After opening the season with two straight road contests, the RedHawks return home to Oxford with a 1-1 record and an emerging quarterback controversy.
Saturday the Red and White take on a Cincinnati Bearcat team that has won its first two games by a combined score of 93-6.
Starting off the season with two consecutive road games against a conference foe (Ball State) and a Big Ten opponent (Minnesota) is no small challenge for any team.
The RedHawks certainly rose to the occasion-playing well enough to squeak out a win in Terre Haute, Ind. and rallying to nearly steal a victory from the Golden Gophers.
There is no doubt that winning is always preferable to losing, but some 1-1 road trips are better than others. This was one of the good ones.
The main question for Miami now as they return home is who will start at quarterback. Sophomore Daniel Raudabaugh's stat line (13 for 24 with two touchdowns and a monster 151 passer rating) and his ability to propel the team into overtime in a road game that looked lost should bring into the forefront a quarterback controversy that until now had been lurking slightly below the surface.
Whatever margin for error Senior Mike Kokal previously enjoyed is gone now. Indications seem to be that he will get the start Saturday against Cincinnati, but if Miami doesn't get off to a fast start in the Battle for the Bell, expect fans to call for Raudabaugh to enter the game.
The allure of Raudabaugh is his impressive stat line from the Minnesota game; however, fans should realize that Raudabaugh hasn't had many starts.
In fact, he has started only one game in his college career-a 24-10 loss at Cincinnati last season. Kokal, by contrast, is a quarterback who is known well by RedHawk fans.
Statistically speaking, he had a very good season last year, completing almost 59% of his passes for a 121-passer rating. His touchdown to interception ratio was nearly 2:1.
After opening the season with two straight road contests, the RedHawks return home to Oxford with a 1-1 record and an emerging quarterback controversy.
Saturday the Red and White take on a Cincinnati Bearcat team that has won its first two games by a combined score of 93-6.
Starting off the season with two consecutive road games against a conference foe (Ball State) and a Big Ten opponent (Minnesota) is no small challenge for any team.
The RedHawks certainly rose to the occasion-playing well enough to squeak out a win in Terre Haute, Ind. and rallying to nearly steal a victory from the Golden Gophers.
There is no doubt that winning is always preferable to losing, but some 1-1 road trips are better than others. This was one of the good ones.
The main question for Miami now as they return home is who will start at quarterback. Sophomore Daniel Raudabaugh's stat line (13 for 24 with two touchdowns and a monster 151 passer rating) and his ability to propel the team into overtime in a road game that looked lost should bring into the forefront a quarterback controversy that until now had been lurking slightly below the surface.
Whatever margin for error Senior Mike Kokal previously enjoyed is gone now. Indications seem to be that he will get the start Saturday against Cincinnati, but if Miami doesn't get off to a fast start in the Battle for the Bell, expect fans to call for Raudabaugh to enter the game.
The allure of Raudabaugh is his impressive stat line from the Minnesota game; however, fans should realize that Raudabaugh hasn't had many starts.
In fact, he has started only one game in his college career-a 24-10 loss at Cincinnati last season. Kokal, by contrast, is a quarterback who is known well by RedHawk fans.
Statistically speaking, he had a very good season last year, completing almost 59% of his passes for a 121-passer rating. His touchdown to interception ratio was nearly 2:1.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Alex Dombroff
posted 9/14/07 @ 9:50 PM EST
"Kokal does bring to the table, however, attributes that cannot always be measured in numbers-leadership and poise."
Unless that leadership breeds wins WHY DOES IT MATTER?
Jon E.
posted 9/16/07 @ 11:47 AM EST
"The RedHawks certainly rose to the occasion-playing well enough to squeak out a win in Terre Haute, Ind."
Last time I checked Ball State was is Muncie not Terre Haute. (Continued…)
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