Miami Student

Issue date: 9/25/07 Section: Sports

Miami's Thomas Merriweather gets up close and personal with five Colorado defenders as the RedHawks fell to Colorado, 42-0. ZAK WOOD/The Colorado Daily

The RedHawks traveled into thin air this weekend-and came out gasping for breath. Both the Miami University football offense and defense failed to get it going against the University of Colorado, as the Buffaloes stampeded over the Red and White to a 42-0 victory.

Sophomore quarterback Daniel Raudabaugh made his first start of the season for the 'Hawks in place of senior Mike Kokal, however the passing game was still grounded. Raudabaugh threw for just 95 yards and failed to find the end zone.

"I don't think I played up to my abilities or coach's expectations," Raudabaugh said. "I got away from my fundamentals a little bit and it hurt me and hurt the team."

The offense's inability to move the ball had a direct and negative effect on the defense, which as a result was on the field for almost 100 plays.

Playing in Boulder, Colo. certainly didn't help matters at all, as the high altitude left the Miami defenders even more fatigued then normal.

"The altitude was definitely more of a factor than I thought it would be," junior linebacker Joey Hudson said. "Even from the moment we stepped off the bus you could just tell that there wasn't much there, and then when we started going it hit everyone a little harder than we expected. We had the oxygen tanks on the sidelines which helped a little, but it was definitely a disadvantage."

Miami's defense did all they could do to keep the 'Hawks in the game, forcing three turnovers, more than they had in any other game this season.

However, the 'Hawks struggled mightily on third down, giving up 12 third down conversions, which allowed Colorado to keep its drives alive and keep the Miami defense on the field.

The RedHawks' failure to come up with a stop in these key moments of the game became a reoccurring theme throughout the game, and the Buffaloes capitalized on the Miami mistakes, converting for six offensive touchdowns.

"We have got to stop teams on third down," Miami Head Coach Shane Montgomery said. "We have given up way too many third down conversions in the last few games, especially on third and long. When you do that, it really deflates you because you had a chance to get off the field, but instead you keep their drive alive, and now you're out there playing more plays then you should have been."

Continued...

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