30 Games in 30 Days: #28 Miami at Kent State

Miami	@ Kent

For two teams being picked to finish towards the Bottom of the east division this could be *THE* game that defines their season. Kent had a nice pair of close upsets last year against Temple and Buffalo but their victory over Miami Was the high point of 2008. Miami upset Bowling Green last season before dropping every other conference game when one week later Kent dropped more than fifty points on them.

When: September 26, 2009
Where: Kent, Ohio

All Time: Miami 37-10

Last 20 games

Date	Miami	Kent
10/25/2008	21	54
10/6/2007	20	13
9/16/2006	14	16
9/17/2005	27	10
10/9/2004	47	27
10/25/2003	38	30
9/21/2002	27	20
11/24/2001	20	24
9/23/2000	45	14
10/16/1999	17	10
11/14/1998	56	0
10/11/1997	62	26
8/31/1996	64	6
9/9/1995	39	0
11/12/1994	24	14
11/13/1993	23	14
11/14/1992	31	14
11/16/1991	20	9
11/10/1990	31	10

For a first year coach in a program that's not used to losing this is a must have game. For a 5th year head coach who's team is going the wrong way this game is a potential Job saver. Kent - Miami might not seem like an important game but in so far as it may hint at the the direction these programs are going it deserved to be in the top 30 for the year.

Miami, as per usual, has one of the MAC's most respectable out of conference schedules with North Western, Kentucky, Cincinnati, and Boise State (Three of the four made Bowl Games last year). Add to their OOC drawing Western Michigan and Northern Illinois the Red Hawks will face six of 2008's Bowl Teams (Buffalo makes six). There is not a harder schedule to be found in the MAC East if not the entire MAC. Wins are going to be very hard for Mike Haywood to come by in 2009. Short of another MAC program under performing Kent and Toledo look like the only games Miami might be expected to compete in.

On paper this game may look less important to Kent, they have a much more forgiving schedule than the RedHawks including FCS Coastal Carolina and an EMU team that has not been to a bowl game in the lifetime of many College students but in reality its probably even more critical for the program. Even if they pull off an upset or two versus a MAC East rivals like they did last year against Buffalo and Temple if they fail to beat Miami the Flashes are looking at back to back 4-12 seasons (at best). If You're Doug Martin does another 3-5, 4-12 season keep you on the sideline?

Kent does have Eugene Jarvis coming back after a full off seasons worth of rest, for a defense that gave up 147 on the ground last year to a Kent team without their Doak Walker candidate this does not bode well.



If Jarvis stays healthy Kent may be a whole new team this year, all they lacked last year was consistency and a EJ on the field every down may provide that. Doug Martin has to keep his team, and himself, focused and relaxed for this game if things well for Kent (1-2 with a respectable showing for BC) it may be easy to overlook a Miami team that could be coming in on the back of three muggings.

The Talent level of the Red Hawks has not seriously declined so the fall off in performance is going is related to the discipline (on and off the filed), Maturity, and Focus of the players. If Haywood can turn all of that around this game *might* have implications beyond a feel good victory for Haywood or Martin keeping his job.

It's a five hour drive from corner to corner of Ohio but its a Saturday evening game so that should present no problems for RedHawk fans to make the trek. This game gets no coverage on ESPN, CBS, or other networks so chances are if you want to follow it you will either have to listen onthe Radio or drop the eight dollars to mac-sports.com to watch the stream.

#30: Temple at Navy
#29: Morgan State at Akron