CMU looks at Miami game as ‘Super Bowl’

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A season that began with 12 games and a lot of questions is now at six games and even more questions.

At 2-4 overall and 1-2 in the Mid-American Conference, the Chippewas return home to Kelly/Shorts Stadium at noon Saturday to play Miami University.

CMU still has time to turn things around, but players and head coach Dan Enos realize time is becoming of the essence.

“Coach has said all week that nothing matters except for this game,” said sophomore quarterback Ryan Radcliff. “We are starting a six-game season and we are looking to go 1-0. We’re still at a point in our season where we can turn things around and get where we want to be and it all starts on Saturday.”

Miami (OH) is 3-3 overall and 2-0 in the MAC after a 45-3 loss against Cincinnati on Saturday.

The RedHawks pose a versatile attack with multiple running backs, very similar to previous opponents Virginia Tech and Ball State.

Senior running back Thomas Merriweather leads the team with 226 rushing yards and four touchdowns and freshman running back Tracy Woods has totaled 230 rushing yards this season.

“It is going to be very important that our defensive line plays well on Saturday,” said head coach Dan Enos. “They need to get off blocks and they have to be disruptive.”

Title hopes fading

If the Chippewas want to have a chance at their fourth MAC title in five years they are going to have to turn things around quickly.

The next four scheduled games are all against conference opponents, and three of those games will be played at home. This stretch of games will make or break the entire season for the Chippewas.

Despite the slow start to the season, senior linebacker Nick Bellore said the team still has the goal of reaching the MAC Championship game.

“We are calling this game ‘Super Bowl Saturday,’ This is our Super Bowl,” Bellore said. “If we don’t win this then we aren’t going to the MAC Championship. We don’t want to sit at home and watch (other teams) playing in Detroit. We want to be there and, in order to do that, we have to take things one game at a time.”

Saturday’s game is not only a pivotal one for the football team’s season, but it is also the homecoming game. CMU drew a crowd of 26,730 to its homecoming game last season, a 56-8 win against Eastern Michigan.

“You get a lot of text messages and phone calls from former players who are going to be here, so it’s fun to see those guys,” Bellore said. “At the end of the day, all that really matters is us preparing because, once the game starts, you forget about who is in the stands.”

In order for the team to reach its goals, they need some help from Northern Illinois and Toledo, who are both 2-0 in conference play. The Chippewas face NIU next weekend in DeKalb, Ill., and finish the season at Toledo on Nov. 26.

NOTES: CMU has won 18 consecutive games against a team from Ohio. The Chippewas’ last lost came against Toledo on Oct. 23, 2004. … Miami leads the all-time series 11-10-1, the Chippewas have won the last two meetings, including the 2007 MAC Championship game at Ford Field. … Senior wide receiver Kito Poblah is one reception away from moving into seventh place all-time on CMU’s receptions list. Poblah is also one touchdown reception from becoming seventh.