Miami's loss to Michigan University affects nothing.
On the gridiron in 2008, the RedHawks are 0-2, outscored 50-19 and no worse off than when they started the season.
"We still have all our goals ahead of us," senior kicker Nathan Parseghian said. "As far as winning a MAC championship, we're 0-0 in the MAC. We can still beat University of Cincinnati and we can still go to a bowl game."
I couldn't have said it any better myself. While non-conference games are certainly not meaningless, they don't have any impact on Miami's quest for a league title either.
I'm not asserting that losing is a good thing. A win over Vanderbilt University would have been great for team confidence, rally a more enthusiastic fan base and possibly generate a clip or two on SportsCenter. Add on a Big House victory and these effects are only multiplied.
Win or lose, though, the real value in these games does not lie in any amount of potential for hype. Seeing as the current BCS system all but eliminates Miami's chances for a national championship before the season even begins, a chance to be nationally ranked doesn't offer this team much beyond raised expectations.
In all honesty, Miami's first four games this season are much like those of an NFL preseason. Sure winning is fun, but what really matters is seeing your team progress. With that in mind, let's assess the Red and White's gridiron season so far under a new light.
In the home opener, Raudabaugh threw three interceptions and completed only 46 percent of his passes. Against Michigan he threw zero interceptions and completed 60 percent of his passes. Add in his two throws for touchdowns that Givens dropped and he had quite the game.
The vast improvement continues throughout the rest of the lineup. On defense, Miami gave up 80 less yards. On special teams, the punt coverage looked like a completely different unit, with Michigan's longest return going for a gain of only 13.
Beyond the stat book, it is not any stretch of the imagination to say that Miami had a legitimate chance to win a football game in Ann Arbor. That by itself is evidence enough of where this team stands right now.
Does Miami have a long way to go before it contends for a conference title? Certainly; the loss column can tell us that much. Looking at the team's performance from one game to the next, however, it is also clear that the RedHawks are moving in the right direction.
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The point of all this is that the season is far from over, and in many respects, it is just beginning. To give up on this team now is just flat out foolish.
Ohio football fans are notorious for their loyalty. The Browns continue to sell out their stadium year after year despite having both a miserable team and miserable weather. The Ohio State University is home to one of the largest college football stadiums in the country, and Cincinnati fans never cease to question "Who dey think gonna beat dem Bengals?" while any and all answers to that query have sufficed for the past two decades.
It's time for Miami to get its fair share of that loyalty. During my past three years at Miami, I watched RedHawk fans pack Yager Stadium every year for the home opener only to leave it sparsely attended for the rest of the season. It seems that people get excited to have football back after a long off-season, but then quickly lose interest when they discover that Miami is not like Ohio State when it comes to the gridiron.
So far, 2008 looks to be the same old story. A large crowd came out to see the 'Hawks take on Vandy, but the empty second half stands in that game were a tell-tale sign of its lack of patience for lousy play.
Although it both frustrates and saddens me to say it, I foresee Yager being more or less desolate Saturday. Miami students just don't typically like to watch 0-2 RedHawk football teams. Think I'm wrong? Prove it Saturday.
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