MU opens Mid-American Conference play against 2011-2013 head coach Don Treadwell
Miami University football opens Mid-American Conference play against former head coach Don Treadwell at Kent State University Saturday.
Treadwell, who was Miami's head coach 2011-2013 and is now KSU's offensive coordinator, was relieved of his duties in the middle of the 2013 season after starting with a 0-5 record. Treadwell's tenure at his alma mater lasted 29 games, and he finished with an 8-21 mark.
At the time, the RedHawks ranked 122nd in FBS in total offense (198.4 yards per game) and in scoring offense (8.8 points per game).
Since the hiring of head coach Chuck Martin in 2014, Miami has averaged 367 yards and 21.3 points per game.
The RedHawks lead the all-time series with KSU 47-15, including a 10-3 victory last season in Oxford. However, Miami has lost 18 straight road games.
After being held to 291 yards and turning over the ball four times in a 56-14 loss to Western Kentucky University last weekend, Miami (1-3) faces a challenge against a KSU (1-3) defense that has allowed just three touchdowns in regulation in its last three games.
The Golden Flash defense ranks fourth in the nation, holding opponents to 219 yards per game. KSU has 37 tackles for loss in its last three games. In its last two games, Kent State is plus-5 in turnover margin.
"They have a very good plan on how they can be very successful," head coach Chuck Martin said. "They're not much different from a couple years ago when they did win the league. They were very salty on defense, they ran the ball very well, and they were opportunistic in the pass game."
"I think that's exactly what they're doing this year, and that's why they almost beat Minnesota and almost beat Marshall … they have a very good identity on both sides of the ball."
Martin said at this point in the season, the biggest key is being physical on both sides of the ball. In last week's loss to WKU, the MU defense allowed 569 yards.
"We have to be physical on defense," Martin said. "We were very physical against Cincinnati. We were physical in spurts against Western Kentucky. And when we were physical, we held our own defensive, and when we weren't physical - when we let the receivers roll down the field - it got ugly in a hurry."
Kent State is coming off a 36-29 double overtime loss to Marshall University last weekend.
The Golden Flashes average 21.0 points per game. Junior quarterback Colin Reardon leads a balanced offense that averages 165.8 on the ground and 163.0 through the air. Reardon has thrown for 550 yards and five touchdowns on the season.
His top target is sophomore Kris White, who's collected 155 yards on nine catches. Fifth-year running back Traylon Durham leads the run game with 209 yards and two touchdowns on 52 carries.
Miami rotates three quarterbacks, but redshirt senior Drew Kummer leads with 571 yards and six touchdowns. Sophomore receiver Sam Martin has 204 yards and one touchdown on 12 catches, and redshirt freshman running back Alonzo Smith has 172 yards and two touchdowns on 38 touches.
Kickoff is 3:30 p.m. Saturday in Kent, Ohio.