As the leaves begin to change color and September becomes October, Oxford enters a new season-and this period of time is typically called, "Is It Hockey Season Yet?"
This annual rite of passage usually occurs nears the end of September, after the student body has lost interest in the football team, and knows that hockey season is right around the corner. But after Saturday's huge upset win over Syracuse, maybe it's not time to be heading to Goggin quite yet.
I believe that as football continues to grow exponentially in popularity throughout the country, and as hockey is about to be replaced by the Scripps' Spelling Bee as America's fourth favorite sport, the opposite has been historically happening here during the Miami football season.
The home opener usually draws a large student crowd, but even that tends to fizzle out by halftime, as we saw against Cincinnati. Family Weekend is another large draw as students and parents alike look for something to do on a Saturday afternoon before heading out at night.
Now that both of those weekends have come and gone and the team sits with a 2-3 record overall-but 1-0 in the conference, which means that there is still hope.
Even though things might have seemed bleak the past few weeks with the football team, with the exception of this past weekend, and the hockey team opens up the season with an exhibition game Saturday night against Waterloo marking the beginning of the hockey season, perhaps the football team isn't quite as bad as we thought.
Just look at the football team's first opponent, Ball State, who is now 2-1 in Mid-American Conference play already, beating Eastern Michigan University and Buffalo. The Cardinals are no easy pushover team as they knocked off Navy and almost upset Nebraska. And let's not forget, the RedHawks did beat Ball State.
Following that win against Ball State, the RedHawks came within inches of beating Minnesota. Miami took them to three overtimes before falling to the Gophers. So just maybe the RedHawk football team isn't as bad as things have sounded.
The RedHawks have played four straight games against teams from a BCS Conference; two from the Big East, one from the Big Ten and one from the Big 12. The BCS schools are generally bigger than most mid-major schools, like Miami, and usually have more resources to recruit players and play in the national spotlight more often than a school such as Miami. But the RedHawks gave two of the four teams all they could handle, including the upset Saturday against Syracuse.
So as the season turns to MAC play, it's time for things to get serious. Students generally generate many excuses for the poor attendance numbers: team performance, game times, etc.
However, this year there is no excuse.
Enjoy what you're reading?
Signup for our newsletter
In years past, several home games have been played Wednesday or Thursday nights, attracting the bright lights of ESPN to give Miami just one or two nights on that national stage.
Those attempts at exposure have often come at the expense of the students who are unable to attend weeknight games. With hockey playing Friday and Saturday nights and ending early enough for students to go out, it is clear which sport more students will attend.
However, the RedHawks have just one home game not on a Saturday this year, leaving students without a reason not to attend and support the RedHawks.
So, yes, it is almost hockey season. But let's not forget about the Gridiron Boys and what they mean to Miami University.
Read More
How one professor and her classes are preserving Oxford’s Black history
By Sean Scott | March 20, 2024Jazma Sutton, an assistant professor of history, teaches The Black Midwest (HST 350Q) and Black Women in America (HST 450D) classes. In both courses, she has students working with the Smith Library of Regional History and Miami’s archives to document and preserve Black history in Oxford.
Miami faculty members recount Freedom Summer in new documentary
By Luke Macy | February 25, 2022After seven years of work, “Training for Freedom,” a documentary highlighting Oxford’s involvement in the Freedom Summer of 1964, premiered on PBS Western Reserve on Valentine’s Day.
“Documenting the COVID-19 Pandemic”: History in the making
By Alice Momany | August 29, 2021In March 2020, Miami University’s archives launched “Documenting the COVID-19 Pandemic,” a collection focused on life during the COVID-19 pandemic.