The Miami, OH RedHawks completed a historic turnaround becoming the first Division I program to record double-digit losses one season and double digit wins the next by defeating Middle Tennesse 35-21 in the GoDaddy.com Bowl. The RedHawks finished just 1-11 last season before turning it around in 2010, finishing 10-4 after last night's win.
Austin Boucher threw a pair of second-half touchdowns, who completed the feat without head coach Michael Haywood, who bolted for the open Pittsburgh position last month but was subsequently fired after he was arrested on charges of domestic violence.
Defensive backs coach Lance Guidry served as the interim head coach and saw Boucher throw for 289 yards with two interceptions and Thomas Merriweather rush for two scores, as the Mid American Conference champions ended the season with six straight wins.
The RedHawks' eight-game improvement is tied with three other teams for second most in NCAA history. Miami, playing in its first bowl game since 2004, improved to 7-3 all-time in the postseason.
Michigan State offensive coordinator and former RedHawks player Don Treadwell was named Miami's head coach last week.