The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Miami tailback has to sit for foul

Mesoraco's slam sends Reds over Braves
7:38 a.m.
Lost chances cost Cougars
5/25/12
Badin advances to regional final
5/25/12
West hopes to keep winning
5/25/12
Is third time the charm for senior?
5/25/12
> More sports headlines

Thomas Merriweather (34) of Miami runs during a scrimmage. He was ejected in the second quarter of Miami's game at Florida Saturday, Sept. 4, 2010.

Photo by Robert Leifheit/Contributing Photographer Thomas Merriweather (34) of Miami runs during a scrimmage. He was ejected in the second quarter of Miami's game at Florida Saturday, Sept. 4, 2010.

By Pete Conrad, Staff Writer Updated 8:33 AM Wednesday, September 8, 2010

OXFORD — Two personal fouls called against Miami University seniors in the team’s opener at Florida were “really disturbing” to RedHawks head football coach Michael Haywood.

Tailback Thomas Merriweather was ejected from the game in the second quarter, and a penalty on wide receiver Armand Robinson might have cost Miami a touchdown.

“Those two things were not (taken lightly) in our meeting on Sunday,” Haywood said. “They were handled very stern.”

The Miami coach said Merriweather, who was ejected with 8 minutes, 51 seconds left in the second period, will be forced by Mid-American Conference rules to sit out part of the RedHawks’ home opener against Eastern Michigan on Saturday, Sept. 11, “until the 8:51 mark of the second quarter.”

Miami never did get its running game going against the Gators, finishing the day with 4 yards on 22 carries.

“It really hurt us to lose Merriweather, which was truly a lack-of-discipline play by him, and which can’t be accepted within this program,” Haywood said.

“It’s really disturbing,” he added. “That’s the culture that we talk about all the time, about changing the culture from the way that you wake up in the morning, the way you go to class, the way you attend class, the way you represent yourself in the community.”

Haywood said he talked to Merriweather about the penalty.

“They only catch the second guy,” the Miami coach said. “Like I said to him coming off the field, I saw the entire thing. I told the official I saw the entire thing. I saw the guy gore you into the ground, take his forearm and try to snatch your head gear off from behind. But you have to have discipline and not retaliate.”

Haywood said it was the same thing with Robinson.

“We’re at the inch line and we’re going for it on fourth-and-inches and then all of a sudden we have to kick a field goal,” he said. “Do you understand the complexity of the game and where we are? ... You retaliate because this guy’s punching you on the ground? There’s nothing you can do about that. It’s the game of football. You take the ball, you get up, we go in and score, and it’s more humiliating (for Florida) for us to get six points.”

Although the RedHawks will be without Merriweather for most of the first half against EMU, they will have sophomore tailback Danny Green back after he served a one-game suspension for a violation of team rules.

“Danny Green is back in the fold this week,” Haywood said, adding that he might be second or third string. “We haven’t decided yet.”