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MINNEAPOLIS — Miami University football coach Shane Montgomery said it from his heart, which probably had to be stuffed back into his body once or twice Saturday afternoon after having been ripped out.

"If we make that kick," Montgomery said, "it's probably one of the best wins ever at Miami."

Instead, the Minnesota Golden Gophers escaped with a 41-35 triple-overtime victory before a Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome crowd of 45,383 that was a little drained and a little dizzy by the end of it all.

Miami (1-1) stormed back from a 28-12 deficit midway through the fourth quarter and had a chance to win the game in the second overtime, but Trevor Cook was wide right on a 33-yard field-goal attempt.

Minnesota (1-1) later wrapped up the victory with a 2-yard touchdown run by Amir Pinnix in the third overtime.

"I was very proud of the way our guys played," Montgomery said. "We hung in there and gave ourselves a chance to win. We have confidence in Trevor and we have confidence in Nate (Parseghian), whoever's kicking, and if I had a chance, I would kick it again."

Ah, the life of a placekicker.

Midway through the second quarter, Cook missed an extra-point kick that would have pulled Miami to within three points, and he turned his ankle on the same play when a defender rolled into him.

But then everything turned into sunshine and daisies when Cook nailed a 36-yard field goal with 11 seconds left in regulation to send the game to overtime.

Little did he know what awaited him on a kick that he makes nine times out of 10, a kick that would have sent the RedHawks soaring into the ESPN highlights.

"I jumped a little early and pushed it," Cook said. "Usually I wait for (long snapper Mike Rummler) to snap the ball. It was just a mental breakdown."

Cook said he will do his best to put the missed kick behind him.

"My philosophy about kicking is: Make the next kick; forget about the last one," he said.

It won't be easy to forget that one.

It's the second straight year that a successful field goal would have given Miami a victory at a Big Ten Conference school. Last year, it was a blocked field-goal attempt from 39 yards that kept Miami from winning at Purdue 34-31. Instead, the RedHawks lost in overtime 38-31.

Still, this game had some bright spots, such as a sizzling performance from sophomore quarterback Daniel Raudabaugh, who replaced senior starter Mike Kokal when Miami fell behind by 16 points. Raudabaugh guided the team to three straight scoring drives and a tie game.

Raudabaugh completed 13-of-24 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns, though he also had a costly interception (by Minnesota's Jamal Harris) in the end zone in overtime that led to the Gophers' winning points.

Could Miami's quarterback competition be on again?

Montgomery didn't say no, exactly.

"I didn't lose any confidence in Mike Kokal," Montgomery said. "He's played some good football for us. (We will play) the guys we feel will give us the best chance of winning against Cincinnati."

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197

or pconrad@coxohio.com.