On Dec. 16, community member Betsy Speh McCall and her family will gather with other Oxford residents at Left Field Tavern to cheer on the Miami RedHawks during the Cure Bowl. The team also recently won the MAC.

McCall said she grew up going to Miami football games. Her dad had season tickets and their family went to every home game. 

“I have a lot invested in the organization,” she said. “I’ve seen all their ups and downs and for them to win the MAC championship and a big bowl game, that’s really big and I’m a proud fan.” 

McCall and her husband continued the family tradition and now take their three children to the games. It’s exciting for Miami to have a chance in the spotlight, she said. 

This will be Miami’s 15th bowl appearance, according to the RedHawks website. The RedHawks have an 11-2 record and will face Appalachian State University, which has an 8-5 record. The game’s kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. in Orlando, Fla. and will be streaming on ABC. 

Linebacker Matt Salopek said this season has been surreal and he’s excited to start practicing for the bowl this week. 

“Our chemistry and how we stuck together this entire year has been very different from past years,” he said. “We’re all close and can have fun throughout different portions of the season.” 

Salopek said he saw the community, especially “faculty and professors,”  support the RedHawks through the attendance at games. He and his teammates also appreciated the amount of support they receive through social media, he said. 

McCall said the team seemed unstoppable this season. They worked together and operated as a family. She was impressed by the players’ abilities to recover after injuries and setbacks throughout the season. 

“I’m just really happy for the players, staff and coaches,” McCall said. “They’re not only amazing on the field but they’re class acts off the field too.”

Tickets for the Miami section at the game are $35 and can be purchased here.