Football returns to the field

Despite falling short, playing in the St. Petersburg Bowl last December painted a promising picture of what was to come for Miami football. In the last six seasons, the anticipation—the palpable excitement coming into a season—has never been greater than it has for the 2017-18 season.

Nine starters return to a defense that ranked inside the 2017 NCAA Top 25 at the end of the 2016-17 campaign. The efficient, redshirt junior quarterback Gus Ragland officially takes the reins of an offense that returns eight named to the first-team.

“Kids worked hard for about nine months, in the offseason, and then in fall camp. They’ve had a great offseason,” head coach Chuck Martin said. “Their…