They have a freshman quarterback who leads Conference USA in passing efficiency and a junior wide receiver who's already closing in on the school's career receiving record, but if you're waiting for the University of Cincinnati Bearcats to transform themselves into the Aircats, think again.

        UC coach Rick Minter, a graduate of the school of grind-it-out football, has no intention of turning quarterback Gino Guidugli loose. “I don't think we'll ever say we're going to throw the ball 60 times in a ballgame,” Minter said. “The minute you do that, then everybody changes their defensive approach to you. I think we've got a good solid scheme on offense going right now.”

        The Bearcats, who visit Houston tonight,, remain as balanced as ever. They average 38 running plays and 34 passing plays, a combination that has netted 364 yards per game, good for only fifth in C-USA. They average 245 yards passing.

        Guidugli has completed 67 percent of his passes. He has hooked up with LaDaris Vann for 38 catches and with Tye Keith for 19. It makes you wonder just how productive this offense could be if Minter handed Guidugli a license to come out firing.

        “I think the whole receiving corps would have a hundred yards apiece or more,” Keith said. “As a receiver, I want the ball to be thrown every play, but I know it can't be done like that.”

        Vann, who needs 28 catches to break Marlon Pearce's record for career receptions, says he's fine with the way things are.

        “We could put up a lot of yards,” Vann said, “but I don't think we would be that successful. We've got to establish the running game to open up the passing game. We've got to be a balanced attack to be successful.”

        Still, for a program that continues to have trouble enticing fans to Nippert Stadium, a wide-open, no-holds-barred passing attack with local boy Guidugli at the helm might be just the thing to stir interest.

        “He continues to amaze me how he can be as accurate as he is, as aware as he is about what we do on offense,” Minter said. “But it all sets up with the run. It's because we can run the ball or we have that threat of running the ball. The two go hand in hand. It's just hard to be dominant on offense without a running game.”

        The Bearcats (3-2 overall, 3-0 C-USA), figure to post some big numbers against Houston. The Cougars are 0-5 and have lost nine straight games. Behind 6-foot-6, 240-pound sophomore quarterback Nick Eddy, they lead the conference with 305 passing yards per game, but they have trouble stopping the other team. They allow 436 yards and 38 points per game.

        A UC victory tonight would set up a first-place showdown next week against Louisville and would place the Bearcats in a favorable position for a second straight bowl bid. The top four teams in the league go to a bowl game, assuming they have the NCAA required six victories overall. Southern Miss finished fourth in the league last year with a 4-3 record and went on to beat TCU in the GMAC Mobile Alabama Bowl.

        NOTES: Guard Kirt Doolin, who sprained his ankle last week against UAB, did not make the trip. He'll be replaced by senior Ted Forrest, who played high school ball in Houston ... After losing its first 12 C-USA games on the road, UC has won three straight.

UC passes on temptation to air it out McElroy should return soon

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