Gino Guidugli (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        PONTIAC, Mich. — A year ago, most of the Cincinnati Bearcats were doing the same things they are doing today — preparing to play in the Motor City Bowl.

        One of the exceptions is Cincinnati's most important player, quarterback Gino Guidugli. While the Bearcats were losing 25-14 to Marshall, Guidugli was enjoying the holiday break during his senior year at Highlands High School in Fort Thomas, Ky.

        Guidugli started the 2001 season as a backup to Adam Hoover, but took over when Hoover blew out his knee against Army in the season's second game. Guidugli led Cincinnati to a come-from-behind victory in that game, then went 6-3 as a starter.

        “Before this year, I would have been very surprised to see a true freshman play like this and lead his team to a bowl,” Bearcats coach Rick Minter said. “But having seen Gino play every day, I'm not surprised at all. You would never believe he was a freshman — he has the poise and leadership skills of a junior.”

        Guidugli was named the Conference USA Freshman of the Year after throwing for 2,573 yards and 16 touchdowns. He was only intercepted nine times while leading Cincinnati to three fourth-quarter comeback victories.

        The Bearcats (7-4) play No.25 Toledo (9-2) on Saturday in the fifth annual Motor City Bowl at the Pontiac Silverdome.

        “Gino has all the tools and all the intangibles,” Minter said. “This is a team that has traditionally been built around defense, and suddenly we lose most of our defensive starters and have had to turn to a passing game to start putting a lot more points on the board.

        “We've been able to do that with a true freshman at quarterback. That's tremendously impressive.”

        Guidugli knows that people are surprised by his quick rise, but he is exactly where he expected to be at this point.

        “My plan was to be this starter right away,” he said. “I didn't want to redshirt and I didn't want to just play a bit as a backup. I was intending to be the starter. It's unfortunate that it ended up happening because of Adam getting hurt, but I've always had the confidence in myself to know I could do it.”

        Guidugli also realizes he's had a lot of help from his teammates, especially running backs DeMarco McCleskey and Ray Jackson.

        “I couldn't have gotten us here without all the great players surrounding me,” he said. “They've been here before, and it makes it easy to pass the ball when the other team has to worry about running backs like Mack and Jack.”

        But as Guidugli watched the Detroit Lions practice Thursday on the Silverdome field, he made it clear that being a freshman starter in a small bowl game isn't the end of his ambitions.

        “That's where I want to end up,” he said, gesturing at the NFL players. “That's my highest goal. How could it not be?”

Bearcats relaxed, ready to roll Motor City could be showcase for Guidugli Huggins turned Akron around

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